Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Pascal Gross is relishing the Premier League’s return when Albion travel to face Watford at Vicarage Road next weekend.
The German is preparing for his second season with the Seagulls in England’s top flight, and he insists that he’s improved as a player ahead of the new campaign.
He said, “I can’t wait for the start of the season now – I feel like I’ve developed as player since I arrived here, I’m a better player than last season in my opinion.
“As a player you train throughout the week to play matches at the weekend, games are what you enjoy the most.
“I can’t wait for Saturday – we’ve been training for eight weeks now and it has been hard work, but I love the matches and we’re all ready to go next weekend.”
Gross was on the scoresheet last night in the side’s 2-1 win over FC Nantes at the Amex Stadium, notching from close range in the second half, and he reflected positively on the side’s final test of pre-season that ended in victory.
“The match felt good and it was a good test for us, we have another week and then we’ll be well-prepared.
“It was a positive game and we played some really good football in the first hour.
“We want to do that over 90 minutes and when the Premier League starts next weekend that’s what we’ll be looking to do – I think we’ll be well-prepared for the season.
“It was nice for me to score my goal and I’m always happy when I can score or get an assist – for me personally they both feel the same.”
Chris Hughton’s side have seen a host of new arrivals come through the door on the south coast during the close season, and Gross was complimentary about their exploits so far, highlighting that he was in a similar position when he arrived in England a year ago.
“We’ve had a few players leave and eight come through the door, it’s exciting and the ones who have come in have adapted well.
“The group have tried to help them, and they’ve helped us as well – that’s football.
“Last year I was a new player at a new club and in a new country, so I’ll always try to help them settle in.”