Former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini believes that Regis Le Bris’ side, despite currently sitting 12th in the Premier League, still have a realistic chance of securing European football next season.
Speaking to BBC Newcastle, Gabbiadini said: “There’s a big group of teams in mid-table all battling it out, and nobody wants to give ground. If we can win our last two games, it could make a huge difference.” It is understood that up to nine Premier League clubs could qualify for European competitions next season – six for the Champions League, two for the Europa League, and one for the Conference League.
Sunderland have recorded 12 wins, 12 draws, and 12 losses after 36 games this season, marking their first top-flight campaign since 2016-17. Gabbiadini admitted the team’s late-season form has been disappointing: “European qualification is still an attractive target, but there’s a bit of disappointment. Looking back in a few months, we’ll see a team that ran out of steam a bit towards the end.”
The club legend pointed to squad depth as a key factor holding them back: “Le Bris likes to work with a tight group, and when rotation is needed deeper into the squad, problems can arise. He doesn’t have three or four Premier League-experienced forwards to choose from – no one like Callum Wilson or Harvey Barnes who can come off the bench. If they had players of that level, they’d almost certainly be starting – that’s the gap between us and established sides.” Gabbiadini also praised the team’s survival: “We’ve established ourselves in the Premier League, and staying up this season looked straightforward. The next step is to score more goals.”
