Enzo Maresca, the manager of Leicester City, is optimistic about Sunderland’s chances of being in the mix for promotion at the end of the season. While Leicester and Ipswich currently hold the top spots for automatic promotion, there is still plenty of time for other clubs to make their way into contention.
Last season, Middlesbrough started in the relegation zone but managed to finish in fourth place. This serves as encouragement for many teams, as it shows that a strong finish is still possible even if they are struggling early on.
The competition in the division is increasing this year, with a recently promoted team sitting in the automatic promotion zone. This highlights the difficult task that many teams face in trying to improve upon their previous season’s performance.
Despite Leicester’s impressive start, Maresca remains grounded, especially after their recent defeat against Leeds United. This result reminds them that there are still many teams vying for automatic promotion, regardless of the strong starts by Leicester and Ipswich.
Maresca believes that Sunderland could be one of the teams to challenge for promotion. This is not surprising, considering Sunderland finished in sixth place last season. Although they currently sit just outside the top six, there are many teams competing for those coveted spots.
While Leicester, Ipswich, and Leeds are favorites to secure promotion at this stage, Southampton and Middlesbrough are also expected to be in contention. However, teams like Cardiff City and West Bromwich Albion will be determined to defend their positions in the top six.
Sunderland may need to rely on results from other matches to secure a playoff spot again. Their lack of experience in the forward department and the absence of Amad Diallo may pose a challenge. However, Jack Clarke could be the player to make a difference for them, and they should not be underestimated.
