Sunderland manager Gus Poyet has stated that he now believes in miracles after his team managed to achieve safety in the Premier league despite being bottom of the table on Christmas Day. Only one team has managed to achieve this feat in the history of the Premier League. Sunderland will now be joining West Brom as the only two sides that have managed this achievement. Sunderland’s achievements is more remarkable considering that they had matches against title rivals Manchester City and Chelsea in the last few matches of the season.
As a result, none of the pundits and critics gave them hope to survive in the league. However, four points in the space of three days against City and Chelsea give the club a new lease of life. They have then gone on to achieve back-to-back victories against Cardiff and West Brom to secure their Premier league status. This has been the season Sunderland have come very close to the relegation zone since coming back to the Premier league a few years ago under Roy Keane. Poyet was brought to the club as the replacement for Paolo Di Canio in the summer. He has done an admirable job to keep the club in the division.
“It’s been difficult. I don’t know if you will see something similar ever. It’s one of the best days of my life. For moments, it looked like we were going down. It’s football, it’s miracles, it’s something unique. The connection between the players on the pitch in the last few games and with the fans means there is only one result: winning football games. Can I go another year like these seven months? No. I’m strong, but I don’t want to die. I don’t want to have a heart-attack,” said the manager after the 2-0 win over West Brom.