Georginio: I have learnt so much in first Albion season

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Frenchman joined Albion last summer from Leeds United.

2025-06-05T06:00+01:00

Georginio Rutter scored five Premier League goals in his first season for Albion. 📷 by James Boardman.

Georginio Rutter has reflected on an impressive first season for Albion.

The 23-year-old Frenchman made 28 Premier League appearances, scoring five goals and assisting three.

How have you found the Premier League? Is it easier than you thought or harder?

Every game is hard because every team is good; every team has top players, so there is never an easy game in the Premier League. We’ve played some teams down at the bottom of the table and we haven’t beaten them, which shows how hard it is. You can’t make mistakes at this level because you will be punished, whereas in the Championship you could get away with things a little more. You have to be more disciplined in the Premier League and the intensity is very high.

Did playing for Leeds United help you step up to the Premier League, given it’s a big club with plenty of pressure to perform?

Georginio's season was ended prematurely because of an ankle injury. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

When you play for Leeds there is a big pressure to win every game and you have to give them (the fans) something back. So when I came here, I was more ready and able to carry on that mentality. It helped me a lot having already played for a big club and having gone there for a big fee. My first season there was not great, but the second season was much better. I felt freer given my form had turned around, and I have been able to continue that way since I came here.

You made your debut as a late sub in the home win against Manchester United. How did that feel?

I wasn’t on the pitch for very long but it was nice to come on, to experience the Premier League for the first time and sample the atmosphere at the Amex as we scored the winning goal. It was nice to be on the pitch when that goal was scored (by Joao Pedro) and to have been a part of the squad that picked up an important three points.

How important has Danny Welbeck been for you?

Danny Welbeck has been a mentor to Georginio Rutter, according to the Frenchman. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

He is older, far more experienced, and it helps so much having a guy like him who plays so well in the forward positions and who is always encouraging. He works so hard for the team, too, so there’s no one better to have as a teammate. He’s an example to all of us younger players; he works hard every day and he’s an incredible person off the pitch as well. I’m very, very grateful to be able to work with him in training and on the pitch.

You scored your first goal for the club in the defeat against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. A bitter-sweet moment?

It was a difficult one. You want to be able to celebrate your first goal for the club – and I was able to do that as it was the first goal of the game – but then I was disappointed because of the way the game played out and the final score. Looking back, we should have done better in the game. We made a few mistakes.

You’re still only 23, so do you feel there is more to come from you?

I know I can do better. This is my first season with Brighton, my first season in the Premier League, so I have much more to learn. Every time I’m on the pitch I’m learning more about my strengths, my weaknesses, and I’m learning as much as I can. Sometimes I feel frustrated; I maybe take one touch too many or one touch not enough, while defensively and tactically I can also be much better, so I’m working on many things in training with the coach, with the players.

Does it help when you’re up against some of the world’s best defenders?

Georginio and Virgil van Dijk compete for the ball. 📷 by James Boardman.

When you’re playing against van Dijk, Konate or Saliba, for example, you have to put in the highest performance possible because if you don’t, they’re going to eat you up! It helps you become a better player when you’re up against this level of opponent, but you also have the surprise of coming up against an opponent you haven’t been aware of before, but who is also very, very good, so you have to put in the same level of performance every time you step onto the pitch.

Is there much banter between you and your marker during games?

I’ve never personally experienced something like that in the Premier League, but it’s different in the Championship! You would experience different things that you can’t get away with at the highest level, probably because of VAR, but also because there’s more respect between players at the highest level.