Brighton had European football in their grasp, now they must regroup for one last push

Brighton & Hove Albion’s quest to qualify for Europe for a second time remains in their own hands, but they blew a massive opportunity at Leeds United to get the job done with a game to spare.

In some ways nothing has changed, in another sense everything has changed. Fabian Hurzeler’s side went into Sunday’s penultimate fixture against Leeds United at Elland Road knowing that three points from the final two matches would be enough to add to reaching the Europa League with a sixth-placed finish under former head coach Roberto De Zerbi in 2022-23.

Manchester City’s win in the FA Cup final against Chelsea on Saturday ensured that eighth place in the table will be enough to, at the very least, secure European football in the form of the UEFA Conference League.

Three points is still the target at home to Manchester United on the final day of the season on Sunday (May 24). That will be enough to secure a place in the Europa League again, but all of the lingering anxiety could and should have been removed by claiming those points against Leeds.

It was 0-0 deep into second-half added time, but then Jan Paul van Hecke gifted Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Leeds a 96th-minute winner with a woefully under-hit backpass  that was meant for his Netherlands team-mate Bart Verbruggen.

That moment, combined with a late equaliser for Brentford at home to Crystal Palace and two late goals for Sunderland in a 3-1 win at Everton, has complicated matters considerably.

Hurzeler’s team remain in seventh place, but Brentford (away to Liverpool on the final day) and Sunderland (at home to Chelsea) can both overtake them. So too can Calum McFarlane’s Chelsea, unless they are beaten at home by De Zerbi’s Tottenham in their game in hand on Tuesday (May 19). It partly explains why some of Hurzeler’s players lay on the Elland Road turf at the end, looking crestfallen.

Brighton head coach Hurzeler (George Wood/Getty Images)

“We will try to bounce back. We see also the positives in this bad result, in this bad finish, and it is now my responsibility as head coach to be a role model for that,” Hurzeler told The Athletic after it all went horribly wrong. “To stay positive, to keep having the belief. That’s what I need from my leaders, from everyone, and then we will bounce back.”

Van Hecke, of all people, was the improbable culprit. The centre-back has continued to improve this season to the point where a big money transfer in the summer has become a strong possibility. The club may need to sell him, rather than allowing his current contract to run down. That expires in 2027 and Van Hecke is yet to demonstrate a desire to sign up for longer.

Van Hecke’s first-half performance showcased one of his assets — crisp and accurate passing through the lines into the feet of team-mates to set up attacks. Hurzeler leapt quickly to Van Hecke’s defence afterwards. “That’s football,” Hurzeler said. “I will never judge him for that (error). He is a great player, a great personality. He will bounce back and he has my full support.”

It should not have come down to Van Hecke’s error proving decisive, considering the number of chances created and spurned by Hurzeler’s side during the final quarter of the contest after a languid opening 45 minutes in which both teams lacked urgency and fluidity.

Georginio Rutter, ineffective in his second season compared to the first, was warmly received by the Leeds fans on his return as a substitute to the club he left for £40million ($53.3m) two summers ago — still a club record for an incoming fee paid by Brighton.

“You’re Leeds and you know you are,” was chanted by the home supporters when Rutter was introduced for Danny Welbeck in the 65th minute.

It was Diego Gomez, who came on at the same time as Rutter, who set the tone for the wasteful finishing. The Paraguayan, returning from a three-match absence with a knee injury which initially raised concerns about his availability for his country at the upcoming World Cup, blazed high and wide when Ferdi Kadioglu set him up from Maxim De Cuyper’s cross.

What had comfortably been the clearest chance of the match up to that point was then followed by two more clear-cut opportunities — Jack Hinshelwood failing to connect properly from a Pascal Gross ball and substitute Charalampos Kostoulas heading straight at goalkeeper Karl Darlow from a Gross free kick.

“Enough (chances) to win the game,” Hurzeler said. “We have to analyse it now, overcome this disappointment because negativity doesn’t help you to prepare well for the next game.”

A dejected Van Hecke (George Wood/Getty Images

Finishing the season with matches against Leeds away and then Manchester United at home after a reviving run of seven wins in 10 matches appeared relatively favourable on paper.

Yet Leeds, hampered by injuries and with little to play for other than pride, ensured that Brighton travelled back home empty-handed.

As for Sunday’s opponents Manchester United, well they are guaranteed to finish third and have secured qualification for the Champions League. Brighton have won six of the last eight league meetings between the teams. Straightforward then? It has become anything but.