Millwall are famous in Brazil because of Green Street says Brighton star

The 23-year-old Brazilian joined Albion from RB Leipzig last summer and knows all about the Lions because of the 2005 film Green Street, which is about football hooliganism in the United Kingdom.

Bernardo played for Red Bull Brasil and Ponte Preta in his home country before moving to Europe and playing for FC Liefering and Red Bull Salzburg in Austria before he moved to German side RB Leipzig in 2016. The left-back signed for Brighton for a reported £9m fee last year and he has played 16 times this season.

Asked if he knows what kind of atmosphere to expect at The Den, Bernardo said: "The players have told me, but Millwall is very famous in Brazil because of the movie Green Street – or Hooligans, as it is called in Brazil.

"I don’t know if it is a good thing or a bad thing, but Millwall is known in Brazil because of the movie and it is connected always with their fans. So, for sure, my team mates told me about the fans, but I already knew about the atmosphere they brought to the stadium so for sure I am very excited about playing in their ground.

"In Brazil, it (Green Street) is very popular, maybe because the hooligan culture is a big thing, especially in the 1990s and early 2000s. Maybe that is why it became so popular when it does not seem to be in England. But in Brazil if you talk about the movie “Hooligans”, everybody knows it."

Bernardo added he has played in difficult atmospheres around the world and is excited more than anything about running out at The Den.

He said: "I have played in tough places, especially in Brazil and Germany. What happened last week with the pitch invasions is something that is very isolated.

"It is something that unfortunately cannot be avoided completely, but I consider England a really, really safe place and the fans in general are really polite. They know the rules and they know that if they do something wrong they will be banned or face some kind of consequence, so I am really not afraid of that.

"Talking about the atmosphere? I am excited, honestly. When I was small I was always watching the fans and seeing the atmosphere and I always wanted to be there, whether it was home or away.

"Last week I went to Palace and for me it was something exciting because of the atmosphere. I gather this well be the same."

On the pitch, Bernardo is anticipating a difficult match as Brighton bid to reach the semi-finals for just the second time in their history.

He said: "They beat Everton and if they have arrived at this stage of the competition it is because they are a good team and they deserve it.

"It will be a very difficult match, especially at their ground, but we will fight and let’s see what happens."

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