Veltman: Albion have exceeded my expectations

Joel Veltman believes Albion have all the ability and squad depth do well in their first Europa League campaign this season.

The 31-year-old defender, who has Champions League experience with Ajax, was speaking after signing a new two-year contract, having played an important role in helping us qualify for European football for the first time when we finished sixth in the Premier League last season.

“We’re going to play on Thursdays and Sundays, so the programme will be even crazier,” Joel said. “The gaffer has already said we need a big squad and for everyone to be on the same page and ready to go because nobody is going to play 60-odd games in the season.

“It’s going to be intense but really nice because if you win on Thursday and then on Sunday you get into a bit of a rhythm and that can make the team stronger. It can be an amazing journey.

“The gaffer wants to get as far as possible in Europe so the expectations are quite high. We’re not treating is as an aside to the Premier League, we want it as players too. The opportunity to play in both is a dream for us.”

Competing on the European stage wasn’t something Joel envisaged when he first arrived at the club in 2020.

“I remember speaking to Davy Propper about the club and he said Brighton was a lovely city.

“But then we improved as a team, in the way we have played and the results, I knew the way the club was going, but I couldn’t have imagined us to grow as much as we have. It’s gone beyond my expectations.

“Family was an important thing for me in deciding to come here, but the ideas we have, first with Graham Potter and now Roberto, are obviously a huge factor.

“I am 31 and I feel incredible and it’s great to have that opportunity in both the Premier League and now Europe at this stage in my career, and to sign for two more years.”