Ferguson confident Seagulls can soar on first European tour

Evan Ferguson insists Brighton will fear no one in the Europa League next season with "perfectionist" Roberto De Zerbi in charge.

The Seagulls will play European football for the first time in their history after finishing sixth in the Premier League. 

Teenage Republic of Ireland starlet Ferguson has played a key role in their rise under De Zerbi, with the 18-year-old one of a number of hot prospects to break through at the Amex.

His brace in a 3-1 win over Southampton earlier this month helped secure the victory that clinched European qualification — while it also saw him reach double figures for goals in his maiden senior campaign.

Looking ahead to his side's European tour while speaking at LiveScore's Champions League final fan preview event in Dublin, Ferguson said: "It's going to be very good.

"Every team wants to be in Europe and play as many games as you can.

"To get into that competition is a big thing and I think we'll take it in our stride.

"It's hard to say [how far we can go] but we back ourselves. We'll just have to wait and see.

"I've not seen the teams we'll be up against but you'd rather get the big ones and get through the competition the hard way!"

Brighton's success is all the more impressive given they lost Graham Potter to Chelsea early in the season. 

Yves Bissouma, Marc Curucella and Leandro Trossard also left for pastures new but that did not halt the South Coast club's rise.

They scaled even higher heights under De Zerbi, who was nominated for the Premier League Manager of the Season award. 

Ferguson added: "He's very good. He knows his stuff. It was hard for him when he came in because we were doing well under Potter.

"People were saying it's a hard job for him to follow. But he's come in and broken all the records for this club in terms of our highest finish.

"I'd say he's just a lot more hands on [than Potter]. Everything has to be perfect with him. He's a perfectionist in his own way.

"If you're not doing everything right and if you're not in the right positions, he'll let you know!"

Much like the last two transfer windows, Brighton face a battle to keep a number of their stars this summer. 

De Zerbi has admitted Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo — two of the top-flight's most impressive midfielders this term — could be the next to leave as the big guns circle.

But that is unlikely to worry the Seagulls, not with emerging stars Ferguson, Julio Enciso and Pervis Estupinan on the books. 

Ferguson admits even the players are shocked by the club's shrewd recruitment. 

He added: "Brighton's recruitment amazes all of us. We're always wondering how they keep doing it. 

"You see all the stuff on social media saying that it doesn't matter [if a player leaves], they'll just go and get another wonderkid from Brazil."