Pascal has been at Brighton for six years now and what a journey it has been.

When he arrived from Germany, the Seagulls had been new to the Premier League. Now they’re everybody’s second-favourite staff with an exhilarating model of soccer beneath their firebrand Italian supervisor, Roberto De Zerbi.

The expertise comes from all around the globe: Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo from South America, Japan’s Kaoru Mitoma, younger Irish striker Evan Ferguson and, a lot nearer to residence, native one-club man Lewis Dunk.

They’re difficult for a European spot by way of the Premier League and have greater than a preventing probability in opposition to Manchester United this afternoon, notably having overwhelmed them 2-1 at Old Trafford in Erik ten Hag’s first recreation, when Pascal scored twice.

I feared for them just a little bit when Graham Potter left for Chelsea earlier within the season however as an alternative they’ve gone up one other stage with De Zerbi.

He’s extra explosive than his predecessor, already serving two touchline bans and having a current flare-up with Tottenham interim Cristian Stellini, and that depth has been matched on the pitch.

Pascal, who normally begins as a deeper-lying midfielder — one other similarity with myself — views the Italian as a great match, each for himself and the membership.

‘They [Potter and De Zerbi] are two utterly totally different males,’ he says. ‘Every participant sees issues in their very own approach. Personally I like the eagerness and when somebody is concerned within the recreation, I grew up like that.

‘Tactically, it is not simple to vary managers throughout a season and check out new issues with video games each few days. But we have nonetheless launched totally different concepts. We performed out from the again with Graham however not as a lot as now. It may look dangerous nevertheless it’s clear for us.’

He provides: ‘When we beat United on the primary day, we performed numerous second balls. Now it relies upon the place we have now extra numbers than opponents, searching for the overload to drive them again.

‘It’s fulfilling. We went to Tottenham understanding we might have the ball. But we do not goal simply to maintain it, we wish to create possibilities and be ruthless. That is the distinction, not taking part in to look good however to harm the opposition. Getting within the field the place it issues.

‘We additionally have a look at the opponents. Sometimes a right-back can have extra freedom than an eight as a result of the centre is blocked, so we’ll discover house alongside the facet.

‘We solely took two factors within the supervisor’s first 5 matches. Some powerful video games — Liverpool, Man City and Brentford away — however outcomes can be totally different now. We did not have time to practise. With a full pre-season we are able to enhance much more.’

First, nonetheless, all consideration is on Wembley. Brighton have by no means gained a serious trophy of their 122-year historical past, although older followers will keep in mind them coming shut in 1983 once they took United to a replay within the FA Cup closing.

Though Pascal is amongst Albion’s extra under-rated gamers, historical past suggests he’s the one Ten Hag ought to worry most. The 31-year-old German has scored six occasions in opposition to United, one thing I can relate to, having registered 5 targets myself in opposition to the ‘enemy’. ‘Yes, I’ve had massive moments in opposition to United,’ he says. ‘The first one was at residence on a Friday night time to safe our keep within the Premier League in 2018. We gained 1-0 and it was enormous as a result of if a promoted membership desires to ascertain themselves, they have to survive these first couple of years.’

He additionally has a private purpose to shine at Wembley having missed the Seagulls’ final go to in 2019, once they had been overwhelmed 1-0 within the FA Cup semi-final by Manchester City.

‘I had an damage, a tendon in my hamstring, and did not even go to Wembley to look at the sport. It would have been too painful emotionally,’ he says.

‘I used to be at residence cheering on the lads in entrance of the tv however wasn’t certain I might be a optimistic affect within the stadium as a result of I used to be so disillusioned to overlook out.

‘I’d have tried to be skilled, however wasn’t certain I may sit there smiling on the sidelines once I would have given something to play.

‘I am unable to look ahead to this one, after all. We know it should be approach harder than the match we gained at Old Trafford.

‘This is a semi-final and their massive gamers will recognise there are not any second possibilities. But we really feel the identical they usually must be actually good to beat us.

‘We cannot permit ourselves to not carry out at our highest stage and I feel we’re ready to do this on the massive stage. We confirmed ok soccer in our current video games at Spurs and Chelsea.

‘I’ve been right here so lengthy, a number of the lads say I’m English now. I perceive the significance of Wembley. I’ve been there as a fan to look at the NFL. To play there myself will probably be a extremely particular second and I am unable to wait.’

Unusually, he chooses to put on No13 — like I did. Superstitious varieties keep away from the quantity in lots of walks of life. Though it is turning into much less of an element on this multi-cultural Premier League, solely 4 different outfield gamers at present have it: Mathias Jorgensen (Brentford), Yerry Mina (Everton), Tim Ream (Fulham) and Matt Targett (Newcastle).

In my case, I first wore 13 as a junior taking part in in older age teams. All the glamour numbers had gone, so I took it and since issues went properly, stored it. The one exception was my first couple of years at Liverpool as a result of Karl-Heinz Riedle already had the quantity.

Pascal’s reasoning is totally different. ‘Michael Ballack wore 13 at Chelsea. So once I joined Brighton and noticed the alternatives accessible, I assumed I’d observe one other German midfielder who had come into the Premier League and performed properly. I hoped it will rub off on me,’ he says with a smile.

‘We even have that fame of unfortunate Friday the thirteenth in Germany however I do not consider in that. I used to be actually glad carrying it and even when different numbers grew to become accessible in the summertime, I wasn’t .’

To emphasise the way it’s all labored out, Pascal signed a brand new contract final week that commits him to the membership till 2025. Like me, he simply hopes the massive semi-final is not spoiled by a contentious VAR resolution. Brighton may declare 4 choices went in opposition to them at Spurs they usually obtained an apology for a foul on Mitoma by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg being missed. ‘If you and Alan Shearer had been sat within the Match of the Day studio, you’d have a look at it, instantly flip to one another and say, ‘Yeah, it is a penalty’,’ says Pascal.

‘VAR got here in to make the sport fairer however I do not get the sensation it has. It’s taken the feelings away and I’ve stopped celebrating targets in case there’s a examine. You may settle for it if the sport is made fairer however even that is not the case.

‘You do not even have to debate the Mitoma one. He will get stood on. What can we do? We hope not however the resolution may have an effect on Europe.’ Brighton’s present run jogs my memory of my time at Fulham, one other so-called smaller membership who completed seventh within the Premier League and reached the Europa League closing.

To my shock, Pascal has heard all about it from our doc at the moment, Steve Lewis, who went on to spend eight years with Brighton earlier than returning to Craven Cottage firstly of this yr.

We had some actually good gamers at Fulham, however not a World Cup winner comparable to Mac Allister. It was good to listen to from Pascal that the Brighton lads despatched messages of help by means of the event.

Pascal did not make the German squad who flopped in Qatar. ‘I’m not certain they even know I’m taking part in soccer!’ he says. ‘Sometimes you’ve minor hope however in Germany, when you find yourself 30, principally it’s performed concerning the nationwide staff.’

At membership stage, his function at Brighton is big. There are so many younger skills with enormous potential, none extra so than striker Ferguson, although an ankle damage might hold him out right this moment. ‘His character will assist him cope with all of the hype. He is such a peaceful boy, possibly even too relaxed generally,’ he says.

‘He can end proper, left or head, can side-foot onerous from both facet. Physically he’s a person at 18. I’ve seen him play in opposition to sturdy gamers and he can deal with it.’

Just like Brighton. United have a historical past of successful however present kind suggests that is no David versus Goliath encounter. ‘We have a great probability,’ says De Zerbi’s fortunate No13.