Joel Veltman: Brighton defender discusses response from 7-0 Nottingham Forest loss and European prospects | Soccer Information

How do you bounce again from a 7-0 defeat?

Properly, back-to-back victories towards Chelsea and a powerful 4-0 win over Southampton is an efficient option to start numbing the sores of conceding seven at Nottingham Forest.

Brighton’s thrashing on the Metropolis Floor handed the Seagulls their greatest defeat for almost 70 years and a club-record loss within the high flight. However it additionally proved to be the top of a dismal 11-game run the place the Seagulls recorded simply two wins over the festive interval.

“Typically you simply have to neglect it and throw that recreation away,” Joel Veltman, who began the sport at Forest however missed Saturday’s win over Saints with a foot damage, instructed Sky Sports activities.

“Fabian Hurzeler’s message to us was to only neglect it prior to now. Clearly, you be taught from it and take that shedding feeling with you to arrange for the subsequent recreation. That is why our motivation was sky-high to beat Chelsea twice.”

The messaging from the top coach has paid off with Brighton, impulsively, wanting primed to mount a problem on the groups above them.

On the finish of November, Hurzeler had his aspect sitting fourth within the Premier League, however a tough two-month spell noticed them plummet into mid-table.

Throughout that point, the likes of Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and Fulham gained plaudits for his or her kind and are among the many sides stated to be vying for the European spots however there was a sense amongst Brighton followers that Hurzeler’s first season in cost was a disappointment.

Nonetheless, Brighton are 4 factors off fourth place and will transfer degree on factors with Bournemouth in fifth after they host the Cherries on Tuesday night time. Nonetheless, in contrast to their opponents, Brighton have flown underneath the radar for his or her efforts this season.

Brighton’s highest end in a Premier League marketing campaign was sixth place in 2023 and that earned them a spot within the following 12 months’s Europa League for the primary time within the membership’s historical past.

Whereas prior to now, their present place of ninth place could have sufficed for a membership that 10 years in the past completed twentieth within the Championship, followers need extra. For Veltman, the rising expectation is a mirrored image of how far the membership has developed within the Premier League.

“It’s a bit loopy how soccer goes,” stated Veltman, who seems set to overlook the Bournemouth recreation amid experiences he may very well be out for a number of weeks with damage.

“We ended up sixth with Roberto De Zerbi, ninth with Graham Potter as nicely. Now, we’re in a spot the place you might be within the high 10 after which even earlier than the season already they’re saying we wish European soccer. For those who instructed us seven years in the past we might be preventing for European locations, you’d say in all probability no!

“However that is the place we at the moment are and that is the place we need to go as nicely yearly. I do just like the expectations of getting us a minimum of within the high seven, high six European soccer locations as a result of the gamers need that too.

“We all know the place we’re able to, that is what the gaffer is telling us as nicely. We have to struggle the highest six, now we have the potential. There’s that feeling that we are able to do significantly better than we’re displaying now.

“We had a few video games the place we weren’t ourselves and nonetheless, we’re actually shut. Our potential is far increased than we at the moment are. The arrogance is there within the dressing room.”

Main Brighton’s late push into Europe is Hurzeler.

Upon his appointment, lots was made from his age because the youngest supervisor to take everlasting cost of a Premier League membership. Veltman is among the 5 present Brighton gamers older than his 31-year-old supervisor however his appointment solely provides to the thrill the squad really feel in regards to the future.

“For me, he isn’t a 31-year-old. For me, he is only a coach,” Veltman continued.

“He has that respect from us as nicely. We’re excited [to have him here]. He is at all times telling us we have to problem the institution.

“That is his mindset and that is what he brings to us. In each coaching, he retains saying the identical issues, like run, assist your team-mates, do a one-and-a-half job. The thrill is there as a result of we all know what we are able to obtain with him.”

It isn’t solely the administration that excites Veltman, who sees potential inside the dressing room that may justify the next end. Kaoru Mitoma’s aim towards Chelsea throughout their 3-0 victory captured the attention for its execution.

Sky Sports activities’ Jamie Carragher likened the 27-year-old’s contact and end to each Lionel Messi and Dennis Bergkamp. Excessive reward.

It is taken Mitoma a while to settle into the season after his future was plunged into uncertainty in the course of the January window with a bid from Saudi membership Al Nassr. Brighton have seen massive names depart prior to now for lofty charges however for the Seagulls dressing room, conserving Mitoma was a sign of intent.

“I feel Mitoma staying says lots in regards to the membership,” Veltman instructed Sky Sports activities.

“We’re doing nicely within the Premier League now. Perhaps he was not enjoying his finest means of enjoying earlier than Chelsea, however he was nonetheless within the staff.

“We all know he can create an opportunity similar to that or rating a aim similar to that. With that confidence, he scored that aim towards Chelsea. For us, it is actually, actually essential he stayed.”

From the enjoying squad to the coach, ambition may be very a lot the buzzword phrase on the Amex. Brighton’s subsequent 12 video games will determine if they’ll flip that ambition into actuality.