Lewis Dunk sends strong message to Brighton dressing room ahead of Man United and Europe showdown
Brighton vs Manchester United in the Premier League from the AMex Stadium - Sunday, 4pm
Brighton captain Lewis Dunk insists this week's training must be spot on if the Seagulls are to reach European heights this season.
Albion suffered a painful 1-0 defeat at Leeds on Sunday but they remain seventh and in contention for European football next season.
If Brighton beat Manchester United at the Amex Stadium this Sunday, a Europa League spot will be confirmed.
Ninth-placed Sunderland, who welcome Chelsea on the final day, and eighth placed Brentford, who go to Liverpool, will both be hoping Brighton slip-up.
Man United match is ‘massive’
Dunk, 34, is determined to see Brighton recover quickly from the disappointment at Elland Road and finish the season on a high against United at the Amex Stadium.
"I think all that was missing was that little bit of quality,” said the skipper on Brighton’s 1-0 loss to Leeds. “The cutting edge, the ruthlessness.
“We were okay. We played some good stuff. We didn't give them a great deal but in the end it's a painful one to take.
“But we've got to dust ourselves off and pick ourselves up and have a good week's training. We've got a massive last game of the season.
“If you'd have offered me it at the start of the season, I'd have snapped your hand off.”
Dunk tasted European football with Brighton under previous head coach Roberto De Zerbi
Albion topped a group that included Marseille, Ajax and AEK Athens but were hammered 4-1 by Roma in the last 16. Dunk is keen for another crack and feels the character they have shown to comeback from bad spells will help them this week.
Dunk: We’ve had worse!
Dunk added: “When you look at the middle part of the season, we had one win in 14 games. We've shown what we've got in this changing room as a group and as people.
“Today was difficult, but we know we've come back from worse than this. That's the way we’ve got to look at it. We have to have a good week’s training and look forward.
“There’s one massive game. It's a cup final for us to reach Europe. Let’s work hard and try and do it."