Sussex

Image source, Reuters

It's been a rollercoaster weekend for Brighton.

Just 24 hours before their final game of the season, it was announced manager Roberto De Zerbi would be leaving the club.

Despite the short-notice of his surprise departure, Brighton fans came out in force with banners and chants to thank the man who gave them their best-ever top-flight finish and gifted them European football for the first time.

And it looked like the players, too, would give De Zerbi, along with departing teammate Adam Lallana, the perfect send off.

Adam Webster came agonisingly close with two headers, Joao Pedro should have fired home from close range, and Valentin Barco had the better of Aaron Wan Bissaka all afternoon.

However, the lack of a clinical goalscorer has been the story of Brighton's season and eventually Manchester United found a way through.

It was only a slight dampener on De Zerbi's leaving party, though, as the performance showed Brighton have a talented squad to carry them through a managerial change.

One thing is certain - whoever steps in to replace De Zerbi has very big shoes to fill.

Image source, Reuters

Midfielder Adam Lallana, speaking to Sky Sports after his final appearance for Brighton: "It was an extremely disappointing result.

"In the first half I thought we played well, we had chances, even the first bit of the second half I had a chance, it was blocked.

"Two soft goals - it's kind of the story of the last three months for us, not being able to score enough goals when we have created the chances. It's just an anti-climax and we're gutted we couldn't give Roberto [de Zerbi] the send-off he deserved.

"I said earlier in the week it's important the fans stay patient with whoever the new manager is. Brighton have massively overachieved in the last few seasons and Roberto is a huge part of that. It's important we say thanks to him, because he was the gold dust on top. He got us to Europe, creating history here. So although it was disappointing, it is important we express our thanks to him."

On De Zerbi: "I'm extremely fortunate our paths crossed in the last couple of years. I will be forever grateful. It's a shame it hasn't ended in a fitting way but that's football and the football cub will move on without Roberto, without myself. I have extremely fond memories of this football club and that goes further than the performance this afternoon."

On captaining the side on his final appearance: "Pascal [Gross] said before the game he wanted me to lead the boys out and I was extremely honoured. You create such amazing friendships that goes beyond football results, points, achievements and in the end you leave. In the end I'm sure we will stay in contact. There's a few goodbyes with Roberto and Jurgen [Klopp at Liverpool] so it's a sad day, but a happy-sad day."

On Brighton's future: "You only have to look at the numbers, the turnover and the young talent out there. It is an extremely well-run football club and they'll bounce back for sure. It's a wonderful job for whoever is fortunate to take it."

Image source, PA Media

Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi, speaking to BBC Match of the Day after his final game in charge ended in a 2-0 loss to Manchester United: "It was a tough day, a special day. I finish one of my greatest experiences, in terms of the relationship, it has been one of the most important experiences of my life.

"We did a great job, especially in the last season. In the first half of this season, we gave our best and gave every game our best. Sometimes we won, sometimes we lost. We have to be proud of this group of players over the two seasons."

On Sunday's performance: "We had a lot of chances to score, especially in the first half. In the first part of the second half, we were playing in the same way we closed the first half. But when you make mistakes in the last part of the pitch, it can happen against these big teams to lose the game and concede the goal."

On why he is leaving Brighton: "Listen, we didn't find the agreement to move on. We talked together at different parts of the season, I want to keep my way. I know very well what I want to do and I know I am a coach and I have to accept the policies of the club.

"I have no problem with the club or Tony [Bloom, Brighton owner]. I have to say thanks to Tony and his family, and [chief executive] Paul Barber and his family because I can't forget what they gave me. They gave me an incredible chance.

"They gave me the possibility to know incredible people, to play and to work in the Premier League, to play in the Europa League. They gave me the opportunity to know this club, this city, these fans and for that I cannot forget. I have to say thanks."

Here are the key facts and figures from Sunday's game between Brighton and Manchester United in the Premier League.

• Sunday's match was Roberto de Zerbi's 70th and final Premier League game in charge of Brighton. Despite defeat for his side, he leaves with the highest win percentage in the English top flight of any Seagulls manager (37% - 26/70).

• Manchester United won a Premier League away game without conceding for the first time since November 2023 against Everton (3-0), while this was their first league win away at Brighton since September 2020 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (3-2).

• Despite their 2-0 victory, Manchester United ended a league campaign with a negative goal difference (57 scored, 58 conceded) for the first time since 1989-90 (-1 in both cases).

• Rasmus Hojlund scored his 10th goal of the Premier League season for Manchester United, ending the campaign as the youngest player to reach double figures for goals (21y 105d).

• Brighton made 143 changes to their starting XI in the Premier League this season. Only Manchester United in 2013-14 (144) and Manchester City in 2019-20 (144) have ever made more in a single campaign in the competition.

Rasmus Hojlund and Diogo Dalot helped Manchester United to a victorious end to the Premier League season with a 2-0 success at Brighton.

Despite the win, Erik ten Hag's side end the season eighth - their lowest top-flight finish since 1989-90.

Brighton, meanwhile, failed to give departing boss Roberto de Zerbi the perfect send-off, despite having the better chances and dominating possession.

Adam Webster and Joao Pedro came closest to putting the Seagulls ahead in the first half, but they each lacked the clinical edge to beat Andre Onana.

Brighton were left regretting missed chances when Dalot slotted past Jason Steele in the 73rd minute, before substitute Hojlund sealed the three points two minutes before the end of normal time.

What did you make of the game?

Brighton fans - who should succeed De Zerbi?, external

United fans - are you confident heading into next week's FA Cup final?, external

Follow reaction and read the match report

The 2023-24 Premier League season might be drawing to a close, but BBC Sport's dedicated coverage of Brighton will be sticking around for the summer.

