Fabian Hurzeler says Brighton are only at the next step, not the end of the story. Brighton will compete in Europe for only the second time in their history, after finishing eighth in the Premier League in each of the last two seasons and with Hurzeler having signed a new three-year contract in May. He wants the club to keep its edge as the Conference League begins next month.
Hurzeler's message about Brighton's next step
"I see my future here, and that's why I extended the contract, because when I started here, it felt like I got integrated into a family," Hurzeler told skysports.com. He added: "You don't leave your family, you want to achieve something with the family, you want to make the next step, you want to grow as a club, and therefore I want to be part of it."
That lines up with the way he has spoken about Brighton's progress. "Last season we did it, maybe not through the whole season, but definitely we had a lot of great achievements," he said, and then pushed the same point harder: "We always [talk] of making the next step, growing as a club, and therefore we have to show now that we are capable of being successful and achieving things without losing our style and intensity."
The club's recent league finishes give that argument some weight. Brighton ended last season eighth in the Premier League, the same position they held the season before, and their return to Europe comes after Crystal Palace lifted the trophy in May.
The squad change and early signs
The harder part is doing that with a changed group. Hurzeler said: "It's now our responsibility to really integrate these new players. They are here for a reason, and we proved in the past that we have one of the best recruitment systems in the world, so they have potential and they will show this potential."
Brighton brought in 11 players in the summer rebuild, while established figures including Carlos Baleba, Jan Paul van Hecke, Danny Welbeck and James Milner moved on. That turnover is already shaping the feel of the squad, which is now the fourth-youngest in the Premier League.
The early numbers are encouraging. Brighton have recorded 15 big chances in their first three Premier League games of the season, and they have faced only 33 shots, with only Arsenal and Manchester City facing fewer. They have also generated 7.4 xG in those three games, which fits Hurzeler's point that the team can keep creating while the calendar gets busier.
Brighton's task now is less about proving they belong and more about holding that level when Europe starts to add another layer. The Conference League begins next month, and the real test is whether the style Hurzeler wants can survive the extra games.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
