Sunderland's assistant head coach Pedro Ribeiro (right) celebrates
Sunderland's assistant head coach Pedro Ribeiro (right) celebrates
(Image: PA)
Sunderland’s assistant head coach Pedro Ribeiro says the club are prepared for the challenges they may face in the Premier League. The Black Cats secured a return to the top division last month, ending an eight-year absence, as they beat Sheffield United in the play-off final, in what is commonly referred to as the ‘most expensive game in football’.
The jump in revenue that clubs experience with promotion to the Premier League is unlike any other, but based on how newly promoted teams have fared in recent years, the gap between the first and second tiers in England seems to be widening.
The three that have gone up have come straight back down for consecutive seasons, and Sunderland will be eager to buck the trend and survive against those that are firmly established in the division.
Regis Le Bris’ right-hand man in the dugout, Ribeiro, told Portuguese outlet O Jogo, that Sunderland are aware of the step up in quality on and off the field in their Premier League opposition compared to the Championship, but there is faith in the club’s vision to continue progressing.
“We are aware of the competition we are going to play in and what has happened. Of course, this is a warning to chart the right path to follow, so that this does not happen to Sunderland.
Sunderland Regis Le Bris has taken the Black Cats back to the Premier League.
“As a coach, I have to understand where football takes us and what kind of opportunities arise. This came about as an assistant, through a symbiosis of ideas between people who approached me, namely, manager Regis Le Bris and sporting director Kristjaan Speakman. They made me see that this path could be interesting.”
All teams that vie for promotion in the EFL want to take the path of least resistance, thereby going up through the automatic places, but the memories created from a play-off run tend to live for longer.
Sunderland’s end-of-season form did not leave them in the best place going into the play-offs, but inadvertently, it did allow them to get in the right headspace for knockout football, which ultimately led to their success.
Riberio explained: “We prepared for it in advance, because at a certain point we realised that direct promotion would be very difficult, but at the same time we realised that we would end up in the play-off zone.
“This allowed us to manage the team and convey the message that all the players would be important. We were able to recover players who were injured and others with physical problems. So, we reached the semi-final against Coventry and the final against Sheffield United at full strength.”
It is obvious to say that Sunderland does not want to be another club that comes and goes in the Premier League, and having stayed in the top division for a decade in their last spell, they know what it takes.
However, this is a different team, with different players, coaches, and boardroom leaders, and they face arguably tougher circumstances when it comes to Premier League survival and sustainability.
The moves they make this summer in recruitment will be key, knowing they will have to catch up in some ways to their competitors who have had more time to prepare.
Black Cats back in the Premier League
Sunderland are back in the Premier League!
The Black Cats defied the odds with their stunning play-off win over Sheffield United at Wembley and are now preparing for life in the top flight once again.
In this Journal special edition, we look at the key moments behind Sunderland's Premier League return, we have reaction from players and staff, look ahead to next season and celebrate that amazing day at Wembley.
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