Brighton & Hove Albion

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League match at home to Aston Villa in the Premier League (14:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• De Zerbi confirmed that they have "nine injured players, the same as Bournemouth and also now Adam Lallana".

• He said the "strong motivation is to react, to play well and win" after their defeat by Bournemouth and they are "trying to give our best but sometimes it's been difficult to show our quality. In terms of attitude and behaviour, we are only focused on this season."

• He added: "It is finishing a tough season, we want to do something different, we wanted to fight to reach the Europa League again and compete in a different way in the last three months, but we have to accept it is part of football. Sometimes you want to do something different, something better. You want to make our fans happy but sometimes you're not able to do that. The problems we've had are clear for everyone."

• On players who are going to be out of contract: "[Danny] Welbeck I think is very close to signing a new contract. [Adam] Lallana and [James] Milner, we spoke in meetings we have had, I think they are both important players... I would like them to stay next season."

• On staying motivated for rest of the season: "I spoke about motivation not because we want to go on holiday tomorrow or next week. When the target is not so close it is tough to accept for a team who is used to fighting for the important target. This season until the Brentford game, until maybe the Burnley game, we have had the chance to qualify for another year in the Europe League. I think after that we lost something of energy and of motivation."

• De Zerbi said what Unai Emery has done at Aston Villa is "incredible" and "his style is clear, they have very important players, they spent lots of money in last transfer window on top of other great players they had," but added: "[It is] tough for them playing and competing in three or four competitions in one season because they are not so used to it."

• On his comments about his side's best not being good enough: "After this type of defeat [against Bournemouth], you have not to say something else or anything more. I am lucky because my players are good people and they understand the moment is tough but we are still Brighton and we have to be able to win like last season and lose the game with pride and with the right attitude."

Follow the rest of Friday's Premier League news conferences

Listen to commentary of Brighton v Aston Villa from 14:00 BST on Sunday on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds

Brighton, Fulham, West Ham and Benfica are monitoring Vitoria de Guimaraes and Portugal winger Jota Silva, who has a £17m release clause. (Rudy Galetti), external

Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi remains on Bayern Munich's manager shortlist after Ralf Rangnick turned down the German club. (Bild - in German), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Brighton will look to lure Kieran McKenna away from Ipswich Town if manager Roberto de Zerbi leaves the club at the end of the season. (Guardian), external

Want more transfer news? Read Thursday's gossip column

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Brighton's annual fans' forum is a fabulous opportunity for supporters to highlight concerns or express their opinions.

On Tuesday, it allowed manager Roberto de Zerbi and chief executive Paul Barber to reflect on what has been a momentous season, the first in the club's history to include European football, but is ending disappointingly, with just six points from the past nine Premier League games.

Barber has not given up on a top-10 finish and the Seagulls still have three home games left.

However, one stands out.

Chelsea have raided Brighton so often over the past couple of years. BBC Radio Sussex's Johnny Cantor, hosting the forum, speculated Chelsea might even try to buy Sussex Police for the fixture.

Certainly there is likely to be an edge to the game at Amex Stadium on 15 May.

"Please beat Chelsea," said one fan. "I really want to beat them."

Image source, Getty Images

Jordan Campbell of The Athletic says Roberto de Zerbi "has been huge" for Billy Gilmour's development since his switch from Chelsea in September 2022.

The Scotland midfielder joined Brighton after bring told he was not in then-Blues boss Thomas Tuchel's plans, following an injury-hit season on loan at Norwich City.

"He has done so well to navigate his career," Campbell told the Scottish Football Podcast.

"You have seen Gilmour transform his body. He looks like a Premier League athlete now and there is no question any more around whether he just relies on his brain and his great technical ability. He can get around the pitch and he is really robust."

The 22-year-old has started 26 Premier League games this season and has become a key member of the Seagulls' midfield.

"De Zerbi has been huge for Gilmour in terms of having that responsibility to be the main playmaker and take the ball under pressure at the very highest level," Campbell added.

"When you talk about coaches in world football, there are not many who have got a more distinct style of play. If you were to pair Gilmour with any manager, it would be him because it is all about sharp combinations."

Listen to the Scottish Football Podcast on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Referees' chief Howard Webb has explained the decision not to award Brighton a penalty against Brentford during their 0-0 draw in the Premier League on 3 April.

A corner was delivered into the Bees' box and a tussle ensued between Seagulls defender Lewis Dunk and Brentford forward Yoane Wissa, before the Brighton player went down appealing for a penalty.

