Ever found yourself lying awake in bed at night and wondering what former Liverpool forward Ryan Babel would think if Brighton qualified for the Champions League?
Well, now you don’t have to. Babel discussed the prospect in a recent interview with Instant Casino during which attention turned to the impressive start to life Fabian Hurzeler has made in England.
The Albion have beaten Manchester United, Spurs and Manchester City. Drawn with Arsenal. Lost just two of their opening 13 fixtures. One against runaway leaders Liverpool and the other to a revitalised Chelsea.
It is the best start to a top flight season in Brighton history and leaves the Albion sitting fifth in the Premier League, only two points behind City.
What makes all this even more impressive is the Albion have been without a number of key players because of injury, including last season’s top scorer Joao Pedro.
The Youngest Permanent Manager in Premier League History is also yet to fully unleash all the summer signings made in a £193 million spending spree.
Brajan Gruda and Matt O’Riley have barely featured. Mats Wiefer, Ferdi Kadioglu and Yankubu Minteh have had their first few months at the Albion interrupted by injury.
Despite the flying start to the season, not many Brighton fan would allow the words ‘Europa League’ to cross their lips – let alone ‘Champions League’.
Babel though is not a Seagulls supporters. He can speak freely without worry of jinxing it, compared with those of us who have watched the Albion for many years.
We know an inevitable defeat to either 20th place Southampton or 19th place Crystal Palace at the Amex is just around the corner. The phenomenon known as Typical Brighton.
Babel told Instant Casino: “I think you could convincingly say that there are maybe seven or eight clubs that could finish in the top four, and that wasn’t always the case.”
“Brighton have played great football over the last few years, with a lot of nice players. I think they’ve been great for the Premier League, and I would love to see them get into the Champions League and see how they could equip themselves at that level.”
“They’ve got a great young manager there and they have been one of the surprise packages of the season. They deserves to be where they are, and I hope it continues.”
Babel’s words are in stark contrast to another ex-Liverpool player, Mark Lawrenson. The former Republic of Ireland international warned earlier in the season that Hurzeler would not repeat the success of Roberto De Zerbi and Brighton had made a mistake not reappointing Graham Potter.
Wise and kinds thoughts from a player who also made over 100 appearances for the Albion in the 1970s as the club first rose from the third tier to the top flight.
