Fabian Hurzeler grateful for Manchester City's late draw: How has Brighton's race for Europe changed?

AFC BournemouthArsenalAston VillaBrentfordBrighton & Hove AlbionBurnleyChelseaCrystal PalaceEvertonFulhamLeeds UnitedLiverpoolManchester CityManchester UnitedNewcastle UnitedNottingham ForestSunderlandTottenham HotspurWest Ham UnitedWolverhampton WanderersScores & ScheduleStandingsFantasyThe Athletic FC NewsletterPodcastsFabian Hurzeler grateful for Manchester City’s late draw: How has Brighton’s race for Europe changed?Brighton can move above Bournemouth to sixth on the last day of the season Mike Hewitt/Getty Images Share articleHead coach Fabian Hurzeler is grateful that Erling Haaland’s late equaliser for Manchester City at Bournemouth has added an extra dimension to Brighton & Hove Albion’s pursuit of a place in Europe on the final day of the season. The chance of Brighton qualifying for the Champions League by beating Manchester United at the Amex Stadium on Sunday was disappearing from view until until Haaland’s 95th-minute leveller in the 1-1 draw on Tuesday. It was not enough to keep City’s hopes of catching Arsenal alive in the title race, but Hurzeler’s seventh-placed side can still move above Bournemouth to sixth in the table, which could in turn secure Champions League football if results elsewhere also go their way. “I wouldn’t say relieved, but I think it definitely changes something, changes the situation in the table,” Hurzeler said of Haaland’s goal on Thursday during his pre-match press conference. “Therefore, it’s not that you completely try to not focus on that. It’s part of it. If a team is playing in a similar situation to us, then you follow it. “But in the end we need to focus on us. We can’t change the other results, therefore the main thing will be to focus on our result and our performance.” Aston Villa’s 3-0 win over Freiburg in the Europa League final on Wednesday could also impact the number of English clubs playing in the Champions League next season. That creates the possibility of an extra Champions League spot for finishing sixth under UEFA’s European performance spot (EPS) system. Qualification for the Premier League’s top five has already been assured by the performances of English clubs in Europe. Villa, in fourth, have already secured the Champions League via their league position, so their Champions League spot for winning the Europa League will pass on to sixth, as long as Villa end up in fifth. For that to happen, they must lose at Manchester City on Sunday and Liverpool must beat Brentford at Anfield to edge above Villa on goal difference. Brighton, as well as beating United, also need Bournemouth to lose at Nottingham Forest to make the Champions League. Otherwise, their Europe hopes rest on finishing sixth or seventh to be in the Europa League, eighth to play in the Europa Conference League. If they drop to ninth they will miss out altogether with Brentford, Chelsea and Sunderland (who play each other at the Stadium of Light) also in the mix. Midfielder-turned-right-back Mats Wieffer is back in contention against United after missing the last two matches with an ankle injury. Danny Welbeck is poised to lead the line on what would be his 400th Premier League appearance against boyhood club United, where his top-flight journey began. Welbeck is Brighton’s top scorer this season with a career-best tally of 13 goals. The 35-year-old is in England’s long list squad for this summer’s World Cup, which gets cut to 26 players by Thomas Tuchel on Friday morning. “It’s a sign of his professionalism, how hard he works,” Hurzeler said of Welbeck’s appearances landmark. “I am really happy for Danny, for his season. Let’s wait until tomorrow and hopefully he will be announced for the England squad and he gets the rewards he deserves for his achievements this season.” Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms