Brighton midfielder Pascal Gross: ‘It is a massive dream and ambition for a lot of us to play in a European competition’ | OneFootball

Brighton & Hove Albion star Pascal Gross says the squad is pushing to finish in one of the European places this season.

The Seagulls are in seventh place in the Premier League table, only two points adrift of sixth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

Finishing in seventh will get Brighton into the Europa Conference League next season.

Gross said the opportunity to play in Europe for the first time in their professional careers is a significant motivator for his teammates.

Speaking to Brighton’s official website, Gross said: “It is a massive dream and ambition for a lot of us to play in a European competition.

“We need to be fully focused on the last five games starting on Sunday, take them one at a time, prepare and recover properly and do our best.

The 31-year-old admitted they did not need manager Roberto De Zerbi to tell them their performance in the 5-1 defeat to Everton was not up to par.

“The coach is honest with us when we are doing well and not doing so well,” Gross added. “When we don’t do the basics, he tells us the truth.

“We know we need to do better if we are to reach our target this season, and we have five games to do it.”

However, responding will not be easy against an Arsenal side trying to keep pace with Manchester City in the Premier League title race. The Gunners are pushing for their first league title since 2004.

Arsenal held the lead at the top of the Premier League but relinquished it by dropping points against West Ham United, Southampton, Liverpool and Man City.

The game on Sunday should be an exciting clash, with two teams going out for three points.