Lewis Dunk fires FA Cup warning to Man Utd as Brighton eye long-awaited revenge
Lewis Dunk has only won a solitary England cap – food for thought in the week he became the lone survivor as Brighton reached Wembley again.
The Seagulls captain is a better player than some of the dray horses who have found favour in central defence under Three Lions coach Gareth Southgate. But as Dunk helped stylish Albion book their FA Cup semi-final date with Manchester United next month, the first time the sides have met at Wembley since the final - which Brighton lost via a replay - 40 years ago, he warned Brighton were also chasing an unlikely Champions League spot next season.
First, he wants a happier outcome than their previous cup semi-final appearance, four years ago, when Chris Hughton's side lost 1-0 against Manchester City. Dunk, 31, said the 5-0 drubbing of giantkillers Grimsby Town in Sunday's quarter-final was “another step in the right direction” for a club enjoying a potentially momentous season.
As the only current Brighton player involved against City in 2019, he warned: “We're in a different place to where we were then. Look how many players we had at the World Cup, players involved in big occasions - you can't get bigger than the World Cup. So, we're in a different place as a club, as a group, and we go to Wembley confident in our ability to get to a final.
“I wouldn't say we went there in awe of it last time - we deserved to be there and we were excellent. Losing only 1-0 against City (who went on to thump Watford 6-0 in the final), we stayed in the game all the way. But we were on the losing side and it didn't feel nice, so hopefully we can go there and win it next time.”
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Manchester United triumphed over Brighton via a replay in the 1983 FA Cup final (David Cannon/Allsport/Getty Images)When head coach Graham Potter was headhunted by Chelsea six months ago, Brighton's progress since winning promotion in 2017 was in danger of stalling. But their choice of Roberto De Zerbi as Potter's replacement was inspired succession planning for a club who look genuine contenders to win their first major trophy in 122 years of trying.
De Zerbi's brand of vibrant, high-tempo football has been electrifying to watch and Dunk admits the fiery Italian has altered the club's mindset. He said: “It has been a big change - you can see that by the way we are performing and where we are in the table.
Will Brighton win the FA Cup this season? Have your say in the comments!
Brighton were beaten by Manchester City in the semi-finals in the 2018/19 season (Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)“We go into every game knowing exactly what we're doing, what we're about and we know we can beat anyone on our day. He just gives us confidence and puts pure belief in our ability during the training week. We go out there confident as anyone.”
Given the choice between lifting the FA Cup or qualifying for the Champions League – seventh-placed Brighton have games in hand on top-four rivals Tottenham, Newcastle and Liverpool – Dunk grinned: “Both. That would be nice, wouldn't it?”
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