Sunderland’s assistant head coach has offered a revealing insight into the reality behind the scenes after the dramatic derby win at Newcastle
Sunderland first-team coach Alessandro Barcherini has issued a measured response to the club’s dramatic Tyne-Wear derby victory over Newcastle United, insisting the focus quickly returns to the work behind the scenes.
Brian Brobbey’s 90th-minute winner sealed a memorable comeback at St James’s Park, completing a first league double over Newcastle since 2014-15 and sparking jubilant scenes among the travelling supporters. Anthony Gordon had given the hosts an early lead, while Sunderland had to respond to adversity before Chemsdine Talbi levelled and Brobbey struck late to secure all three points.
While the result will be celebrated by supporters, Barcherini’s message offered a reminder of the relentless demands of Premier League football and the mentality required to sustain progress at this level. Writing after the game, the assistant head coach stressed that while victories bring satisfaction, they are fleeting, with attention quickly shifting to preparation for the next challenge.
"People see the results, but they don’t see the work,” he wrote on LinkedIn. “We prepare each game with the objective to win, and when it happens, the first wave of happiness leaves fast, and then it’s pure relief; relief and... prepare the next one.
“I try so hard to enjoy each win as it’s what I always tell the players, ‘enjoy the game’, ‘enjoy the win’, ‘enjoy the moments’, but this industry is relentless, and I’ve taught myself to find my joy in the work, not the wins. I love winning, and I LOVED that win. But the work is where it’s at, and it’s time to go to work again. Enjoy it, Mackems. See you in a few weeks”
Sunderland’s dramatic derby win reinforced a remarkable trend, with Newcastle United still without a home league victory in this fixture since 2010 and now winless in league meetings anywhere since 2011. Brobbey’s late strike not only secured three points but carried wider significance, as Sunderland leapfrogged their rivals in the all-time Tyne-Wear derby wins record. The result also saw the Black Cats move above Newcastle in the Premier League table, underlining their resurgence. In a fixture often defined by momentum and psychology, Sunderland’s recent dominance continues to shift the balance of power firmly back in their favour.
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