Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi feels an insurmountable duty to help Barcelona loanee Ansu Fati realize his potential to become a ‘great’ player.
Spain international Fati joined Albion on a deal until the end of the season after being linked with Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
De Zerbi, who recently lost Julio Enciso to a long-term knee problem, says he “can’t make mistakes” as he aims to develop the outstanding 20-year-old during his temporary stint at the Amex Stadium.
“I’m very satisfied, he’s a great player,” the Italian coach said of Fati. “We lost Enciso and we needed one big player.
“We are lucky because we have a lot of young players, potential top players, and this will be another responsibility.
“If you work with this talent, you have a big responsibility, because this is our football heritage, and we cannot make mistakes with these players, because football needs this talent and you will have to manage it in different ways.
“I always thought so. I feel a responsibility, especially for big, big talent, to help that talent become great players.
“Sometimes coaches only think about the result, only about their career, but football needs great players. This is a big responsibility and I feel it.
“I think that our style is very close in its characteristics, in its qualities.”
Fati, who made nine caps for Spain and attended last year’s World Cup in Qatar, will be out on Saturday night when Brighton host Newcastle in the top flight.
His arrival comes on a big day for Albion after they were to face European giants Ajax and Marseille in the group stage of their first Europa League campaign.
Greek champions AEK Athens complete Group B with the first round of matches scheduled for Thursday 21 September.
Ajax, Marseille and AEK are good teams, but we are also a good team,” de Zerby said.
“It will be a very difficult group but we have the enthusiasm that Brighton had when they first played in the Europa League and you can imagine what our attitude, behavior and passion will be to earn points and qualify for the next step.
“You can (only) be proud for two or three minutes – not too much – and then you have to think, first of all Newcastle, because tomorrow we are not playing in the Europa League, we are playing in the Premier League.”
Forward Danny Welbeck will miss the Magpies game with a muscle injury.
Cameroonian midfielder Carlos Baleba, bought from French club Lille on Tuesday for £23m, will join Fati, who will have to wait until the end of the upcoming international break to make his debut.
In a positive week for the Seagulls, Pascal Gross received his first call-up from Germany and captain Lewis Dunk was named to the England squad.
“Both were incredible news to us,” De Zerby said. “We are a small club, we are not used to such news and for us it is like winning a trophy.
“I believe they deserve it and I’m working to help my players reach that goal.”