Brighton’s Jan Paul Van Hecke Calls for Greater Consistency Amidst Mixed Performances

Jan Paul Van Hecke stated that Brighton requires “more consistency this season” following their defeat to Crystal Palace. Albion experienced an unexpected loss to a struggling Palace side at Amex Stadium, having previously dropped points against several teams in the lower half of the Premier League table this season. Speaking to BBC Radio Sussex, Van Hecke emphasized the need for introspection within the team, remarking, “We need to look at ourselves.” He reiterated the call for “more consistency this season,” admitting, “We can be incredible, but also sometimes a bit below average, which isn’t good enough.” He further explained the competitive nature of football, stating, “It’s small margins in football. It’s a really young group – we can beat everybody and then lose against everybody. It’s tough because we are young, but we need to be more consistent in these games especially.” Van Hecke also acknowledged the impact of player absences, noting, “Of course we miss players. [There are] injured players, really good players for us and important players. We miss them, but still if you look at our team today, we’ve shown already that we are good enough. It’s so frustrating that it is not coming out.” He concluded by outlining the necessary approach for upcoming matches: “We need to have our head up, chest out and just play. We have nothing to lose and we need to have this [mindset].”