Pascal Gross voted WAB April 2023 Brighton Player of the Month

May 10, 2023May 10, 2023 WeAreBrighton.com 0 Comments

Two goals, two assists, a new contract and being voted WAB Player of the Month made for a pretty good April 2023 for Pascal Gross.

Don’t believe the polls about how good Gross is? Then just ask Roberto De Zerbi. “He is one of the best players I have worked with during my career,” said De Zerbi after it was confirmed Der Kaiser would be remaining at the Amex until at least 2025. “Every day I appreciate him more and more. He is one of the secrets to Albion’s success.”

One of the major reasons De Zerbi loves Pascal Gross so much is because of his versatility, which was on display throughout April 2023.

Gross started the month in midfield. When Joel Veltman was ruled out through injury, he reverted to right back. When Veltman returned and De Zerbi wanted to rest Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister, Gross was back in the middle.

Talking of rest, Gross was one of only four players to start all seven games in April along with Lewis Dunk, Pervis Estupinan and Solly March. Into his 30s Der Kaiser might be, but he still remains one of the fittest players at the Albion.

His two goals both came in the 6-0 hammering of Wolves. The first was a clinical finish. The second came via an outrageous piece of skill, a first touch to flick the ball into the air to set himself for a stonking volley into the top corner from 25 yards.

With assists in the wins at Plucky Little Bournemouth and Chelsea, Gross played a major role in three hugely important victories in the quest for European football.

Julio Enciso enjoyed something of a breakthrough month in April and that was enough to see him voted into second place after Gross.

The 19-year-old opened his Brighton account with a wonderfully calm finish away at Bournemouth. He followed that up with a Goal of the Season contender, lashing home a powerful drive after advancing to 30 yards out against Chelsea.

Enciso’s best performance however came in the hammering of Wolves, where he was involved in four of the six Brighton scored.

With much improved decision making and more physicality compared to when he first arrived in England, Enciso looks set to be the next South American wonderkid to take the Premier League by storm in an Albion shirt.

Third place went to ever-dependable Dunk. He kept Harry Kane quiet for the most part at Spurs and even popped up with a goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the day Brighton were robbed by the officials and VAR.

Dunk then became the first ever Albion captain to lead the Seagulls to victory in a league game at Stamford Bridge. He was impervious that afternoon against a Chelsea side costing half a billion pounds.

More history was made at Wembley, Dunk becoming the first man to skipper Brighton at the home of football on three occasions.

Along with Caicedo, he was the best player on the pitch in the FA Cup semi final defeat to Manchester United – highlighting just how ridiculous it is that he has only played at Wembley once for England.