Roberto De Zerbi ready to embrace Brighton's European 'upgrade'

The Seagulls host AEK Athens on Thursday for their opening Europa League Group B fixture, with dates against Ajax and Marseille also on the horizon.

Tackling some of Europe's best sides would have seemed like a distance pipedream back when the club's very existence was under threat in the late 1990s, with the Goldstone Ground sold to pay off debts before Brighton endured spells playing at Gillingham and then Withdean.

The Amex Stadium, though, will be packed in expectation of what De Zerbi's well-drilled team can go on to achieve - having won 3-1 at Manchester United to record a fourth win from the opening five Premier League games.

Brighton have been installed as second favourites for the Europa League behind Liverpool.

But De Zerbi remains determined to keep a sense of perspective.

"We are improving, but we are not a big, big team yet - but we are a good team," the Brighton boss said.

"We believe in ourselves and the quality of the players, the level of the club, the quality of the play - but we are Brighton, we know our level.

"We have the ambition to become better and better, step by step in every competition and in every game."

De Zerbi told a press conference: "The way how we will play and can compete (in the Europa League) can give us an upgrade - but when I am speaking about, 'we are Brighton' it is because we cannot forget where we have started and who we were.

"We cannot lose our DNA - because if we think, 'we are better', then we make a big mistake."

Midfielder Pascal Gross, who was on the scoresheet at Old Trafford, feels there is still plenty more to come from the team.

"Our development has been very good, but we want to keep pushing," he said. "We are happy where we are now, but we want to be better all the time.

"We know where we come from, but we are good as well and are very confident."

On-loan Barcelona forward Ansu Fati came off the bench against United and could be in contention to start.

Left-back Pervis Estupinan and Argentina teenager Facundo Buonanotte are both expected be involved again after missing the trip to Old Trafford following busy international breaks, while winger Solly March should also return to the squad after his muscle issue.

AEK were beaten in the Champions League play-off round by Antwerp, and De Zerbi is expecting a stern test from Matias Almeyda's side.

"I have studied them a lot, they are a good team and very aggressive with the ball and without, so it will be a very tough game," the Brighton boss said.

"Our group is one of the strongest, but for us it is better because we want to compete with the best teams."

De Zerbi added: "The challenge this year is to forget the game we have just played and be focused on the next one.

"The game in Manchester is finished and we have to think only of the Europa League and then the (Premier League) game against Bournemouth (on Sunday), which will be a tough game because it is a third in a week. We have to adapt to this."

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