Pascal Gross was named both Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season at the Albion Players’ Awards dinner on Monday after another outstanding season.
The German midfielder has made 46 appearances so far, contributing four goals and ten assists in the Premier League, scored our first goal on European soil in the 2-2 draw against Marseille, and was called into his national squad for the first time.
The 32-year-old has now contributed 40 goals and 35 assists across his 225 Premier League games since joining the club in 2017. It was the second time the fans have voted him their player of the season, the first coming at the end of his first campaign after his move from Ingolstadt.
“It means that I’m doing things right, and it’s massive for me because football is all about the fans,” he said. “I think we have a special connection. At home it’s always full and when you go away you see special support and I was proud walking out at stadiums in Europe and seeing our section already full. Brighton people were proud that their team could play there and that gives me a special satisfaction.”
And the players’ award? “From the players if you are professional and keep pushing and trying your best every day it really means a lot when your fellow professionals award you. It’s really special.”
He made his Albion debut in the opening game of the 2017-18 season, in a 2-0 defeat at home to Manchester City. He scored Albion’s first-ever Premier League goal, a deflected effort at home to West Bromwich Albion, and went to add a second and an assist for Tomer Hemed in a 3-1 win.
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“I thought it was a big challenge,” he said of his move to England. “I was hoping I would do well but you never know. After my first couple of games I thought it could be over quite quickly the way I performed, but then I stepped up and got used to the level.”
Skipper Lewis Dunk, who won the fans’ award in 2020, was also making his top-flight debut against City after helping the team to promotion the previous season. “I think Dunky and I have similar stories,” Pascal said.
“When you look back, we came to the Premier League at the same time, in 2017 - I came to the club, he was already here - we both grew with the club, we both got our international appearances very late, and we fight together every seven days on the pitch.
“If we could play against each other this summer it would be unbelievable, because it would mean that we both came to a certain stage in the tournament. But I know where I have come from and the squad isn’t out yet, so if I make it it would be a dream for me and my family.
“My dad taught me a lot and still does. I created my own family, my two kids are born here, we have a nice family life and they support me so I can do what I love, what I have loved all my life, playing football at the highest level.”
The three previous winners have all left the club shortly after collecting the award, but Pascal has another year on his contract and is planning for a coaching career to come, with the help of Albion Head Coach Roberto De Zerbi.
“I passed my UEFA B Licence,” he said. “At the moment I’m learning every day from my coach and we’re lucky to have him. He has been massive. I wanted to be a coach all my life because I love football so much I want to stay involved. Meeting him helped me playing, coaching, everything.”