Growing momentum keeps Sunderland firmly in the European conversation with six games remaining
Robin Roefs has insisted Sunderland will continue to “push as far as we can” as their unlikely bid for European qualification gathers momentum.
Régis Le Bris’ side remain firmly in the mix for a top-half finish following their win over Tottenham Hotspur, sitting just a point off seventh place with six games remaining. And while belief is growing, Roefs has stressed the importance of maintaining perspective during the run-in.
“I think from the beginning of the season we had the belief that we could do something special,” he said. “We have so much talent and at the same time a good experience in the team. At the same time, we need to stay really humble because we also see that when we are maybe a little bit off it, or we're not 100 per cent, we get beaten by our opponents. I think today just shows that against a really good side, even though they're struggling, if we are at our best, we can make it difficult for every team, so we just need to keep on doing good and we'll see what happens.”
Sunderland have not qualified for European competition since the 1973-74 season, when they entered the Cup Winners’ Cup after lifting the FA Cup. More than five decades on, a return to the continent remains a distant but increasingly plausible prospect. This season, a range of permutations could see between seven and 11 Premier League clubs qualify for Europe, depending on domestic cup winners and UEFA outcomes - leaving the door ajar for an unlikely Sunderland push.
Despite Sunderland’s position in the table, Roefs revealed that talk of Europe has not become a major focus within the dressing room. “No, we want to push as far as we can,” he added. “Of course, if we are six games away and Europe is in our sights, then we do everything we can to go for it. But what I just said, we need to stay humble, and we need to be at our best every game, and we will see where we are at the end of the season.”
With six games remaining, the run-in has effectively taken on added significance, something Roefs acknowledged as both a challenge and an opportunity. “Yes, for the supporters, for us, it was seven weeks in a row without a break, no internationals, no nothing,” he said. “Just get in the rhythm of winning games, and hopefully we will push as far as we can.”
A top-half finish would represent a significant achievement in itself, particularly given Sunderland’s recent history in the top flight. The club have only finished in the top ten four times in the last 70 years, but Roefs insists the focus remains on maximising what is still possible this season. “Yes, we will see where we end,” he said. “As I said, we're going to push as hard as we can every day on the training pitch, in the games, and we will see where it brings us.”
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