‘Huge difference’ – Marco Gabbiadini delivers verdict on Sunderland’s European hopes ahead of Everton clash
Former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini has insisted that the Black Cats are still in with a chance of qualifying for Europe this season as they head into their final two games of the campaign.
A 0-0 stalemate with Manchester United on Saturday afternoon has left Regis Le Bris’ side twelfth in the table and winless in their last four top flight outings, but a pair of victories against Everton and Chelsea over the next fortnight could see Sunderland amass as many as 54 points come the end of May.
And given the condensed nature of the Premier League’s middle reaches this term, plus the possibility of as many as nine English clubs being eligible for continental competition next season, Gabbiadini is still of the belief that the Black Cats can make the grade.
What has Marco Gabbiadini said about Sunderland’s European hopes?
Speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle, he said: “A lot of teams are fighting and playing each other in this little middle group and no-one wants to give an inch so if we did win the last two games, it could make a huge difference.
“It’s still there for us as a carrot, but it is a little bit disappointing. When we look back in a few months’ time at the way the season went, we have just faded away a little bit towards the end.”
On Sunderland’s squad depth, and how it might have hindered a potential European push, Gabbiadini added: “We’ve got this small squad that the manager likes to use. Once it goes deeper than that, sometimes we have got issues. He hasn’t got three or four strikers to choose from who have played in the Premier League before and got experience.
“They are the bits that we have got to improve on. We haven’t got a Callum Wilson or a Harvey Barnes to come off the bench. If we had players like that, they would probably be starting – that’s the difference between us and an established Premier League side. We’ve established a great foothold in the Premier League and made it look easy staying up this season, but the next step is to score a few more goals.”
