The two football teams Kim Hellberg makes Middlesbrough players watch to try and copy | OneFootball

Kim Hellberg makes his Middlesbrough players watch clips from Brighton and PSG to implement their style onto theirs

Middlesbrough winger Jeremy Sarmiento has said that Kim Hellberg makes his side watch clips of Brighton & Hove Albion and PSG to help shape their style of play.

It's been a fine start to the new campaign for last season's play-off finalists, picking up 15 points from their opening eight games and sitting third at the first international break.

Arguably, what's more encouraging is that it's almost universally agreed that Middlesbrough have a new level they can hit. It was a busy summer at the Riverside, and while certain new signings have hit the ground running, others could benefit from having a little more time to get familiar with Kim Hellberg's system.

Sarmiento was initially brought to the club on loan from Brighton in January, but made his move permanent in the summer. Already, he has two more goals in all competitions this season than he managed in the second half of last year.

Jeremy Sarmiento opens up on Kim Hellberg's philosophy and why he was deemed a good fit for Middlesbrough

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Sarmiento was ineffective during his loan spell in the second half of last season. It was his fifth spell away from Brighton in three years, though, and many felt that a permanent move could finally bring an opportunity to settle and kick on.

That being said, making a loanee who played just over 550 minutes and started five of his 20 games for the club last year did raise some eyebrows. However, his familiarity with the system from his time at Brighton has led the 24-year-old to bed in well this season.

"It was good to get a full pre-season with the coach, and it’s also helped that it’s very similar to how I used to play in Brighton," Sarmiento said, per the Northern Echo. "Maybe that's why he had a look at me.

"We watch Brighton quite a lot in the meetings. PSG, and like, high-end big teams too. We look at the way they play, just little things, little details, which the manager likes a lot. We do that a lot and then try to implement it out on the training pitches.

"You see it works when it comes to playing games, it pays off a lot. It feels good to work under him [Hellberg]."

Kim Hellberg is holding his players to high standards when it comes to playstyle

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There hasn't been a better club in Europe over the past two years than PSG, and in the Premier League, Brighton are highly regarded as one of the well-drilled 'best of the rest' outside of the traditional 'big six.'

In terms of clubs to look to take inspiration from, you can't get much better, and Boro's intensity in their press reflects that it's being taken on within the squad at the Riverside.

Only Cardiff City have a lower PPDA (Passes per defensive action) than Middlesbrough this season, meaning clubs are afforded less time on the ball before Kim Hellberg's side triggers their press. In the Premier League, Brighton are the lowest by some way, averaging 1.4 fewer PPDA than Tottenham Hotspur.

Meanwhile, Boro are a top-six side in high turnovers, something which both Brighton and PSG top in their respective leagues.

Evidently, there are still some ways to go for Middlesbrough to be the premier pressing side in the division, but there'll be an expectation that, with more time on the training pitch, the Teesiders will begin to find their groove and start to control games as they did under Hellberg last season.

Jeremy Sarmiento is benefiting from a Brighton-like style at Middlesbrough this season

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It's always difficult to join a club midway through the campaign and get up to speed, especially when that club you're joining is as intense as Middlesbrough were under Kim Hellberg.

Add that to the fact that Sarmiento only played 137 minutes in the first half of the season at Serie A outfit Cremonese, and getting up to match sharpness would have proven difficult for the Ecuadorian winger.

The 24-year-old has benefitted from having a full pre-season, with goals in EFL Cup action against Doncaster Rovers and in their league defeat against Blackburn Rovers. A minor knock did slow his fast start somewhat, but he only missed a couple of weeks because of it.

Having that time on the training ground over the summer, playing a similar style to the one he'd have played at Brighton during his time at the Amex Stadium, will have benefitted him massively, and both he and Middlesbrough fans will be hoping that style can lead them back to the Premier League this season.