Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi regards winning the FA Cup as another plausible route to qualifying for Europe.
The Italian’s team are currently sixth in the Premier League, two points and three places above today’s fourth round visitors Liverpool.
De Zerbi says: « We can’t choose the best way. I want to be clear about this, because fixing a target in Italy is always dangerous.
« If I tell you we’d like to qualify for Europe, you could think we’re arrogant, but we are not arrogant.
« We’re working hard. We are serious people inside the club and we can have a dream, a realistic dream.
« If you watched the games in this last period, we deserved to win against Everton, Liverpool, Chelsea, Southampton.
« While the team plays like this, it’s right to dream. If the performances change, it will be a different situation. »
De Zerbi is without Moises Caicedo, plus injured duo Adam Lallana and Levi Colwill from the side that defeated Liverpool 3-0 in the league at the Amex Stadium 15 days ago.
Brighton have told Caicedo to stay away from training until Wednesday – after the January transfer window shuts – to come to terms with still being their player for the rest of the season.
They have rejected bids of £55 million from Chelsea and £60 million from Arsenal for the Ecuadorian midfielder.
They refuse to sell him before the summer at the earliest, despite Caicedo confirming he wants to leave amid Arsenal’s interest.
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