Initially referee Andy Madley waved the appeals away, before the video assistant referee (VAR) intervened and recommended he review the incident.

Having looked back at the full attacking sequence, he decided to stick with his on-field decision of 'no penalty', deeming Dunk to have fouled Wissa first.

Speaking on Sky Sports' Mic'd Up programme, Webb said: "It's an unusual situation. I think some people thought that the referee went to the screen and just rejected it, thinking it wasn't a penalty when the VAR did. That's not what happened.

"On every situation we check the attacking phase of play before a penalty kick or a goal, for example. And when the VAR checks the attacking phase, he can see a clear offence by Dunk on Wissa before the penalty offence.

"So the VAR then sends the referee to the screen to have a look at the full sequence, because the referee makes the final judgement on all aspects.

"The referee has gone to the screen to have a look at a full sequence and can also make a judgement on the first part of it, which is the reason why the penalty isn't given."

Image source, Getty Images

The 2023-24 season has been landmark for Brighton, featuring Albion's first European campaign and generally spent in the top half of the Premier League before dropping off in recent weeks.

At a special fans' forum hosted by BBC Radio Sussex, boss Roberto de Zerbi and chief executive Paul Barber explored what next year might look like.

De Zerbi: "The target of my club is not my business.

"In my head, we can push more than the target of the club. I push this in the dressing room with the players.

"I want to respect everyone in front of me, and the target has to be clear. We have to have the chance to reach the target. If I don't believe [in] it, then I will say the truth."

Paul Barber added: "We want to be back in European football. Everyone enjoyed it so much on and off the pitch. We want to try and do whatever we can to give Roberto the tools he needs to help us do that again.

"That's not easy because other clubs around us are improving, but it will be our aim to be back in Europe as quickly as we can. That will be from this moment forward.

"We keep planning and working towards that."

Listen to the full event on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Question: What is the logic behind our goalkeeper rotation? And will it continue in coming seasons?

De Zerbi said: I do not know about next season as things can change.

This season we have two great goalkeepers. Bart Verbruggen has the potential to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world in the next few years and Jason Steele was crucial last season for reaching the Europa League.

They have different characteristics and they both play well. Maybe you might prefer one but at this moment they are at the same level.

Image source, Getty Images

Albion fans have been asking boss Roberto de Zerbi and deputy chairman Paul Barber about the club's future prospects following as a landmark season nears its close.

Question: "There is a lot of speculation about you and your future at the club, so I just wonder how that has impacted your motivation and the team's?"

De Zerbi: "I am not working just for a career. I am working to wake up in the morning happy and if I will be happy like that in the future with Brighton, then there is not one team who can take me.

"But if I am not happy or feel the motivation to work like the last two seasons then I will change because I am not giving my best.

"If I am giving my best then I can push the players."

Listen to the full fans' forum on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

It has been a difficult end to the season for Albion with only one win in their past 11 Premier League games.

Fan question: After investing in the squad in the summer, do you think we will see a return to the style of play we saw in your first season at Brighton?

De Zerbi: "The style of play depends on the characteristics of the players.

Playing with [Kaoru] Mitoma and [Solly] March is different to playing with [Simon] Adingra on the right. If we play with Adingra as right-winger and Tariq Lamptey at right-back, you don't see overlapping. If March plays right-winger, it's different.

"For the same reason, we played without [Pervis] Estupinan at left-back. Estupinan was permitted to play in build up last season, in a different way than in the last four or five months. We have played a lot of games with three defenders at the back.

"I think we have improved in controlling games, especially in the first half of the season when we played Igor[Julio] , [Lewis] Dunk and Jan Paul van Hecke at the back.

"I love to put my players in the best position for them. The most important thing is that the players are comfortable on the pitch and not to start from my ideas."

Image source, Getty Images

On Tuesday, BBC Radio Sussex's Johnny Cantor hosted a fans' forum with head coach Roberto de Zerbi and deputy chairman Paul Barber.

Over the course of Wednesday morning, we will give you the highlights from an entertaining evening at Amex Stadium.

Listen to the whole episode on BBC Sounds

Image source, Brighton & Hove Albion FC

Brighton have appointed Professor Doctor Florian Pfab as the club's new head of medicine and Doctor Gary Walker as the new head of performance.

Pfab joins from Eintracht Frankfurt, where he has spent five seasons, and is highly regarded for ensuring the club has been one of the teams with the fewest muscle injuries in the Bundesliga in recent years.

