Why Brighton miss out on Europe despite finishing eighth despite Tottenham demolition

Why Brighton miss out on Europe despite finishing eighth despite Tottenham demolition

Brighton and Hove Albion closed out the 2024/25 Premier League season in style with a demolition of Tottenham Hotspur, but there is a sour note.

The Seagulls finished eighth in the Premier League as they smashed Spurs 4-1, but despite this, they will not be playing in Europe next term.

3 Brighton thrashed Tottenham on the last day of the season Credit: Getty

Fabian Hurzeler's men enjoyed an incredible campaign, but they've been cruelly denied a spot in the Europa Conference League.

Of course, the race for Europe was very complicated, but here is why the Seagulls won't be playing on Thursday nights.

Why have Brighton missed out on European football?

Well, Brighton missing out on the Europa Conference League comes down to Chelsea and Newcastle United.

Going into the final day of the season, Brighton or Brentford knew that they could find themselves in Europe if a couple of scenarios happened.

Whoever finished eighth needed Chelsea to come seventh and then win the Conference League on Wednesday.

If the Blues finished higher, Brighton would have qualified for the Conference League if Newcastle had finished seventh, and Chelsea had won the Conference League.

This is because the Blues would take a spot in the Europa League, freeing up their seventh place to drop down to eighth.

If Newcastle had ended seventh and Chelsea claimed sixth and won the Conference League, that would also have opened up eighth to Europe.

3 It wasn't the ending Hurzeler would have dreamed about Credit: Getty

Instead, Chelsea beat Nottingham Forest 1-0 at the City Ground.

This secured Champions League football for the Blues and ensured they finished fourth.

Newcastle lost 1-0 to Everton at St James' Park, but they managed to end up in fifth place with Aston Villa losing at Manchester United, taking the final Champions League spot on offer.

So, despite claiming eighth, there will be no European football for the Seagulls.

It will be Forest who are in the Conference League instead.

3 Chelsea are in the Champions League Credit: Getty

Despite missing out on Europe, Hurzeler was delighted with his team's performances this season.

He said: “It’s been challenging, but we went through it together.

“We faced adversity and showed personality and character. I’m very proud of the team and how we performed.

"We collected a high number of points – in many other seasons, it would’ve been enough for Europe.

“But I’m happy we always stuck to our style of play. We never lost it.

"We always had high intensity, showed courage in possession. We’ve built a foundation – and on that we must continue building.

"The main point for next season is consistency. Consistency in results, consistency in performances – that’s where we must improve.”

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