SCHOOL OF HARD
Seagulls star: Prem’s so tough, we didn’t know how to win last August, but we do now... as United found out
PREMIER LEAGUE
But after Pascal Gross gave them a shock 1-0 victory over Jose Mourinho (below) and his secondplaced Manchester United on Friday, the Seagulls have proved they can be a match for anyone.
Knockaert said: “We started the season, I won’t say ‘scared’, but a bit like, ‘What is the level?’. We didn’t know how to win games.
“But then the first home win against West Brom made a difference, we knew we were capable of winning games and we had the quality to do it, and from there we built some good results.
“We proved against United we are a really good team and deserve to stay up. A result like this one will definitely give us confidence for next season now as well.
“Now we know we have a year’s experience in the Premier League and we will build from it. I’m excited for next season.”
The Amex Stadium was rocking after Friday’s win.
Knockaert added: “It was an amazing night, for the fans, for the club. We deserved it, because we worked more than enough, and all the lads are buzzing.
“We had good home form, and we proved that even against the big teams at home we can produce and get good results.”
Boss Chris Hughton believes that keeping Brighton in the Premier League ranks among his greatest achievements.
Hughton said: “It feels like one of my best moments in the game.
“Maybe because of the performance, doing it in front of a home crowd, beating a team that on paper is an outstanding team.
“These are the types of games where if they score one goal then they possibly get two or three.
“So at this moment it feels that type of achievement, because we know the level and the quality of the teams below us.
“There are some big teams that are very used to playing in this division, so to stay above them has been a wonderful achievement.”
His immediate focus turns to trips to Manchester City on Wednesday and Liverpool on Sunday.
Hughton added: “When the fixtures were drawn up at the start of the season, we looked at the end and felt we would have to be in a good enough position coming into these games. Thankfully for us, we were. “We’ve also shown in the last couple of games – Tottenham here, Arsenal here – that we can compete and, if we get that little bit of luck, we can even get wins.” For other senior figures at the Amex, next season’s work is already under way. Hughton said: “As a manager you want to concentrate on the here and now. You don’t want to be distracted. “But as a club, it’s their responsibility to think forward. “We have a recruitment department that has to think about all eventualities and they will be working. If anything, next season will be harder. It normally is. If it is harder then we have to make sure we work harder to stay in it again.”
Staying up will be Brighton’s priority again but there is also an opportunity to really kick-on.
Hughton said: “There are the top six that are definitely the top six, and Everton are probably the seventh team trying to be top six.
“But apart from that, it’s shown that anybody can beat anybody.
“The moment we think we have cracked this division, then it will be a huge awakening. I certainly won’t get carried away.”