Pascal Gross is discussing breakfast and baked beans and bakeries and Wolfies fish and chip store close to Hove station when a lightbulb glints contained in the thoughts of team-mate and compatriot, Deniz Undav.
‘If we made a German restaurant right here, we’d be multi-millionaires,’ Undav says. ‘Belief me.’
The striker has discovered a lot to savour since arriving on the South Coast final summer time from Germany, by way of Tony Bloom’s different membership, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium; the pursuit of ‘perfection’ below Roberto De Zerbi. The potent mix of labor and play among the many squad. The unlikely cost which has Brighton dreaming of Europe. There stays, nonetheless, one key lacking ingredient.
‘German meals,’ says Undav. ‘Kebabs, Turkish meals, Kurdish meals… we don’t have any right here.’ What about these slabs of doner seen spinning late into the evening?
‘Nah, the kebab right here is horrible!’ Undav says. ‘And the sausages. Oh. My. Days… in case you have the standard of a kebab like in Germany — as a result of persons are paying for meals like this — you’d be a multi-millionaire in a single 12 months!’
Deniz Undav (left) and Pascal Gross (proper) are relishing pushing for Europe with Brighton
![Gross admits that Brighton were 'really poor' as they suffered a 5-1 defeat against Everton](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/12/17/70916869-12077843-image-a-25_1683909111961.jpg)
Gross admits that Brighton have been ‘actually poor’ as they suffered a 5-1 defeat towards Everton
His tour information can sympathise. Meals was Gross’s largest ‘wrestle’ when he moved right here six years in the past. Since then, the midfielder has married and had a boy right here. Some team-mates mock him for shedding his German heritage. And but?
‘A full English breakfast for me is a problem,’ Gross says with a smile. ‘I’ve by no means had it. I had fish and chips as soon as earlier than. However not for breakfast!’ It appears one fry-up staple spooks Germans above all.
‘The primary time I noticed beans was six years in the past,’ Gross says, earlier than Undav — who has Turkish and Kurdish roots — chips in. ‘We have now it in our tradition however we eat it scorching, in a soup. We don’t put it on bread! It’s the weirdest factor.’
Quickly their minds wander again house, down reminiscence lane, to early morning journeys to the bakery — heat bread, salami, salmon. ‘Eggs are the one factor that’s heat,’ Gross explains. And by the point this pair meet Mail Sport, egg is the one factor on Brighton faces.
It’s the day after the evening earlier than, when Albion have been humbled 5-1 at house by struggling Everton and their European hopes took a blow. De Zerbi stated the show was proof this crew is ‘not prepared’ to take the subsequent step.
‘We have been actually poor,’ Gross concedes, his face stern now. ‘We have been second greatest in every little thing all around the pitch and it shouldn’t occur.’ So why did it? And the place are the holes in Brighton’s mentality that have to be crammed?
‘First to take each recreation significantly,’ Undav says. ‘As a result of we gained towards Manchester United and Wolves earlier than, perhaps some gamers thought: “Ah, it’s simply Everton.”’
Solely Everton. What an indication of how energy has shifted and the way far Brighton have come. ‘No one was anticipating this,’ the striker provides.
The defeat implies that, with 5 video games to go, De Zerbi’s aspect sit seventh, eight factors off the highest 4 however with video games in hand. Subsequent? A visit to title-chasing Arsenal tomorrow. However the prize of Europe — for the primary time — stays in Albion’s palms.
![Although Undav and Gross are enjoying playing in England, they do not enjoy English food](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/12/17/70917419-12077843-image-a-30_1683910075132.jpg)
Though Undav and Gross are having fun with enjoying in England, they don’t take pleasure in English meals
![Undav believes Brighton can 'achieve something great' next season with further signings](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/12/18/70918367-12077843-image-a-45_1683911153204.jpg)
Undav believes Brighton can ‘obtain one thing nice’ subsequent season with additional signings
![Undav and Gross both praised the impact that manager Roberto de Zerbi has made at Brighton](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/12/17/70916713-12077843-image-a-24_1683908955847.jpg)
Undav and Gross each praised the affect that supervisor Roberto de Zerbi has made at Brighton
‘The subsequent two-and-a-half weeks are a very powerful within the membership’s historical past — that’s the fact,’ Gross says. ‘What I can say to our followers is: we’ll attempt our greatest… after which, no matter occurs, we are able to don’t have any regrets.’
Brighton’s squad have, thus far, resisted the temptation to consider how they may have fun. Wrexham, for instance, toasted the Nationwide League title with a visit to Sin Metropolis.
