How do you bounce from a 7-0 defeat?
Well, Chelsea wins and a vibrant 4-0 victory over Southampton are a good way to start wounds seven at Nottingham Forest.
Brighton’s hit on the territory of the city handed over their greatest defeat for almost 70 years and a loss of clubs on top flight. But it also turned out to be the end of a sad 11 games where the Seagulls recorded just two wins during the festive season.
“Sometimes you just have to forget about it and throw this game away,” said Joel Veltman, who started the Forest game, but lost Saturday’s win over the Saints with a leg injury, he said Sports.
“Fabian Hurzeler’s message to us was to forget it in the past.
The messages from the coach have rendered with Brighton, suddenly, looking prepared to create a challenge to the teams over them.
At the end of November, Hurzeler had his fourth side in the Premier League, but a difficult two -month spell saw them fall into the middle of the table.
During this time, Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and Fulham have won blessings for their form and are among the sides that are said to be fighting for European points, but there was a feeling between Brighton’s fans that the first season of Hurzeler was a disappointment.
However, Brighton is four points from fourth place and could move level to points with Bournemouth to the fifth when they host the cherries on Tuesday night. However, unlike their opponents, Brighton has flown under the radar for their efforts this season.
Brighton’s highest finish in a Premier League campaign was sixth in 2023 and won them a point in the next year’s Europa League for the first time in the club’s history.
While in the past, today’s ninth place could have been enough for a club that ended 10 years ago in the 20th championship, fans want more. For Veltman, increasing expectation is a reflection of how far the Premier League club has developed.
“It’s a little crazy how football is going,” said Veltman, who seems to lose Bournemouth’s game amid reports that could be out for several weeks with an injury.
“We ended up with Roberto de Zerbi, the ninth with Graham Potter. We would be struggling seven years ago. We would probably say no!
“But there we are now and there we want to go every year.
“We know where we are capable, this is what Gaffery tells us. We have to fight the top six. We have the potential.
“We had some games where we were not ourselves and yet. We’re very close. Our potential is much higher than we are now. Trust is there in the dressing room.”
Brighton’s late impulse in Europe is Hurzeler.
With his appointment, many was from his age as the youngest manager to take on a permanent charge for a Premier League club. Veltman is one of the five today’s Brighton players older than his 31 -year -old manager, but his appointment only adds to the excitement the team feels about the future.
“For me, it’s not 31 years old. For me, it’s just a coach,” Veltman continued.
“He also has this respect for us. We are excited (to have him here). He always tells us that we have to question the facility.
“This is his mentality and this brings us. In every training, he continues to say the same things as running, to help your teammates, to do a job one and a half. The excitement is there because we know what we can achieve with him. “
It’s not just the administration that excites Veltman, who sees the potential in the dressing room that would justify a higher finish. Kaoru Mitoma’s goal against Chelsea during their 3-0 victory over his 3-0 win.
Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher likened the 27 -year -old’s touch and ended with both Lionel Messi and Dennis Bergkamp. High praise.
He has taken Miroma sometime to settle in the era after his future, he sank into uncertainty during the January window by offering by the Saudi club Al Nassr. Brighton has seen big names departing in the past for high fees, but for the gull room, Mitoma’s maintenance was a signal of intention.
“I think Mimon is still a lot about the club,” Veltman said Sports.
“Now the best in the Premier League now, maybe he didn’t play the best way to play before Chelsea, but he was still in the team.
“We know that it can create an opportunity just like this or score a goal just like that.
From the play team to the coach, the ambition is very much the word buzzword in Amex. Brighton’s next 12 games will decide whether they can turn this ambition into reality.