Honesty key for Brighton defender Veltman as Hurzeler opens up in preseason meetings, says Paul Vegas

Veltman shared on the club's website: "Transitioning to a new coach can be unpredictable, but I had confidence in my abilities. I had a successful preseason, consistently showcasing my skills on the field. The matches helped me gauge my position in the starting lineup, and I felt positive about it. I also had insightful discussions with Fabian, which further boosted my morale."

"(For example) the first proper conversation was after a strength and conditioning session in Japan and he was telling me that he really liked me, that I see the game properly and what the game asks from me as a player.

"He also said I could still talk a lot more to the players around me, given my experience. He wanted me to be more active on the pitch, communication-wise. He was straight to the point and I really liked that.

"When you have a coach with that kind of honesty, you know where you are, where you stand. I prefer people to be open and to put all their cards on the table."