Brighton & Hove Albion star Joël Veltman has hailed the club’s decision to appoint Roberto De Zerbi as Graham Potter’s successor, during an interview with Algemeen Dagblad.
Potter left the Seagulls when Chelsea came calling last September. His tenure with the Blues came to an end earlier this month.
His exit saw Brighton bring in the Italian, who was then without a job after having left Shakhtar Donetsk earlier that year.
The 31-year-old defender claims De Zerbi is benefiting from the foundations laid by Potter at The Amex.
“100% an upgrade [from Potter to De Zerbi]. Roberto really wants to build from the back with triangles all over the field and midfielders who want to get to the ball. He fine-tuned everything. It helped that Potter was already working on that. He is now reaping the benefits of the foundation that was already there,” he said.
Brighton have made progress under De Zerbi in the league and are now in contention to qualify for a European competition next season. They are eighth in the table, but could climb to fifth spot, ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Aston Villa, if they win their games in hand.
Veltman explains “aiming for fifth place is realistic” for Brighton.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands international’s deal expires in June and AD state the Premier League side have exercised the option to extend it until 2024.
With regards to his contract situation, he said: “We are now talking about a new contract. I am happy here, but you always have to wait and see.”
