An Incredible Start – Sunderland’s Surprising Success

A Dream Come True

Last year, Sunderland had aspirations of ascending to the Premier League, finding themselves at the top of the Championship after defeating Luton Town. Fast forward to today, and they have secured a significant victory against Chelsea, champions of the Club World Cup, placing them just two points shy of Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Sunderland’s performance is more than just a fortunate start—it has turned out to be exceptional. Accumulating 17 points from nine matches, they have overturned the typical trend of struggling new entrants in the Premier League, silencing critics who claimed the club had over-assembled their squad.

Surprising Beginnings

Contextualizing Sunderland’s current position involves reflecting on their path to the Premier League. Under the guidance of coach Regis le Bris, the team finished 24 points behind Burnley and Leeds in the Championship but managed a historic rise, edging Coventry City in the play-off semi-finals with an injury-time winner.

Despite being considered underdogs in the final against Sheffield United—who had finished 14 points ahead in the league standings—Sunderland displayed resilience, coming from behind to win and secure a Premier League spot for the first time in eight years. This makes their current success all the more remarkable.

Notably, their current tally of 17 points matches the best start they’ve had in the Premier League, alongside the 1999-00 season, and only five newly promoted teams have achieved better starts.

“Anyone honest will admit they didn’t expect Sunderland to perform this well,” remarked Michael Carrick after Sunderland’s impressive win against Chelsea. He emphasized their impressive point haul and noted how comfortably the team played, maintaining a belief in their ability to succeed against stronger opponents.

Unity in Adversity

One of the standout aspects of Sunderland’s strong start is their ability to integrate an extensive number of new signings smoothly after ascending to the top tier. The club has invested £161 million in 15 new players, marking a record expenditure for a promoted team.

In contrast, the previous year’s promoted teams—Leicester, Southampton, and Ipswich—spent a combined £276.5 million but faced immediate relegation, proving that substantial investment does not guarantee survival. Yet, Sunderland has successfully disrupted this narrative, demonstrating that a refresh of the squad can yield positive results.

“It’s an unbelievable beginning and well-deserved,” stated former Watford captain Troy Deeney. He noted the rarity of such sweeping changes post-promotion but acknowledged that Sunderland’s gamble seems to pay off impressively.

In addition to player integration, Sunderland’s camaraderie has thrived, with players who were pivotal in gaining promotion welcoming their new teammates rather than resenting them.

Tactical Resilience

Sunderland’s game plan has required considerable effort off the ball. They average only 42.5% possession across their matches—reflecting a tactical approach that favors countering stronger teams. Despite spending significant portions of games without the ball, they’ve allowed fewer goals than all but two teams—Arsenal and Manchester City.

Le Bris has instilled a high level of organization and commitment in his squad, as evidenced by their impressive 53.3% success rate in duels, second only to Manchester City.

Granit Xhaka: An Influential Acquisition

Among the summer’s signings, Granit Xhaka stands out as the most significant. The former Arsenal captain made headlines when he chose to transition from Bayer Leverkusen to Sunderland, with doubts surrounding his ability to perform in the Premier League after his move to Germany.

However, he has silenced critics with his impressive performance, currently leading the team in various statistical categories: assists, chances created, successful passes, and duels won, to name a few.

As Sunderland continues to defy expectations, their story remains a testament to resilience, unity, and strategic prowess in a challenging league environment.