Manager Roberto De Zerbi and owner Tony Bloom impress with their post-match speech as Brighton qualify for the Europa League.
Enciso produced a stunning leveller after Phil Foden gave newly-crowned champions Man City an early lead, meaning Brighton are guaranteed to finish 6th and earn Europa League qualification.
Both sides also saw goals ruled out and Danny Welbeck struck the bar during a memorable match at the Amex Stadium on Wednesday night.
Player ratings
Brighton: Steele (8), Gross (7), Van Hecke (6), Colwill (8), Estupinan (7), Caicedo (7), Gilmour (7), Buonanotte (7), Enciso (8), Mitoma (7), Welbeck (7)
Subs: Mac Allister (7), Ferguson (7), Undav (6), Veltman (6)
Man City: Ortega (7), Walker (7), Stones (6), Rodri (6), Lewis (6), Mahrez (7), Bernardo Silva (7), Gundogan (7), De Bruyne (6), Foden (7), Haaland (6).
Subs: Palmer (6), Alvarez (6), Gomez (N/A), Phillips (N/A)
Player of the match: Julio Enciso (Brighton)
POST MATCH INTERVIEWS:
Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi: “It was very tough. We knew to play against Man City is always tough. We played very well, we deserved to make our point – and we deserve to play in the Europa League.
“When the situation was difficult we didn’t lose our style. To press Man City man-to-man on every side of the pitch, I think is courage.”
On Enciso’s goal: “It was incredible. Julio has big, big potential. I want him to play better and I think he can improve. If he stays with us for sure he can improve.”
Did he believe he could get Europa League with Brighton when he took over? “No but I didn’t think about the table. I wanted to work and analyse the team, the players, understand a new country, a new league. And then in February I started to think about the goal.
“I’m lucky because I found a fantastic group of players. I’m a good coach but without the players…”
Tonight’s dressing room SCENES! π pic.twitter.com/tGsyvE7Wyl
β Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) May 24, 2023
He said to the club website: βWe didnβt receive a gift of the one point, we deserved the result. I am really proud, because I think this one of the best games of the season. It was very tough, but we played with incredible quality and courage.
βThe improvement of the players has been fantastic and for me itβs very satisfying. We had to respect ourselves, the club and our fans and show the courage and that we believe in ourselves to win against the best team in the world. I think we did that.β
De Zerbi was questioned when he thought Albion could qualify for Europe. βAt the beginning I didnβt put my focus on the target of the Europa League. I had to analyse the players, learn about the Premier League and to understand the new country,” he added.
βBut step by step I started to think about our potential and in February it was clear in my head that we could fight for a big target.
βThe coaches work on tactics, strategy and mentality but first of all there is the passion and energy. In the last part of the season I watched the players not only give their best but more. Without it we couldnβt achieve this target β we deserve to play in the Europa League.β
π ππππ π πππ ππππππ πΆ
Brightonβs changing room tonight. What a moment.π pic.twitter.com/N7CL5DYCjv
β Football Daily (@footballdaily) May 24, 2023
Owner and chairman Tony Bloom told talkSPORT: “It’s been a tremendous season. Roberto, the players and everyone involved has done absolutely superbly. We’re so delighted to finish sixth this season, Europa League.
“Tonight we came against the best team in the world and matched them. Perhaps we were the better side over the 90 minutes which is just so brilliant for myself, the fans and for the whole city.”
On De Zerbi, Bloom added: “He’s doing things that no other head coaches have done. Long may that continue and we look forward to seeing him in the Premier League and Europa League next season.
“We’ll be able to compete on all levels next season even if we lose a couple of our star players.
“That happens at almost every club, we don’t worry about these things and as long as we get the right price for our players they will sometimes go.
“That happens across the board, we’re not at all worried about that and we look to come back stronger next season.”
Bloom said: “A lot of it is about process and our staff. A lot of our staff have been there for a long time and when staff move on we always want to have a plan bringing our existing staff up, sometimes hiring new people and that’s across the whole club.
“It’s step-by-step and year by year we’re looking to improve all the time.
“And then you can get to where we were 14 years ago, near the bottom of League One, to where we are now.”
“Fortunately we hired the perfect man for the job!”
Tony Bloom on Roberto De Zerbi π€© pic.twitter.com/2HjFfIXXMl
β Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 24, 2023
Love this! π
Tony Bloom’s message to the Brighton squad after confirming European football for next season π΅βͺ pic.twitter.com/1EpgvVmqll
β Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 24, 2023
Man City head coach Pep Guardiola: “Exceptional game. Congratulations to Brighton for their deserved qualification to the Europa League. The game we played, 40 hours after I think we drank all the alcohol in Manchester, showed the reason why we are the champion. I didn’t see a drop of intensity in our idea. They had chances, we had chances.
“This team destroy the other opponents, the way they play, and they did in certain moments tonight, especially the last 10 or 15 minutes of the first half, when we struggled. But the second half, we adjusted and we did really well.
On the disallowed goal: “That’s why it’s ‘show me again what you have done this season’, because nobody gave us absolutely anything in this competition on the pitch. Watch it! If it’s a [foul], then every action for Erling is a [foul]. Every single time for the central defenders.”
Here’s what fans had to say as De Zerbi and Tony Bloom impress with their post-match speech as Brighton qualify for the Europa League…
@anfield_buzz: Itβs really nice to see the unity at Brighton from the top all the way down to the team, you can see this is one of the reasons theyβre doing well.
@Matty_Hawks: When I worked for Brighton, he always took time to say hello to all the staff no matter who they were, best owner in league by a distance in my opinion
@Villa18743: What a brilliantly run football club ππ»ππ»ππ» fair play
@deminimismusic: There’s nothing fake about Tony Bloom’s support for Brighton. Lifelong fan, used to see him all the time on the trains to and from away games. Always happy to chat to fellow fans and fully aware of the importance of the club to the local community. Best PL owner by mile #BHAFC
@Brightonfan: Literal goosebumps listening to what Tony says here about RDZ! #bhafc
@AdamHindess1: My chairman β€οΈβ€οΈ everyone in Brighton and Hove is so proud of you. Ladies and gentlemen Mr Tony Bloom
@jplufc100: This could have been us with proper investment #lufc
@charb009: Tony Bloom needs to make sure he does everything to keep RDZ happy. Big summer for them.
@archie_maen: Weβd still be in league 1 without uncle Tony
@Zach_BHA: No better owner of a football club in the world, as well as a perfect manager who Iβm sure will move on at some point but the whole time weβre doing well heβs happy to stay
@ashokspurs: Brilliant from Brighton and Tony Bloom. How a football club should be run. ππΎ
@boon_langer: What a breath of fresh air Brighton are to the premier league! well run club sticking to there values and playing great football along the way, Brighton fans must be on cloud 9 π
@lucabrasi29: Hate it but they really are living the dream, none of this artificial nonsense weβre seeing at the moment, real fan putting his money in and taking them to Europe ππ
@MattSheppard02: Class all round, top fellas
@Mick1082: Two legends side by side thank you for all you have done and are doing πβͺοΈπ
@LewisT_Williams: This will be Gary Sweet in 5 years #LTFC
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