Matt O'Riley: 'We're in a really good place'

Midfielder says the players will enjoy tackling the challenge of five successive away games, starting in Czechia tonight.

2026-10-22T08:00+01:00

Matt O'Riley believes Albion's squad will take the packed schedule in their stride. 📷James Boardman

Matt O'Riley believes a thriving dressing room culture can be the bedrock of the club's success this season, as Albion prepare to navigate a demanding stretch of five consecutive away fixtures.

It starts in Czechia tonight when they face Jalbonek in their second league phase game in the UEFA Conference League (5.45pm).

O'Riley, who scored in last week’s 4-0 win over Kauno Zalgiris, believes the squad is perfectly equipped to take the mounting challenges in their stride.

"We are in a really good place," O'Riley said. "We made great signings this summer, and more importantly, they are really good people. The group dynamic is currently great from a personal perspective.

"Having been at successful clubs, I believe that is key to achieving success. We have focused on that, and it translates directly to the pitch."

That togetherness will be thoroughly tested in the coming weeks. Brighton face a gruelling sequence of matches across domestic and European competitions, but O'Riley says the players take it in their stride.

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After the impressive Premier League victory on Sunday, attention turns to the UEFA Conference League and the trip to Czechia where Fabian Hurzeler and the team face Jablonec on Thursday. Club photographer Paul Hazlewood captured some images from training.

"You get used to living sporadically as a professional footballer," he added. "Football schedules aren't normal compared to broader society, so we are naturally used to living day-to-day. As a player you just think about the next game and training session.

"I enjoy living that way because it keeps you present. Focusing on the next thing in front of you, rather than getting caught up in what has happened or will happen, brings the most success."

The added burden of European travel is, as O'Riley admits, "more demanding mentally and physically." However, he views the packed calendar as offering opportunities for a deep squad and Brighton's Academy graduates to step up. Against Zalgiris, O’Riley’s goal was created by Younes Ibrahim.

"The club implements a style of play in the academy that is very similar to the first team, making it easier for younger players to adapt when they train with us," he said.

Albion are heavily tipped to do well in the Conference League. It is a status O'Riley welcomes, though he remains grounded. "It is cool. You have to treat it with respect, because nothing is guaranteed in football. We aren't expected to be doing as well as we are in the Premier League, but we are and we think we can have a good season."