United game now a goodbye to greatest Brighton manager ever

A nice, normal, stress and emotional free final game of the season. That is what we were all expecting as Brighton host Manchester United at the Amex.

The opportunity to celebrate what has been a fine season overall. Back in August, most Albion fans would have accepted a top 10 finish in the club’s first campaign involving European football.

We all knew the additional Europa League workload was likely to impact on domestic performances. And that was before Brighton were hit with a crippling injury list. In the circumstances, it has been a job well done.

But now the visit of Manchester United becomes a farewell to Roberto De Zerbi. The man who not only made us believe the Albion could play in Europe, but took us there with the club’s first ever top six finish.

Oh, and then he delivered some of the most memorable nights in Seagulls history beating giants of European football. Little Old Brighton victorious against Ajax, AEK Athens, Marseille and Roma. Did anyone ever think that possible?

The announcement that Brighton and De Zerbi are to part ways coming 24 hours before the last game of the season does at least give the Amex a chance to say goodbye to arguably the greatest head coach the Albion have ever had.

This was what rankled most about Chris Hughton’s sacking. For all the club’s claims nobody knew it was coming until the Monday morning when Hughton was fired, enough money went on Graham Potter on the Sunday night to make him overwhelming favourite in the next Brighton manager market.

Either Tony Bloom had already made his mind up and people knew about it. Or a number of punters got lucky in backing the manager of mid table Championship side Swansea to be the next Brighton head coach a day before a vacancy even opened at the Amex. What do you think is most likely?

Brighton could have announced Hughton was going prior to the final game of the 2018-19 season against Manchester City. The man who took the Albion from Championship relegation strugglers into the Premier League would then have received the send off he deserved.

Instead, Hughton has never been back. He has never been the recipient of adulation and gratitude for what he did. It was a sad way for another Brighton managerial great to depart.

De Zerbi in contrast should be feted from all corners of the Amex. Whether you agree with the decision to get rid of him or not, his impact on Brighton has been undeniable. Those are big boots to fill for whoever takes over.

That though is for the long-term future. In the present, Manchester United will no doubt be even warier about the prospect of facing a Brighton side fired up by the news it is their final 90 minutes under De Zerbi.

You only have to look at the social media posts from Albion players to realise the esteem De Zerbi is held in amongst the squad.

The number of thank you messages and updates praising De Zerbi was in stark contrast to the almost initial radio silence when Hughton went or Glow Up Graham Potter walked out for Chelsea.

Brighton will be determined to give De Zerbi one last big result of his tenure. And United know better than most opponents just how dangerous the Albion can be when they at the top of their game playing DeZerbiBall.

The Red Devils have lost four consecutive Premier League matches to Brighton. No club has ever inflicted five successive defeats on United since Sky Sports invented football in 1992.

Writing one final piece of history would be an apt way for De Zerbi to depart. To go with the highest ever finish. The biggest ever top flight home win. The biggest ever top flight away win.

The first ever European campaign. The first ever win over Chelsea. The first ever win at Stamford Bridge. The first ever win at Old Trafford. Etc, etc, etc.

Bloom will of course have a plan for what comes next season. My suspicion at the moment is this is a rare piece of bad decision making from the chairman, who will struggle to find a head coach capable of delivering what De Zerbi did.

De Zerbi’s questioning of the board should have been accepted for both his achievements and his ability. The Albion though have such a thin skin that any public criticism is not tolerated, to the point they will dispense with a manager as good as De Zerbi.

A lot of Brighton fans share the same view that criticism of Bloom is not allowed. Expect next week’s WAB piece explaining why he has potentially got this one wrong to be fiercely controversial.

Now though is the time to thank De Zerbi and his coaching team for everything he has done at the end of a glorious era in Brighton & Hove Albion history.

Grazie, Mister De Zerbi. And good luck Manchester United. You are probably going to need it.