{"id":12270,"date":"2026-05-25T03:13:36","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T03:13:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=12270"},"modified":"2026-05-25T03:13:36","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T03:13:36","slug":"sensational-sunderland-qualify-for-europa-league-after-10-man-chelsea-fall-apart-premier-league","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=12270","title":{"rendered":"Sensational Sunderland qualify for Europa League after 10-man Chelsea fall apart | Premier League"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Who saw this coming? Exactly one year ago Sunderland won the Championship playoffs and were installed as everybody\u2019s relegation favourites. R\u00e9gis Le Bris and his wonderfully resilient side harboured a rather different vision and they executed it so well they have finished seventh, securing a lucrative passport to the Europa League. No one is patronising Sunderland now.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">This fully merited win against a Chelsea side whose own European ambitions were shredded along the way was in many ways emblematic of their season. It was a day when the second-tier old boys upstaged the Club World Cup holders, when Enzo Le F\u00e9e eclipsed Chelsea\u2019s World Cup-winning Enzo Fern\u00e1ndez and when the excellent Granit Xhaka ruled central midfield. What price Le Bris for manager of the year?<\/p>\n<figure id=\"c40ad997-0d19-45d3-8a4c-7a1ff2f30434\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-47fhrn\"><gu-island name=\"RichLinkComponent\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{&quot;richLinkIndex&quot;:2,&quot;element&quot;:{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&quot;,&quot;prefix&quot;:&quot;Related: &quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Wolves end up worst of worst after Zian Flemming grabs point for Burnley&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;c40ad997-0d19-45d3-8a4c-7a1ff2f30434&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;richLink&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/2026\/may\/24\/burnley-wolves-premier-league-match-report&quot;},&quot;ajaxUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:14,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2}}\"\/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cWe\u2019re disappointed,\u201d said Calum McFarlane, Chelsea interim manager, making himself heard above the strains of the celebratory music floating through the media room walls. \u201cWe\u2019re gutted.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">His side, very much second best even before Wesley Fofana\u2019s 62nd-minute sending-off for a second yellow card, had arrived hoping for Europa League qualification. They flew back south in 10th, with Xabi Alonso, their incoming manager, doubtless pondering a sizeable challenge ahead.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">In contrast, Le Bris can look forward to Sunderland\u2019s first European campaign since their continental debut in the 1973-74 Cup Winners\u2019 Cup, which concluded with a second-round defeat by Sporting Lisbon.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"34236094-2649-49d8-8f17-d24587ffface\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.GuideAtomBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\"><gu-island name=\"GuideAtomWrapper\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;c35dbde0-89d3-4b54-9781-7441c87fe168&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Premier League teams in Europe next season&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Champions League&lt;\/b&gt; Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Liverpool&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Europa League&lt;\/b&gt; Bournemouth, Sunderland (Crystal Palace will also play in the Europa League if they win the Conference League final on Wednesday)&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Conference League&lt;\/b&gt; Brighton&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\"><\/p>\n<div data-atom-id=\"c35dbde0-89d3-4b54-9781-7441c87fe168\" data-atom-type=\"guide\" class=\"dcr-13gln72\">\n<details data-atom-id=\"c35dbde0-89d3-4b54-9781-7441c87fe168\" data-snippet-type=\"guide\" class=\"dcr-g1vsnw\">\n<summary><span class=\"dcr-1ypwo6h\">Quick Guide<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 class=\"dcr-1fa5dcn\">Premier League teams in Europe next season<\/h4>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-55zfp0\"><span class=\"dcr-3j53am\"><span class=\"dcr-41evle\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"m10.8 13.2.425 9.8h1.525l.45-9.8 9.8-.45v-1.525l-9.8-.425-.45-9.8h-1.525l-.425 9.8-9.8.425v1.525z\"\/><\/svg><\/span>Show<\/span><\/span><\/summary>\n<div>\n<div class=\"dcr-17vpao5\">\n<p><b>Champions League<\/b> Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Liverpool<\/p>\n<p><b>Europa League<\/b> Bournemouth, Sunderland (Crystal Palace will also play in the Europa League if they win the Conference League final on Wednesday)<\/p>\n<p><b>Conference League<\/b> Brighton<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<footer class=\"dcr-jkwt9a\">\n<p>Thank you for your feedback.