Thomas Meunier sets Sunderland top-seven aim after seventh-place finish | OneFootball

“We do not want to be an average team, just to stay in the Premier League – no. We were seventh last season and want to be at least the same again. The Europa League also has prestigious games. I don’t play only for fun; you need a reward. If I’m still, at 35 years old, at a competitive club, it’s because of the way I see football.”

He told The Athletic. The Belgium international joined Sunderland on a free from Lille in July, signing a two-year contract as Régis Le Bris’ first summer addition.

“I have never played without Europe,” he said. “Two games a week, I’m used to it. It was a big argument from Sunderland to convince me."

Sunderland finished seventh last season after promotion from the Championship, earning a Europa League return and the club’s first European campaign since 1973.

Meunier, 35, previously represented Club Brugge, Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, Trabzonspor and Lille, making 43 Champions League and 33 Europa League appearances before arriving on Wearside.

Source: Sunderland Echo

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