Sunderland are living a paradoxical season: they are preparing for a Europa League trip to the San Siro to face AC Milan on 10 December, yet they sit rock bottom of the Premier League after nine games following a 3-1 defeat to Coventry City on Saturday.
Daunting Schedule Before Milan
Before the Milan trip, the Black Cats face a brutal Premier League run: Chelsea at home, Aston Villa away, Tottenham at home, Liverpool away, and Newcastle away. European fixtures against Dinamo Zagreb and Jagiellonia Bialystok are sandwiched in between. If they fail to pick up points and rivals below them gain ground, Sunderland could be dangerously adrift before their dream European night.
Their last league victory came against Fulham on 30 August – two days after the Europa League draw confirmed the San Siro visit. Since then they have suffered six defeats and two draws, including an opening-weekend loss to Ipswich Town.
Captain's Frustration
"Very disappointed," said captain Granit Xhaka after the Coventry loss. "We are not doing the things that we have been speaking about; we are not doing the things that we are doing in training. Again, so many mistakes. We have no chance to win any games like this."
European Success, Domestic Struggle
In Europe, Sunderland are ninth in the Europa League table with two wins and a draw from three games, only goal difference keeping them out of the top eight and a direct last-16 spot. A 3-2 Carabao Cup win over Brentford set up a quarter-final against fellow strugglers Crystal Palace. However, they have collected just one point in the three league matches that followed European outings this season.
Manager Regis le Bris acknowledged the strain: "They [the players] own the reality of the club, this dynamic, we are growing fast. We are exposed this season with this busy schedule. It's really demanding. Is it unexpected? I don't think so. Many clubs last year experienced exactly the same situation. First year in Europe, you know you will have on average 10 less points. It's our reality. Does it mean we are happy? Absolutely not. We have to get better."
Defensive Collapse
The defensive decline is stark. Last season Sunderland had the fourth meanest back line in the division, conceding only seven goals in their first nine games. This term they have already shipped 17 – only Ipswich Town and Crystal Palace have conceded more. Seven errors have led directly to goals, with Coventry's first two goals stemming from a failure to deal with a cross and Luke O'Nien losing possession to Taiwo Awoniyi.
"Bad result," Le Bris told BBC's Match of the Day. "Ups and downs, I think, is the summary of this game and the season so far. We can play good football, and create some good chances, but we also made many unforced errors. At this level, especially in the Premier League, the opponent can seize every single opportunity, and Coventry did that. It's not a question of luck, it's a question of us."
Attacking Inefficiency and Injury Woes
Sunderland's attacking output has also dipped. Last season only relegated Burnley and Wolves had a lower expected-goals difference, and only three teams scored fewer than their 42 goals. This season they have managed just seven goals in nine matches, with only bottom-placed Nottingham Forest (six) scoring fewer. Defender Dan Ballard has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since September's international break.
There are slender positives: they have already faced Arsenal, Manchester City and Brighton, and earned spirited draws against Brentford and Leeds United. Yet, with the team bottom of the table, a return to Europe next season looks distant. "Of course, we are now bottom of the league, but in football you need to think positive," added Xhaka. "You need to show courage even if you make mistakes when you play, but that's not the case at the moment. It's a difficult position where we are. But a situation where we can show our character, show our desire together to come out from here."
