Joel Veltman, a key player for Brighton & Hove Albion, is setting his sights high as the team navigates a challenging Premier League season. At 31, Veltman is one of the five current Brighton players older than their manager, but he remains optimistic about the club's potential. With Brighton sitting ninth in the league table and four points off fourth place, Veltman believes they can secure a higher finish and potentially fight for European places.
Brighton's performance this season has been marked by ups and downs. After achieving their highest finish in a Premier League campaign last year, securing sixth place and earning a spot in the Europa League for the first time in the club's history, expectations have grown. Veltman acknowledges this growing pressure, noting that the team's current ninth-place position may not satisfy fans eager for more.
"We need to fight the top six, we have the potential. There is that feeling that we can do much better than we're showing now," said Joel Veltman.
Despite a difficult two-month period that saw the team slip into mid-table obscurity, Veltman remains confident in the squad's abilities. He attributes part of this optimism to the club's decision to retain Kaoru Mitoma. Mitoma's standout goal against Chelsea in a decisive 3-0 victory highlighted his value to the team and signaled Brighton's intent to compete at higher levels.
"I think Mitoma staying says a lot about the club," Veltman remarked.
Veltman also credits head coach Fabian Hurzeler's leadership with helping the team navigate its recent challenges. The youthful manager, despite being younger than some of his players, commands respect among the squad. Veltman appreciates Hurzeler's forward-thinking approach and his emphasis on challenging the status quo.
"For me, he's not a 31-year-old. For me, he's just a coach," Veltman stated. "He has that respect from us as well. We are excited [to have him here]. He's always telling us we need to challenge the establishment."
The team's recent struggles included a humbling 7-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest. However, Veltman insists that such setbacks should be left behind in order to focus on future successes.
"Sometimes you just need to forget it and throw that game away," he explained. "Fabian Hurzeler's message to us was to just forget it in the past. Obviously, you learn from it and take that losing feeling with you to prepare for the next game."
With 12 crucial games remaining in their season, Brighton has an opportunity to turn their ambitions into tangible results. Veltman believes that their current trajectory reflects how far the club has come in recent years.
"It is a bit crazy how football goes," he mused.
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