Walker joins from FC Cincinnati in the Major League Soccer and has previously spent 10 years at Manchester United as head of strength and conditioning before becoming their men's first-team fitness coach.

It has been a difficult season for Brighton, as injuries to key players in an already small squad has dented their hopes of a top-eight finish.

Roberto de Zerbi has been without the likes of Kaoru Mitoma and Pervis Estupinan whilst also competing in Europe for the first time in their history.

Technical director David Weir said: "Both have excellent experience in their respective professional fields, and what has been clear in the recruitment process is that they share our vision of the performance environment for our men's and women's staff and players.

"We have developed a world-class training facility and our aim is to give our men's and women's first-team, and academy squads the best possible medical and sports science support."

Pfab is a replacement for Adam Brett, who left the Seagulls in December after nine years.

Both will take up their new roles in the summer before the 2024-25 season.

A number of clubs in Saudi Arabia are interested in Barcelona's 21-year-old Spain forward Ansu Fati, who is currently on loan at Brighton.(Sport - in Spanish), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Scott McCarthy
Fan writer

It was interesting to hear Roberto de Zerbi say Brighton's results and performances have fallen off a cliff in recent weeks because motivation amongst the players is low since elimination from the Europa League in March.

Interesting, because the Albion were in relegation form a long time before their humbling at the hands of Roma. Brighton have won just three Premier League matches out of 15 in 2024. Since the end of September, it is only six victories in 28.

Trying to pinpoint the problem is difficult because there are so many different factors contributing to this wretched run.

Motivation, yes. Injuries. De Zerbi rocking the boat with public criticism of the club. And two poor transfer windows leaving the Albion with a weaker squad than last season and ill-equipped for the added workload of European football.

2023-24 should be remembered as the campaign the Seagulls soared against AEK Athens, Marseille and Ajax. All those lifelong memories are in danger of being overshadowed by how it is finishing.

The most important thing that can happen now is Brighton learn the lessons from this season. Recruitment needs to be better. De Zerbi has to develop more than one way of playing. The number of players out with long-term injury looked at.

Heed the warning signs of the past few months and the Albion can get back to challenging for a top eight finish. Ignore them and those comparisons to Leicester and Southampton which make Seagulls supporters bristle might become worrying accurate.

Scott McCarthy can be found at We Are Brighton, external

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton thinks Roberto de Zerbi "wants out" from Brighton and questions whether "he has lost motivation".

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Sutton said: "De Zerbi upsetting the apple cart isn't new. Did he not say a couple of months back that basically himself and Tony Bloom weren't aligned on the same page with regards targets?

"He wants out. I wonder whether his levels have dropped and whether he's giving it his all.

"He's been linked with a lot of big clubs. He may have something in the bag already."

Brighton have not won in their past six Premier League games and only scored once in their five fixtures in April.

Sutton added: "You always associate Brighton with this brand of football - goals, brilliant on the eye. They have fallen away.

"He's done a bit of damage to himself. I suspect he's had his head turned a while ago and wants to get to the end of the season.

"Maybe he's on the beach rather than the players."

Watch the full episode of Monday Night Club on BBC iPlayer or listen to the podcast on BBC Sounds

Johnny Cantor
BBC Radio Sussex reporter

Brighton and Hove Albion fans will get the chance to quiz Roberto de Zerbi and Paul Barber later on Tuesday.

The head coach and deputy chairman will be on the panel for a fans' forum live from Amex Stadium, which I'll be hosting and you can listen to live from 19:00 BST on BBC Radio Sussex.

Questions will come from the floor and are likely to include reflections on this historic season - a first European campaign - and plans for the future on and off the pitch.

You can listen to the forum live on BBC Sounds, on the radio or on the club's YouTube channel

Leicester City will have to sell players before 30 June to avoid profit and sustainability rules (PSR) charges next season, with 25-year-old English midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall attracting interest from Brighton, Brentford and Fulham. (Mail), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Premier League clubs have voted in favour of adopting an anchoring economic model, which will be linked to the earnings of the bottom club (tv and prize money).

The proposed system would operate like a spending cap.

The next stage is final analysis and drafting of rules, which will potentially be put to clubs at an AGM in June.

The model will be presented to clubs and - should clubs vote in favour then - it will replace the Profit and Sustainability Rules currently in place, from the 2025-26 season onwards.

Any new element of the financial system would come in shadow next season, to fully replace PSR in 2025-26.

