Brighton & Hove Albion fans and a Dutch player have expressed their excitement ahead of the club’s third European match.
On Thursday night, the Seagulls will face Dutch side Ajax at the Amex Stadium.
Werner Schroer, a Dutch Albion fan, predicted that the game would be “something really special.”
Meanwhile, Albion midfielder Joel Veltman revealed that he had hoped to face his former club in the Europa League draw.
The defender, who played more than 240 times for Ajax before joining the Seagulls in 2019, described playing against them as “difficult.”
“You have some imaginations, but once you’re on the pitch and the whistle blows, it will be fine,” he went on to say.
“I played there from the age of 10 until I was 27, 28 years old.” So when the draw occurred, I hoped for Ajax. It’s an honor to play against your former teammates.”
Albion are currently bottom of Group B with one point, but they are only three points behind leaders AEK Athens.
“Even though we only have one point, the race is wide open, and we could be first in the group.” That is what we hope to achieve,” Veltman added.
Ajax has won numerous European trophies, but the club has had a poor start to the season, and coach Maurice Steijn left by mutual consent this week.
Mr. Schroer stated that it was the “perfect moment” to face the Eredivisie side.
“You saw in the Marseille game that we are learning and adapting quickly.” So I think we’ll get six points from Ajax over the two games,” he told BBC Radio Sussex.
A noisy Amex Stadium and “internal turmoil” at Ajax, according to Hove Albion supporter David Thompson, would benefit the Seagulls.
“The atmosphere at Marseille away was probably the loudest and most intimidating I’ve ever experienced at a sporting event.” It established a standard.
“If Brighton could replicate just 20% of that, it’ll be deafening tonight.”
“We will win,” he concluded.
