Robin Roefs praises Sunderland supporters and highlights the impact of key teammates this season
Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs has paid a glowing tribute to the club’s supporters, while also highlighting the impact of teammates Lutsharel Geertruida and Brian Brobbey as the Black Cats continue their impressive campaign.
Roefs has quickly become a fans’ favourite on Wearside following a series of standout performances, and the Dutchman was keen to acknowledge the role Sunderland’s backing has played both home and away. “Our supporters are fantastic, wherever we play, you can always hear them above everything else,” Roefs said. “And our home games are completely unprecedented: they go wild with every tackle. And it’s not just one section of the stadium, it’s the whole stadium.”
The goalkeeper has experienced the Stadium of Light atmosphere first-hand since arriving in the Premier League, with Sunderland’s support drawing widespread praise from opposition players and pundits alike. Roefs’ comments underline the collective intensity that has come to define matchdays on Wearside.
Roefs also singled out two of his teammates for special mention, pointing to their growing influence within Régis Le Bris’ side. “They’re both doing really well,” Roefs said when asked about Geertruida and Brobbey. “Brian is an ideal point of contact for us; he often holds up the ball incredibly well, allowing the rest of the team to connect. And Lutsharel is a real asset to the team, both defensively and on the ball.”
Brobbey has provided a physical focal point in attack, while Geertruida’s versatility and composure have strengthened Sunderland at the back. From Roefs’ perspective, between the posts, both players have been key in helping the team function as a unit.
What did Le Bris say after the Everton game?
Régis Le Bris has sought to ease fears surrounding Brian Brobbey’s fitness while confirming that Bertrand Traoré is a concern ahead of Crystal Palace’s trip to the Stadium of Light next weekend.
Brobbey was introduced for Eliezer Mayenda during the second half of Sunderland’s FA Cup third-round tie at Hill Dickinson Stadium, before being withdrawn at the interval of extra time as the Black Cats went on to beat Everton on penalties. Speaking after the game, Le Bris stressed that the decision to remove the striker was purely precautionary.
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Sunderland were able to call on Noah Sadiki for the full 120 minutes following his recent return from the Africa Cup of Nations, but Reinildo Mandava and Traoré were both absent from the squad. While Reinildo is expected to return to contention for next Saturday, Traoré has emerged as an early doubt, with the extent of his issue still unclear.
“We are not too worried about Brian because it was tightness in his hamstrings,” Le Bris said. “We have had this previously with him, so we didn’t want to take any unnecessary risks. With Reinildo and Bertrand, we will see. Rei might be available next week, but Bertrand has come back with an injury that we will have to assess. It is an injury issue he has come back with, but we don’t really know any more than that yet.”
Sunderland will also be without Habib Diarra and Chemsdine Talbi for the visit of Crystal Palace, after both Senegal and Morocco reached the AFCON semi-finals. The pair are set to feature either in the third-place play-off next Saturday or the final next Sunday, depending on results in the last four.