- Brighton qualified for the UEFA Europa Conference League
- Fabian Hurzeler admitted Albion “always want more” after defeat
- Liverpool’s draw with Brentford confirmed Brighton’s European place
Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Fabian Hurzeler admitted his side “always want more” after Brighton secured UEFA Europa Conference League qualification despite suffering a damaging 3-0 defeat to Manchester United on the final day of the Premier League season.
The Seagulls produced one of their poorest performances of the campaign at the Amex Stadium, but still booked a return to European football after Liverpool drew 1-1 with Brentford at Anfield.
It means Brighton will compete in Europe for just the second time in the club’s history after finishing eighth in the Premier League table on 53 points.
Hurzeler frustrated despite European qualification
Despite the achievement, Hurzeler was left frustrated by the nature of the performance against United.
“Of course we always want more but like I mentioned, there were a lot of highs and a lot of lows and we had a bad run,” Hurzeler said.
“We kept going, we kept fighting, and that was quite positive. Of course, when you are in this situation you want to get more. But like I said, if you see the overall season then we should be happy with what we have achieved.”
United controlled the game from the moment Patrick Dorgu powered home a header from a Bruno Fernandes corner during the first half.
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The assist saw Fernandes break the Premier League’s single-season assist record with his 21st of the campaign before the Portuguese midfielder later added United’s third goal after the break.
Bryan Mbeumo had doubled United’s advantage shortly before half-time after a slick move involving Amad Diallo, leaving Brighton with a mountain to climb.
European return still marks major milestone
The defeat capped an inconsistent campaign for Brighton, who at times looked capable of pushing for the Champions League places before enduring a difficult mid-season spell that threatened to derail their European hopes entirely.
However, late wins against Wolves and Liverpool, combined with results elsewhere on the final day, ultimately proved enough to send Albion back into continental competition.
Hurzeler repeatedly praised his players’ resilience throughout the campaign, and Brighton’s qualification marks another significant milestone under the German head coach in his first season at the club.
While the performance against Manchester United fell well below expectations, the bigger picture ensured there was still reason for celebration at full-time on the south coast.
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