Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Pascal Groß has been interviewed by German outlet Mannheim24 this week.
Signed from Bundesliga side Ingolstadt on a €3m deal in 2017, the 28-year-old is now starting his third season for the Seagulls, for the first time with a new manager.
Speaking of Chris Hughton’s departure, he says it was a ‘surprise’ to see him go, and talked about the adaptation to Graham Potter’s style.
He said: “For me it was a surprise. I learned about it on vacation. Even though we finally made it to the Premier League, we did not show what we imagined in football in the second half of the season. The decision shows that the club aren’t easily satisfied and always strives for higher. The new coach has a different approach. We now have more control and often have the ball.”
On the toughest opponent he’s ever faced in the Premier League, the midfielder said: “Harry Maguire, who now plays for Manchester United. In my second game against Leicester City I felt for the first time the English hardness. I learned a lot from the game – that was very important to me.”
Speaking of his future, Groß was first asked if he’s looking to fullfil his contract with Brighton, which is supposed to run until 2022.
He explained: “When you sign a contract, you assume that you stay here for that period, but you have to wait for everything. Football is so fast nowadays. I could also imagine going back to Germany someday.”
Then the player was quizzed about the rumours which said he could’ve joined Liverpool this summer: “No, that was a media issue.”
Finally, regarding a return to Hoffenheim, a club who he played for during his academy years and made his professional debut, Groß says he’s not really planning to make a comeback so soon.
“I have not really thought so much about it yet. I’m playing here in the Premier League now. At this level, this is a day-to-day business. Such speculations therefore make little sense.”