<\/p>\n<\/footer>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/gu-island><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cI\u2019m proud,\u201d said Le Bris, who signed 14 players last summer. \u201cWe\u2019ve created something special. For me, it\u2019s the top moment. It\u2019s top, top, top. It\u2019s hard to believe, to be honest. But it\u2019s an important step for Sunderland. It shows everything is possible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Four years ago Luke O\u2019Nien was playing League One football at the Stadium of Light. Here the central defender fully held his own against Cole Palmer and company and even found time to turn goal creator by using his head to flick a long ball from Robin Roefs into Trai Hume\u2019s path.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The Northern Ireland international responded instinctively and, as Hume\u2019s fabulous first-time volley hit the back of Robert S\u00e1nchez\u2019s net, Europe suddenly moved an almost insurmountable distance from Chelsea. Hume, who had a very good game, is also a survivor from Sunderland\u2019s third-tier days.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">To say his 25th-minute opener was deserved would be an understatement. The visitors struggled to cope with Sunderland\u2019s intensity and invention throughout and spent long periods camped uncomfortably in their own half.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"f06a6bc8-8952-46dd-91dc-8fde80732ffa\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-fd61eq\"><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><svg width=\"18\" height=\"13\" viewbox=\"0 0 18 13\"><path d=\"M18 3.5v8l-1.5 1.5h-15l-1.5-1.5v-8l1.5-1.5h3.5l2-2h4l2 2h3.5l1.5 1.5zm-9 7.5c1.9 0 3.5-1.6 3.5-3.5s-1.6-3.5-3.5-3.5-3.5 1.6-3.5 3.5 1.6 3.5 3.5 3.5z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Chelsea\u2019s Wesley Fofana is shown a red card by Chris Kavanagh.<\/span> Photograph: Lee Smith\/Action Images\/Reuters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The moment when Fern\u00e1ndez shoved over the hugely influential Le F\u00e9e \u2013 who would depart to a standing ovation in stoppage time \u2013 proved a microcosm of the mounting visiting frustration. Chelsea were struggling to dismantle their hosts\u2019 hallmark passing triangles, let alone find a way to bypass the central-defensive barrier presented by the impressive Paris Saint-Germain old boy Nordi Mukiele and O\u2019Nien.<\/p>\n<figure data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.NewsletterSignupBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\"><gu-island name=\"EmailSignUpWrapper\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;index&quot;:13,&quot;listId&quot;:4163,&quot;identityName&quot;:&quot;the-fiver&quot;,&quot;category&quot;:&quot;article-based&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Football Daily&quot;,&quot;frequency&quot;:&quot;Every weekday&quot;,&quot;successDescription&quot;:&quot;We'll send you Football Daily every weekday&quot;,&quot;theme&quot;:&quot;sport&quot;,&quot;illustrationSquare&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/media.guim.co.uk\/3913a70a8b2e7b8d826d813515822b0b54952cdd\/0_0_3000_3000\/3000.jpg&quot;,&quot;exampleUrl&quot;:&quot;\/football\/series\/footballdaily\/latest\/email&quot;,&quot;idApiUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/idapi.theguardian.com&quot;,&quot;hideNewsletterSignupComponentForSubscribers&quot;:true,&quot;showNewNewsletterSignupCard&quot;:true}\"\/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Le F\u00e9e began the second half by sending a clever flicked pass into the path of Brian Brobbey and only S\u00e1nchez\u2019s outstretched leg came between the Dutchman and an extension of Sunderland\u2019s lead.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">It proved a temporary stay of execution. When Le F\u00e9e crossed from the right, Brobbey\u2019s connection was poor and his shot seemed to be bobbling wide but Malo Gusto\u2019s shin got in the way and sent it flying past S\u00e1nchez.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The moment had arrived for the previously nearly anonymous Palmer to remind Thomas Tuchel that, despite behind omitted from the England squad, he remains a far from shabby finisher. A swipe of the forward\u2019s left boot from about 20 yards proved too good for Roefs, who touched but could not hold a shot he probably should have saved.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">As the tension rose and tempers frayed, Fofana was dismissed for attempting to rugby tackle Wilson Isidor. It was Chelsea\u2019s 11th red card of an indisciplined and chaotic campaign presided over by three managers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The clarity of thought of Le Bris, Xhaka and company produced a happier ending. At the final whistle, the stadium announcer had a two-word message. \u201cLet\u2019s party,\u201d he urged and, more than an hour later Sunderland\u2019s manager, his players and their families were still celebrating on the pitch in front of an audience in absolutely no rush to go home.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Who saw this coming? Exactly one year ago Sunderland won the Championship playoffs and were&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12271,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12270","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chelsea"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12270","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12270"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12270\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/12271"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12270"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12270"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12270"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}