Maurice Louis-Dreyfus salutes Sunderland fans with playful Newcastle nod after Europa League clinched | OneFootball

Maurice Louis-Dreyfus has sent an emotional message to Sunderland supporters after a seventh-place finish secured Europa League football, adding a playful nod to the derby double over Newcastle.

He said in a post that the campaign had delivered survival, a top-10 finish, two wins over their neighbours and a return to Europe, and he thanked fans for their backing throughout.

That wording appeared to be a light-hearted reference to Newcastle, with the Black Cats winning both derbies during a remarkable season for Régis Le Bris’ side.

Sunderland, promoted via last season’s Championship play-offs, were expected by many to be battling to stay up. Instead, Le Bris guided them to seventh and a place in next season’s Europa League, the club’s first European campaign since 1973-74.

The achievement capped a rapid rise from League One to European football in four years and sparked emotional scenes across Wearside as players, staff, supporters and members of the ownership group celebrated.

Source: Sunderland Echo