Club news

Knockaert: You'll Always Look At The League Table

By Alex Stedman • 27 April 2018

Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Anthony Knockaert insists that analysing the Premier League table is a normality ahead of the trip to face Burnley at Turf Moor tomorrow afternoon.

The Seagulls travel to the north-west knowing that three points and results elsewhere could result in the side securing their Premier League survival for another season, and the Frenchman acknowledged that Albion were now closing in on achieving their main goal. 

He said, “You always look at the table because it’s just part of football – you always want to know a point that you have to reach or a point total you have to get.

“We now that we’re very close to being safe in this division, so hopefully we can do that – we know we’re relying on other sides as well but if we can do our job this weekend then we know we’ll be one step closer and then we can enjoy the last few games.” 

The winger reflected on what has been a memorable 12 months since gaining promotion with a victory over Wigan Athletic on 17th April 2017 to hosting Champions League chasing Tottenham Hotspur exactly a year later.

“It’s been a great experience over the past 12 months – to go from that day to then be hosting a Champions League side shows you how much can happen in football.

“That’s why we all love the sport and everything that comes with it. 

“It’s a great thing for the club and hopefully now we can create some more great memories in the next few weeks.” 

Knockaert made 11 appearances for Leicester City in their 2014/15 Premier League campaign, and having had the experience of the division before he made the move to Albion, he reflected on the changing landscape of the league.

“There’s some big transfers around and if you look at the top teams it’s almost a miracle if you get a good result because they have the best players in the world. 

“For clubs like us it’s good to be involved in this division – it shows how good you have to be to compete at this level, because I think that this is the best set of teams that there has ever been in the Premier League. 

“Burnley could be going to Europe and that shows you can upset the odds a little bit sometimes – but the other teams in the bottom half are all so tightly grouped together. 

“To be able to stay up in a league that’s at such a high level, w would be a great achievement because of how competitive it is. People don’t realise how hard it is now.”