Sunderland’s interim CEO has reacted after the Black Cats secured a remarkable return to Europe
Tom Burwell has sent a rallying message to Sunderland supporters after the Black Cats secured European football for the first time in 53 years.
Sunderland rounded off a remarkable Premier League campaign by qualifying for the Europa League, completing a stunning rise from League One to Europe in just four years. Régis Le Bris’ side finished seventh in the Premier League after a historic final day win over Chelsea at the Stadium of Light, with results elsewhere also going in their favour.
The achievement came exactly 12 months after Sunderland won promotion at Wembley, and Burwell was quick to pay tribute to the supporters after another unforgettable occasion on Wearside. Burwell wrote: “What a day. What a week. What a season.
“It started at Wembley 12 months ago. It finished at the Stadium of Light in front of 49,000 people who refused to let this club be anything other than extraordinary. The 12th man this week was something else. They roared the Black Cats to a second win over Chelsea this season, and into European football next year. There are too many heroes to name. On the pitch, in the stands, and watching from around the world. nSunderland AFC is marching on Europe.”
Sunderland’s qualification caps one of the most extraordinary seasons in the club’s modern history. Having only returned to the Premier League through the Championship play-offs, the Black Cats were widely expected to spend the campaign battling to stay in the division.
Instead, Le Bris’ side secured a top-seven finish and a place in continental competition for the first time since 1973-74. The final whistle against Chelsea sparked emotional scenes around the Stadium of Light, with players, staff, supporters and members of the ownership group all celebrating a landmark moment in Sunderland’s history.
Le Bris says Sunderland’s Europa League qualification proves “anything is possible” in football after the Black Cats completed one of the most remarkable seasons in the club’s modern history. Exactly one year on from their dramatic play-off final win over Sheffield United at Wembley, Sunderland secured a seventh-placed Premier League finish with a 2-1 victory over Club World Cup champions Chelsea at the Stadium of Light.
The result sealed European football for the first time since 1973-74 and capped an extraordinary first season back in the top flight. Le Bris was keen to stress that Sunderland must remain humble as they prepare for the demands of a much busier fixture schedule next season, but said the club’s structure gives them a platform to keep progressing. As was the case after promotion, the Sunderland head coach said he would not place firm limits or targets on what could come next.
“It's an important step, and it shows that anything is possible in football, especially when you are working hard, representing the community and humble,” Le Bris said. “We struggled at times this season, had a really painful defeat here at home [against Nottingham Forest] and bounced back, worked hard and finally here's the result. We feel the dynamic of the club. We are growing fast, but the structure underneath is strong. We can't say it's perfect, but we feel we are improving a lot. I repeat, we have to stay humble.
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