Legendary Albion skipper Brian Horton is hoping for a diplomatic draw when two clubs close to his heart meet at the Amex on Wednesday.
Nobby captained Albion to promotion from the old third division in 1977 and then led the club into the top flight for the first time in its history in 1979, scoring the first goal in the clinching 3-1 win at Newcastle.
He also managed Manchester City in the Premier League for two seasons, from 1993 to 1995, overseeing players such as Steve McMahon, Uwe Rosler, Niall Quinn and Paul Walsh.
He is thrilled by the clubs’ successes this season, with City confirming a third title in succession on their way to a possible treble and Albion achieving a European berth for the first time in their history.
“I wish I was coming down for the game, I really do,” he said. “I think it will be an absolute master-class of football.
“I suppose you are going to ask me who I want to win, but I want Brighton to be in the Europa League rather than the Conference, so I’ll sit on the fence and take the draw.”
Both were very different clubs in his heyday, but he is impressed by where they are now. “It’s five titles of the last six titles for City, which is incredible, but it’s not just that, it’s the way they are playing.
“[Former Luton manager] David Pleat texted me during their Champions League semi-final second leg against Real Madrid and said it was the best first half he had ever seen. They made the reigning European champions look like a second division side.
“They have some great players. They say Kevin De Bruyne is the best midfield player who has ever played in the Premier League and he has got to be close.
“What Erling Haaland has done is magnificent, Jack Grealish has stepped up and for me, Rodri is the best holding midfield player there is. John Stones and Kyle Walker have come to the fore again. Bernardo Silva, Gundogan, whoever plays really. It is just an incredible team.
| Pos | Team | Pld | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5
|
LIV
|
38 | +28 | 67 |
|
6
|
Albion
|
38 | +19 | 62 |
|
7
|
AVL
|
38 | +5 | 61 |
“How strong a team Pep will play at the Amex I don’t know, with the Champions League and FA Cup finals coming up. Against Chelsea on Sunday they put in some of the young players but still won, and watching them receive the trophy and their medals was a great occasion.”
City manager Pep Guardiola and Albion boss Roberto De Zerbi are friends and mutual admirers, and Horton is also a member of both their fan clubs.
“I have read Pep’s comments about him [De Zerbi] and the football Brighton are playing is incredible. Everyone at the club deserves credit, from Tony Bloom to Paul Barber, who recently won chief executive of the year, to Roberto, who is getting all the plaudits.
“And of course the players have taken it all on board. I have heard Lewis Dunk talking about the training and that is where it all starts, of course, on the training ground. Credit to all of them.”
Nobby himself was always encouraged to play the right way at the Goldstone. “I was lucky that I played for Alan Mullery at Brighton and he wanted us to play football rather than hit long balls, and then went I left for Luton – although I didn’t want to leave – I played for David Pleat and he wouldn’t have us kicking long balls, we played through midfield.
“Today it is even more so, everything starts from the goalkeeper and they play out from the six-yard box. It can be great to watch.”
He is hoping for a hat-trick of successes for his former clubs with Luton facing Coventry City in the Championship play-off final.
Whereas Albion and City are playing at modern stadiums, Luton’s home is likely to be a culture shock to Premier League sides if they get past the Sky Blues.
“Kenilworth Road is still the same as it was when I played there because there is nowhere to extend it,” he said. “If they make it, and I think they will, then it will cause plenty of problems for visiting clubs next season.
“The pitch is the same but the stands are very close to the touchlines and it’s a very tight ground. But they play some good stuff and Rob Edwards has gone in after Nathan Jones and made them very hard to beat. They play a certain way and I fancy them to do it.”