Alious
Brighton wrapped up their Premier League season in spectacular fashion, cruising past Tottenham with a 4-1 demolition at the Amex. Yet, despite finishing eighth in the table and playing some of the most dynamic football in the division, Fabian Hürzeler’s side won’t be featuring in Europe next season.
So how can a team with such an impressive finish and emphatic final-day victory still fall short of continental competition? The answer lies in a complicated web of permutations, and a few crucial results that didn’t go their way.
Why Brighton Missed Out
The battle for European qualification this season was particularly complex due to overlapping competitions and English clubs’ involvement in Europe. Brighton’s hopes of landing a UEFA Europa Conference League spot hinged on a chain of very specific outcomes involving Chelsea and Newcastle United.
Here’s how it unfolded:
For eighth place to lead to Europe, Brighton needed Chelsea to finish seventh and then win the Conference League final this coming Wednesday.
Alternatively, if Chelsea ended sixth, Brighton could qualify through eighth only if Newcastle finished seventh, allowing European places to cascade down one spot.
However, neither of those conditions materialised.
On the final day:
Chelsea beat Nottingham Forest 1-0, finishing fourth and locking in Champions League football.
Newcastle lost 1-0 to Everton but still ended up fifth, as Aston Villa lost to Manchester United.
With Chelsea qualifying for the Champions League via league position, their hypothetical Conference League win now won’t unlock an additional European spot. And Newcastle’s strong finish meant seventh wasn’t vacated in a way that would have benefited Brighton.
Instead, it’s Nottingham Forest who sneak into the Europa Conference League, with eighth place yielding nothing in terms of continental football this time around.
Hürzeler Reflects on Season
Despite the disappointment, Brighton boss Fabian Hürzeler remained upbeat and proud of his squad’s achievements.
> “It’s been challenging, but we went through it together,” he reflected. “We showed personality, we never wavered from our identity. In many seasons, the points we earned would have been enough for Europe.”
He emphasised that Brighton’s style—**high-intensity pressing, fluid possession play, and resilience**—remained intact all season. And while the European dream ends here, Hürzeler sees the campaign as a strong foundation.
> “Next season is about consistency—in performances, in results. We’ve built something, and now we keep building.”
For Brighton, missing out on Europe may sting, especially after such a thrilling season finale. But under Hürzeler, the club looks poised to challenge again—this time aiming to leave **nothing to chance**.
Alious
