Source: SKY_Sports
Gordon cools expectations
Craig Gordon has told supporters not to expect Sunderland to immediately challenge for a UEFA Champions League spot.
Expectations may have rocketed at the Stadium of Light following the takeover by American businessman Ellis Short and appointment of Steve Bruce as manager.
But Gordon recalls how the Black Cats only narrowly avoided relegation from the Premier League last season.
He expects Sunderland to improve considerably but has offered a note of caution, saying that it will take some time before they can compete with the best clubs in the division.
The goalkeeper said: "I think we have to say that last season was a bit of a disappointment. It wasn't where we were looking to be.
"We were hoping to push on and improve on our first season back in the Premier League. In the end, we scraped by and just managed to stay in the league, which wasn't what anybody at the club was looking for.
"The main thing is that from a bad situation, we managed to retain our status and we can now look to progress again, just like we wanted to do last season. We have got to do it this season.
"We have got to build things slowly. You can't just go from being a team that narrowly avoided relegation to qualifying for the Champions League. There are stages you have to go through.
"We will build slowly. We have got to be looking a fair bit higher in the league than we managed last season and look to improve on that over the coming years."
Gordon is looking forward to working with Bruce on the training ground later this week as the Sunderland players report back for pre-season.
"Everybody knows he did a fantastic job at Wigan, especially because they don't have the biggest of fan bases," he told the club's official website.
"To come to Sunderland, where we have got 45,000 supporters in our stadium whenever we play at home, is something to relish."