From transfer gossip to club news to fan views - we have got you covered.

So make sure you don't miss anything by following your club and signing up to notifications straight to your devices.

After that, all you need to do is keep returning to your club's page throughout the summer - simple!

All 20 teams are in action on the final day of the 2023-24 Premier League season, with the title winners, European spots and one relegation place still to be confirmed.

Follow all of the action and reaction here

We asked for your views on the news head coach Roberto de Zerbi is to leave Brighton after Sunday's final game of the Premier League season.

Here are some of your comments:

Chris: Despite what he may think, he is not bigger than Brighton and with the strategy and how well run the club is, I am sure he will soon be a fond memory.

Jenny: Good luck to him. We were never big enough for his ego, but I do thank him for what he brought Brighton (plus his cards!). I was furious with Graham Potter but he has not gone anywhere else, he is still local and knows how to do it. I would be quite happy to welcome him back. I will not love him like I loved De Zerbi but, if the management and players can cope, then so can I!

Joe: It was always going to happen. De Zerbi had his head turned when Jurgen Klopp announced he was leaving Liverpool and since then, it was never really the same love affair between him and Brighton. Tony Bloom has been in this situation before, and his experience in this matter should be a positive in his search for the next boss.

Leo: De Zerbi's leaving because Brighton are not in Europe. They had an excellent season and they will qualify for Europe again. As for the next manager, Graham Potter would be a huge appointment. He deserves another go, as he has unfinished business. Klopp, maybe? Allegri is also available, too.

James: De Zerbi ran out of steam and goals. He spoke about going to another club if Brighton did not match his ambitions. Now he has no club.

Anton: Tony Bloom has done nothing but steer the Brighton ship right. He has made the club what it is today; a robust, lucrative entity that will never see it destroyed by money hungry commercialists. De Zerbi has been incredible but, so were Gus [Poyet], Chris [Hughton] and Graham [Potter]. Bloom and Barber knew who would fill De Zerbi's boots the day he took the job. In that I trust, end of.

Image source, PA Media

Football finance expert and Brighton fan Kieran Maguire believes "there has clearly been some form of fall out" between boss Roberto de Zerbi and owner Tony Bloom for the Italian and the club to part ways.

Speaking on BBC Radio Sussex following the announcement that boss De Zerbi will leave the club after Sunday's game against Manchester United,, Maguire said: "I was probably just as surprised as everybody else!

"Things seemed to be moving slowly forwards and the articles we have seen in the newspapers reflected that too, so I am taken aback.

"It is the timing too because doing it 24 hours before the end of the season seems very strange. But we know at the Albion there is always a plan and strategy, so they must know what they are doing.

"It will be very sad but you have got to have everybody working together and there has clearly been some form of fall out between himself and Tony Bloom.

"But it has been absolutely brilliant, and like the vast majority of Albion fans, I am sad to see him go."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Roberto de Zerbi will lead Brighton out for the final time on Sunday, following the announcement of his imminent departure from the Premier League club on Saturday.

The Seagulls boss, who only addressed the media on Friday in a pre-match conference before Brighton host Manchester United, had played down the speculation of him leaving in recent weeks.

Therefore, it has come as a "massive shock" to many fans.

Talk Seagulls host Ryan Adsett told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast: "I am still pretty speechless!

"Not many people would have thought from his Friday press conference that he would be going, so it is a shock to Brighton fans.

"I really wanted to avoid a situation like this and just have a summer to build, but the summer has not even opened yet and here we are needing a new manager.

"I believe in the club to do the right thing because there is that element of trust there. But at the same time, there is that worry about how some of the players will react going into the transfer window. No one really knows anything now until it happens. That is the uncertainty that I wanted to avoid."

After replacing Graham Potter in September 2022, Brighton finished sixth last season, with the club's highest ever top-flight finish securing European qualification for the first time in their history.

"On the most part, everyone will look back on the good times," added Adsett. "I do not think there will be too many fans that look back with any spite. I hope not anyway, because there has been a lot of good memories that will be written into the history books of the football club."

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds

The announcement that Roberto de Zerbi is to leave Brighton is that strangest of things: an unsurprising shock.

The Albion board do not take well to public criticism, so from the moment De Zerbi questioned the club's transfer plans and said those at the top would need to learn lessons from the 2023-24 season, it felt like he had cooked his own goose.

Gus Poyet went the same way 12 years ago, although Brighton have at least avoided a repeat of another messy and undignified divorce. It was also easier to understand the decision to dispense with Poyet in the face of a disappointing Championship play-off semi final defeat by Crystal Palace.

Despite De Zerbi's questioning of the ownership, I thought he would have enough credit in the bank.

To lead the Albion to sixth place in 2022-23 was a phenomenal achievement. This season, he has delivered unforgettable victories in Europe over Marseille, AEK Athens, Ajax and Roma.

Domestic performances do not warrant him leaving Brighton either. At the start of the season, most Albion fans would have settled for a 10th-place finish and a decent Europa League run.

Everyone knew the challenges clubs face when qualifying for Europe for the first time. Throw in a crippling injury list and De Zerbi has done a fine job.

There was excitement over what 2024-25 would hold with him at the helm.

With a fully fit squad and some shrewd acquisitions, and without the additional workload of European football, the Albion stood every chance of getting back to the flowing De Zerbi-ball which took the Premier League by storm in his first season.

It was the best football ever played by a Brighton team.

Now there are just questions. Only time will tell if this is the right decision for the club.

Tony Bloom has an excellent track record - Sami Hyypia aside - when it comes to appointing managers.

This next is one he must get right.

De Zerbi's boots are big ones to fill after he had the Seagulls soaring to the highest heights supporters have ever known.

Never dull, being a Brighton fan.

Scott McCarthy can be found at We Are Brighton, external