‘If we obtain one thing, then we are going to discover one thing,’ Gross provides. His No 1 alternative? ‘In all probability Las Vegas as effectively,’ he says with a smile. It may be now or by no means; De Zerbi’s sensational affect has made him a needed man, whereas Chelsea, Spurs and Liverpool will strengthen in time for subsequent season. Is that this a chance they have to take?
‘I don’t assume we now have to,’ Undav insists. ‘After all, it could be wonderful however even subsequent 12 months — with this group, after we get some new gamers in — we are able to obtain one thing nice. As a result of we now have the qualities, we now have the suitable gaffer and we have to simply present it day-after-day on the pitch. If we do, we are able to obtain perhaps one thing larger than this 12 months.’
Gross agrees: ‘We’ve been actually fortunate to search out (De Zerbi). Everybody within the crew is bettering, we enhance as a crew and like Deniz stated, I’m not nervous about the way forward for Brighton.’
To assume individuals feared for Albion when Graham Potter was poached and Chelsea decimated a training and recruitment crew that had develop into the envy of many golf equipment.
As an alternative, Potter was sacked after six months — ‘I can’t say what occurred there,’ Gross says. ‘He’s a very good supervisor, they’re good coaches. It was tough’ — whereas De Zerbi’s flamable brilliance has unlocked even larger potential on this Albion squad.
‘I by no means had this, that the coach needs perfection,’ Undav explains. ‘If it’s one unsuitable move, he’ll get mad… that’s a very good factor.’
The Italian’s philosophy — tempting the opposition out of their defensive form earlier than launching fast assaults — depends on mastering the smallest particulars. ‘Calls for are very excessive,’ Gross says.
![Gross likes playing with Undav as the forward usually plays with one or two touches](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/12/17/70916945-12077843-image-m-28_1683909214716.jpg)
Gross likes enjoying with Undav because the ahead normally performs with one or two touches
Gamers are taught to manage the ball with their studs, moderately than the within of their foot, as a result of it’s safer — the ball is much less prone to run away. There’s one other profit, too.
As one in every of his former gamers — Antonio Vacca at Foggia — identified, utilizing the only real of your foot ‘unconsciously’ lures the opposition into urgent, drawing them out and opening up areas to strike. However then Brighton can solely assault at such devastating pace if persons are pondering two or three strikes forward.
‘To play the ball to Deniz, I must know if he needs to play with one contact or two,’ Gross provides. ‘If it’s one contact, my weight of move must be totally different. Plus, the place is his subsequent move? If he needs to go to that aspect, in all probability on the left foot, to that aspect, the suitable, that element makes life simpler for him.’
The versatile, clever Gross is a favorite of De Zerbi. Undav explains: ‘He has his concepts however he’s good at listening to different opinions — perhaps Pascal, Dunk, Lallana.’
De Zerbi’s depth can cross a line — his first season has been suffering from yellow playing cards. One participant didn’t like him initially. De Zerbi was at all times on his case. The teen has now grown to like working to his excessive requirements.
Mikel Arteta’s concepts have reaped comparable loyalty. Lightbulbs in his crew talks, opposition anthems performed throughout coaching and De Zerbi shouldn’t be too dissimilar if a bit bit much less wacky.
‘He sees himself, his employees, us gamers as sitting in a single boat,’ Gross explains. ‘Typically he makes use of classes about life and how one can examine it to the sport.’
A documentary behind the scenes can be fascinating. Undav is aware of who would steal the present. ‘Me, for certain,’ he says.
![Gross revealed that De Zerbi often uses life lessons during his Brighton team-talks](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/12/17/70917549-12077843-image-m-33_1683910391194.jpg)
Gross revealed that De Zerbi usually makes use of life classes throughout his Brighton team-talks
Gross provides: ‘Deniz can be humorous, Billy (Gilmour) is humorous. We wish to obtain one thing collectively. We solely can do it collectively — we’re not adequate that somebody can do it on their very own.’
After assembly Mail Sport, the pair are again on the great meals hunt. ‘We’re going as we speak to eat a steak,’ Undav says. ‘He pays.’
The striker slaps Gross on the thigh. Right here’s hoping it’s extra to their style than baked beans. De Zerbi will probably be praying his gamers have learnt from different current errors, too.
Undav and Gross are supporting American Specific’ search to search out an Amex TikTok Correspondent to hitch Brighton on The Premier League Summer season Collection tour to the US.