Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Pascal Gross has warned his team-mates not to squander the chance in their must-win Conference League play-off second leg with Tromso.
The Seagulls were disappointed to have settled for a goalless draw in the Arctic Circle last week, adding to the pressure on the club to raise their game at home and keep their European hopes alive.
Their confidence will have been boosted by the 4-0 Premier League rout of Aston Villa on Sunday (23 August) – and Gross insisted that everyone was aware of what was on the line.
He said: “Tomorrow is a do or die game. Those games, there are no excuses. You have to do it – and we want to do it tomorrow because last year was a very hard year to finish eighth in the Premier League.
“It’s a tough league and we don’t want to waste that. We are in Europe. We want to qualify and give our fans another European tour, home and away.”
Head coach Fabian Hürzeler said that Georginio Rutter would face a late fitness test but suggested that the forward’s issue was minor.
He also addressed the departure of Carlos Baleba to Manchester United, conceding that Brighton players making moves to other clubs was “something that we have to accept”.
Hürzeler added: “If we are successful as a team, there will be attention on this club and there will be attention on individual players.”
The match at the Amex is due to kick-off at 7.30pm tomorrow (Thursday 27 August), with a place in the Conference League group phase at stake.
Albion added: “Mike Bailey will be remembered before Thursday’s UEFA Conference League play-off second leg against Tromso at the Amex.
“There will be a minute’s applause before kick-off to pay tribute to the former Albion manager who died at the age of 84 last week.”