“We will obviously wait to see further details of these specific proposals, but we have always been clear that we would oppose any measure that would place a ‘hard’ cap on player wages," said the PFA

“There is an established process in place to ensure that proposals like this, which would directly impact our members, have to be properly consulted on.”

Aston Villa, Manchester City and Manchester United opposed the vote, with Chelsea abstaining.

BBC Sport's chief football news reporter Simon Stone has been answering your questions.

Matt asked: Brighton do not seem to be the same force as last season. Some say Roberto De Zerbi has been 'found out' but personally I believe their strategy of selling their best players, even for big money, will only ever see them drop down. Thoughts?

Simon replied: I think Brighton are a fascinating club. Historically, they are on for one of their best ever finishes. Even in this Premier League era, they are doing well.

However, their standards have been set and living up to them is incredibly difficult. Last season, Kaoru Mitoma, Pervis Estupinan and Evan Ferguson were all superb. This season they have largely been injured. In addition they sold Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo. And on top of all that, they had a European campaign to contend with.

Like West Ham, Brighton are not a club who can pay huge amounts of money on players to fill out a squad to use when injuries bite. Roberto De Zerbi has had to manage that situation. While David Moyes gets criticised for being too negative, De Zerbi is too open.

The truth is neither club has the squad depth needed to compete across a 38 game season, with European demands added in. The respective managers try and deal with the situation in the best way they can.

We asked for your views on Sunday's match between Bournemouth and Brighton.

Here are some of your answers:

Bournemouth fans

Mark: Wow Andoni, what a job you have done! Some doubted you in the early days, but most knew that you would turn it around. Our best ever Premier League points return, after no wins in the first nine games, and we still have three more games to play. The future is bright, the future is Andoni. Take a bow, we all love you.

Boessli: Many doubted Iraola when he first got here but he has now proven himself to be a very astute manager. I think the supporters have gone from "why did we get him in?" to "don't let him go". Bournemouth could have been looking at a European spot if we were able start the season as we are finishing it.

Keith: I never understood why Travers was dropped. Neto has pulled off some great saves but he is very unpredictable with the ball at his feet and punches too often, rather than catching the ball. Overall, Travers is more dependable, in my opinion.

Katie: I could not be prouder of these boys. Little old Bournemouth proving everyone wrong, every week. To have so many players missing and still produce a performance like that is immense. We have smashed our highest ever points tally with games left. I love this team.

Brighton fans

Trevor: Brighton would be playing in the Championship next year if their current form was occurring at the start of the season. There are lots of injuries and disruptive rumours surrounding Roberto de Zerbi. Selling off many of our key players might have been necessary to balance the books but, on a sporting balance, that was not the right choice. Brighton must rebuild during the summer.

Bob: Our season has slowly imploded. The players look tired and of low morale. Roberto de Zerbi needs to change our tactics of playing out from the back. All of the teams have cottoned on to this and look forward to playing us, because we are so easy to score against. I cannot wait for this season to finish. Hopefully we finish higher than 15th.

Steve: European football and a 12-man strong injury list would have challenged most Premier League squads but, when you consider that Brighton's 'reserves' are either injury-prone or teenagers, it comes as no surprise that the performances have nosedived in 2024. Roma started the rot, then Luton and Manchester City, and now Bournemouth are just emphasising it. Quality beats quantity.

Matthew: Injuries or no injuries, what this season has shown is that De Zerbi has no plan B and cannot encourage or nurture young talent. His tactics are exceptional when he has a full squad, but he has shown himself to be too reliant on his best players, which has caused injuries. The manner of our drop in form has to stop with him. It's relegation form and it's concerning.

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi has challenged his players to play with "soul, honour and pride" in their remaining games.

Albion are winless in their last six matches and have dropped to 12th in the Premier League, ending their hopes of playing European football next season.

The Italian wants to see a mentality shift in upcoming against Aston Villa, Newcastle, Chelsea and Manchester United before the season ends.

"Injuries are a factor, but motivation as well," he said. "Motivation in football is 80 per cent of our work.

"In my time every game is a big challenge, a big target. In this moment, too many points from Europe, we are working for an unclear target but I can't accept a game without soul.

"We have to stop this moment quickly. I have a big respect for my players and I know they are suffering in the same way, but we have to be honest with ourselves.

"We always have to play with soul, with honour and with pride because we are Brighton."

Mark Chapman introduces highlights and analysis from Sunday's three Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, you can catch up on the best of the action on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch highlights of Saturday' seven games on Match of the Day here

Listen back to Sunday's BBC Radio 5 Live match commentaries in full:

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