Brighton & Hove Albion Chief Executive, Paul Barber has urged fans to “remain positive” in Premier League Top-Four race.
Having heartbreakinly lost their FA Cup semi-final on penalties to Manchester United after a goalless draw in which they dominated, Brighton now turn their focus towards their push for a top-four finish in the Premier League.
Chief Executive – Paul Barber has in-turn written an open letter addressing yesterday’s emotions at Wembley Stadium, London, as he described the aftermath as one “tinged with feelings of anti-climax, sadness and sometimes even regret.”
He however has urged supporters to push those type of emotions aside as he praised the 36,000 strong fans for making the club “proud” at Wembley, with their “noise, the passion and the energy” rippling around the stadium in “unforgettable” scenes.
Barber also looked on the positive side of the match as he praised the team for their performance in which they had “more possession,” and “good chances”, yet admitted that their penalty shootout defeat just one step from a first FA Cup Final since 1983 is “very hard.”
On Solly March’s penalty miss which proved decisive, Barber has urged supporters to “rally” behind him and praised the midfielder for his “magnificent season”, which has helped the Seagulls enjoy the success that they’ve endured.
Brighton now resume their league campaign where they’ve three games in hand and currently sit eighth but 10 points off a top-four finish although seventh would be enough to secure European qualification for the first time in their history.
Barber therefore iterated that their progress isn’t easy as he said: ‘We’ve always said that progress isn’t made in a straight line upwards. There will be bumps in the road. Our strength and resilience will be tested.
‘We all need to demonstrate our strength and resilience today, for the rest of this week and the remainder of the season. There’s a lot of football left to play and so much more we can achieve.’
Concluding his open letter, Barber requested that supporters “remain positive and focused,” heading into Wednesday’s league trip to relegation battling Nottingham Forest, where their “support will be so important.”