RLB ON REST OF SEASON

RLB doesn't want the standard to slip at Sunderland, even though survival is now pretty much guaranteed. He's also made some comments on the win over Newcastle United and on Tottenham Hotspur having a new manager.

HARDER GAME WITH NEW MANAGER?

“It’s complex, the performance in football is very complex and it’s often a question of confidence, belief and, obviously, quality on the pitch but the psychology side is very important. Probably, the most important thing at the moment is to implement this belief, this confidence, that we can succeed. We had this period, here in Sunderland, when it was tough. Resilience, relationships with the players as well, are really important in those moments.”

PRESSURE OFF?

“I think we still want to win and the pressure is more internal. You want to win again, for example at home because we struggled a bit in the last sequence, so it’s important to win. It’s about our standards. The main goal of the season is probably achieved now and it wasn’t easy and sometimes you can forget because it’s always about the next games and the last performance, I would say. It was really hard and we struggled at times but we showed great quality and strong togetherness, I repeat. Now, we want to keep the same standard because we want to grow and it’s not the end of the season.”

DERBY WIN

“It was a massive win. I think a season is never linear, first of all, and a season is defined as well by key moments. I do think that two derbies, at home and away, and the win at Leeds were those key moments. Especially with many injuries, for the last two games, and the team showed character and resilience when it was important. Probably those two derbies are a good symbol of the season.”