Source: Northern_Echo
Sunderland aiming for top ten finish
BOLO ZENDEN insists Sunderland are not taking a top ten finish this season for granted, but feels anything else would be deemed a failure.[LNB] After making such a promising start to a second campaign under manager Steve Bruce, the Black Cats' chances of a Europa League spot seemingly strengthened week by week.[LNB] However, a recent stutter has led to dropping four points shy of sixth placed Liverpool ahead of the Reds' visit to Wearside on Sunday.[LNB] With Sunderland requiring Manchester City to finish fifth and win the FA Cup for sixth place to be enough for Europe, Europa League qualification looks unlikely.[LNB] Now Zenden claims the aim among the squad is to ensure they do not slip out of the Premier League's top half.[LNB] The Dutch midfielder said: "We are a couple of points away from seventh but we are still very close to the clubs chasing behind. It is a season where anything can happen, a weird season.[LNB] "I am still very confident we can get a top ten spot. When you are sixth in the league people are saying lets go for Europe, but I always think you have to calm down.[LNB] "You have to get past the January window and then see what happens, but we are still hoping to get into the top half and we should be able to do that with the squad we have."[LNB] Liverpool head to the Stadium of Light in a different frame of mind to that which they had when the Anfield club was gripped in turmoil earlier in the campaign.[LNB] The appointment of Kenny Dalglish until the end of the season has galvanised them at a time when supporters were increasingly frustrated with Roy Hodgson and the previous American owners.[LNB] Zenden, part of the Reds squad in 2007 that were runners-up to AC Milan in the Champions League, has been an interested observer at the goings on since his departure.[LNB] But he does think that under Dalglish, Liverpool are starting to head in the right direction and suggests Sunday's encounter will be a lot more difficult than it might have been earlier in the season.[LNB] "In the last year when Rafa Benitez left and Roy Hodgson came in it seemed everything went a bit wrong," he said. "Every week there was a takeover and then no takeover and obviously that affects players. The new American owners were coming one minute and then not the next.[LNB] "Then there was talk of a new stadium and although the first stone should have been laid two or three years ago it has still not moved forward. It is all turmoil.[LNB] "That is why the results have suffered, but King Kenny has come back in and they are playing again. The massive boost they have had recently was the result against Manchester United. That will give them a really big positive vibe and will make a big difference to them."[LNB] Zenden spent two years at Anfield and has enjoyed eight years of his professional career in the Premier League. The 34-year-old was part of the Sunderland team which overcame Liverpool last season.[LNB] He said: "Getting a result against the big boys is always a massive bonus.[LNB] "If you do lose at home to the likes of Chelsea, Man Utd or Liverpool it is good to be disappointed, but you have to be realistic.[LNB] "When we play Liverpool we will try everything we can to get a win and if it is packed to the rooftops that will give us a little bit extra, it always does when the stadium is full to bursting."[LNB] Sunderland could be boosted by the return of captain Lee Cattermole, who has been out of action with a back problem since December.[LNB] Goalkeeper Craig Gordon, meanwhile, has been named in the Scotland squad for the friendly with Brazil on March 27 despite being sidelined with a knee injury.[LNB] Gordon has been joined in Craig Levein's squad for the friendly at the Emirates Stadium by team-mate Phil Bardsley.[LNB] But he has been told to lay off training and football for the next four or five weeks in the hope that the tendons in his knee will recover.[LNB]
