Club news

Hughton: It Would Mean Everything To Stay Up

By James Hilsum • 07 April 2018

Brighton & Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton says it would mean everything for the club to secure their Premier League status for next season, heading into the final seven matches of the season.

Hughton explained that there is an incredible amount of determination within the squad to secure top-flight football for next season and says his players have relished the challenge of competing at the highest level.

He said, “It would be everything and not because you can’t regroup and go again. Burnley showed that they can, but that Championship is getting ever more competitive and there are never any guarantees that a team that drops out of this division will come straight back up again.

“The club has worked incredibly hard to get here and even before my first full season here when we got to the play-offs, the team had reached the play-offs twice before that. So having gone so close for three years before finally getting here, it would mean everything to stay here.

“The players all know what’s at stake in these last seven games. We’ve got players that are desperate to stay in this division and they all want to be Premier League players. They’ve enjoyed it and are desperate to stay here.”

The Seagulls boss assessed the threat posed by Huddersfield and spoke about the Terriers’ high pressing style of play.

"It's a different challenge but if I look at our last three games, we have faced teams that have played three different ways. We're up against that all the time.

"You have to be able to adapt and cope with it. The analysis at this level now on every club is very good, so generally there aren't too many surprises of a team changing their system or the way they play.

"We've got the experience of playing Huddersfield from last season as well. They may have changed the formation at times but they generally haven't changed the way they've wanted to play, and it has been very effective for them."

Albion, Huddersfield Town and Newcastle United have all adapted well to life in the Premier League, and Hughton believes that the increasing spending power of all three clubs has allowed them to cope with the step up.

"I think that will be the case which ever three come up and maybe the season after that.

"I think clubs are prepared that little bit better. If I look at us and Huddersfield, we have also spent by our standards and broken transfer records. Newcastle had a big spend the season before and added to that.

"I think teams will be better prepared going into the Premier League than before.”

Albion supporters can watch Chris Hughton's full look ahead to the game on Seagulls TV above - fans can subscribe to the service here.