Lewis Dunk pauses while he thinks about how he should answer. Have the Brighton players been talking about Europe?
He knows what he’s supposed to say, what players always say, that they’re only thinking about the next match and nothing more. One game at a time.
He just can’t bring himself to do it. He’s the captain of Brighton and they’ve just done the league double over Manchester United with a 99th-minute Alexis Mac Allister penalty.
They were sixth in the table until Tottenham beat Crystal Palace to leapfrog them on Saturday but have three games in hand, starting at Everton on Monday, and playing some of the most exciting football in the Premier League under Roberto De Zerbi.
So, have Brighton been talking about Europe? ‘Errr, sometimes… of course,’ says Dunk. ‘Would you?’ If you were Dunk, why wouldn’t you? Brighton have never played in Europe.
Brighton captain Lewis Dunk has admitted his team are dreaming of European competition
Roberto De Zerbi’s side beat Manchester United 1-0 on Thursday, doing the double over them
The Seagulls are now in seventh, but have three games in hand on sixth-placed Tottenham
It was the 26th anniversary only a few days ago of their 1-1 draw with Hereford at Edgar Street to avoid relegation from the Football League and potential oblivion. Dunk’s a Brighton lad, too, who joined the club aged 12.
The club played in League One when he made his debut against Millwall at the end of the 2009-10 season and, apart from a brief loan spell at Bristol City, he’s been there ever since and their captain for the last four years with more than 400 appearances for the club.
Now, he and Brighton are on the cusp of a once in a lifetime opportunity. ‘Hopefully it’s not once in a lifetime,’ interjects the centre-back with a grin. ‘Hopefully, we can be around here next season too. It’s a great time. I have been on a journey with this club and to be fighting for Europe with six games to go in the Premier League.
‘When I first came through, I’d have probably laughed at you. But now it is a reality and I am enjoying every single moment, leading the boys out, keeping them positive and fighting for everything. How can you not enjoy what I’m doing? We are aware of where we are but we aren’t getting carried away. It shows how we are as a team.’
Dunk’s still on a high after the incredible finish to their victory over United. Brighton had created a ton of chances but looked destined to be thwarted… until Luke Shaw…