Robin Roefs delivers blunt European verdict after Newcastle win – and sends message to Sunderland fans
Robin Roefs played down talk of European qualification after Sunderland’s derby win over Newcastle United
Robin Roefs was quick to shut down any talk of Europe after Sunderland’s Wear-Tyne derby victory, insisting the squad remain focused on short-term targets despite their impressive position and growing momentum.
The goalkeeper enjoyed a relatively quiet afternoon as Sunderland limited Newcastle United to few clear chances, but it was the wider picture – and what it could mean later in the season – that dominated the post-match discussion. “The first half was like creating a little bit more danger with all the possession you have, but we dominated them and weren’t in real trouble,” Roefs said.
The significance of the occasion had been clear throughout the build-up, with the derby’s importance reinforced both inside the club and across the city. “The staff mentioned it a lot, but also, everywhere you go the last few weeks, the fans and people have told you how important this game is, and it didn’t disappoint at all,” he said. “The atmosphere was something just really out there.”
Asked whether Newcastle’s lack of threat surprised him, Roefs instead highlighted Sunderland’s control and preparation. “No. I was maybe more surprised with… we analysed them, and they are really a pressing team,” he explained. “They press a lot with really high intensity, and, especially the first half, we were able to keep the ball up, and this maybe was more my surprise. We know what we are capable of and did a really good job.”
As questions turned to whether Sunderland’s form should prompt talk of European qualification, Roefs was emphatic that such thinking has not entered the dressing room. “We’re not thinking anything about the end of the season,” he said. “We just go into every game and want to win it. We don’t look at the rankings or how many points, so that’s not something we are busy with. We don’t really look to the rankings and the points we have, but we are amazingly proud of the way we’re playing at the moment, the results we have, and it’s up to us to continue.”
Roefs acknowledged that supporters may allow themselves to dream, but stressed that the players’ approach remains unchanged. “They can dream but we leave it up to them to dream,” he said. “We just look at it game by game. It doesn’t matter where we play, we go in to win it. The fans can dream about anything they want. It’s up to us to keep going.”
He also underlined the importance of ensuring the derby win does not become a peak the team fail to build upon, with Brighton next up. “Of course,” Roefs said. “I was going to say this was just another win, but it’s not that of course. It means something more but it’s up to us to go again next week and make sure this is not just some incident and we keep going.”
Despite Newcastle being kept largely at arm’s length, Roefs credited Sunderland’s defensive unit for making his afternoon straightforward. “I knew playing at home that it’s going to be really difficult for them to keep the ball up, create a lot of chances,” he said. “And maybe I was surprised because I didn’t really have anything to do, just some crosses, some easy shots. But I know what my defenders are capable of, and they did such a good job again.”
The occasion itself left a lasting impression on the goalkeeper. “This is for sure the most crazy atmosphere I’ve ever played in,” he said. Any celebrations, however, were firmly secondary to maintaining focus. “I don’t know yet,” Roefs added. “I’m going to see how the night goes. We have a day off tomorrow.”
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Roefs concluded by reflecting on the pride within the squad and the calm messaging from Régis Le Bris during the build-up. “There’s not much more to say about it,” he said. “We’re just really happy with the way it’s going, and there’s obviously still room for improvement. We can still do better, like against Newcastle, maybe be a little bit better in the build-up, but we’re extremely proud.”
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“He talks about the tactics and how we’re going to do it, and we just try to,” Roefs added. “We didn’t give too much attention to it, like okay, it’s a big game for sure, but we just go into it like every game, and he didn’t change much. His message was just the tactical part, but also keep your head. The fans would be going crazy, and it’s up to us to make sure we don’t go into that too much and do stupid things and just stay calm.”