“Smart player” – Brighton’s replacement for Moises Caicedo, former Chelsea midfielder Billy Gilmour, has been lauded by his manager Roberto De Zerbi after a dominant performance in Saturday’s 4-1 win against Wolves.
The midfielder made his Albion debut at Molineux, where he and his teammates easily defeated the home side with to goals from Karou Mitoma, Pervis Estupinan, and Solly March (2).
Gilmour repaid De Zerbi’s trust in him with a calm performance in the center of the park with Pascal Gross. The Brighton manager described the Scottish international as a “smart player” after the game.
De Zerbi said: “In midfield today we played Pascal Gross and (Billy) Gilmour. (Summer signing Mahmoud) Dahoud is a top player, but in the last year he’s only played nine games and he needs more time.
Gilmour re-payed the faith shown in him by De Zerbi and gave a controlled performance in the middle of the park alongside Pascal Gross. (Photo by Harriet Lander/Getty Images)
Gilmour re-payed the faith shown in him by De Zerbi and gave a controlled performance in the middle of the park alongside Pascal Gross. (Photo by Harriet Lander/Getty Images)
“Billy is a smart player. Incredible attitude and incredible behaviour. He plays like an old player, but he’s young and he’s improving a lot.
“In the beginning in my time at Brighton, now he’s a completely different player.”
Gilmour joined the Seagulls last summer from Chelsea for £7m and spent much of last season on the bench. The midfielder was playing behind the unbreakable duo of Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister, who were pivotal in helping the Sussex side achieve their highest-ever top flight finish and qualify for the Europa League.
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The 22-year-old admitted his personal and professional life had been affected by the harassment he suffered from social media influencer Orla Melissa Sloan, who pleaded guilty to stalking Gilmour and England midfielder Mason Mount and harassing Ben Chilwell.
Speaking to the Athletic in May, Gilmour said: “I’ve had to be really, really patient. It’s been frustrating off the pitch, I can’t lie — you want to play. It’s been all about being patient, making sure I can control my emotions, not getting too high or too low.
“I wanted to go to a club where I’m going to try to play. It’s not worked out but I’m settling in, trying to work my way up. There are tough days, I can’t lie, but the team we’ve got is special.
“I can’t say if I’d stayed at Chelsea whether I would have played. I made my decision on what I knew was best at the time. I’m really enjoying it here. We’ve got a great team, a great manager, the staff are right behind us.”
With the Sloan case hopefully behind him, Gilmour can now focus on becoming a more prominent member of De Zerbi’s squad. The high-profile summer sales of Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo to Liverpool and Chelsea respectively has left a gap in Brighton’s midfield, providing more opportunities for the young midfielder to get minutes on the pitch.
Gilmour will be hoping to start Brighton’s next game against Newcastle on Saturday, August 26.
