Robin Roefs has been singled out by English media for his role in Sunderland's hard-fought Europa League victory over AZ Alkmaar. The Black Cats secured a 1-0 win at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday night thanks to a second-half penalty from Enzo Le Fée.
Le Fée converted from the spot in the 66th minute, a moment that proved decisive in a tight contest. The result gives Sunderland a perfect start to their European group stage campaign and marks their third win in the last five matches across all competitions. Their recent form stands at three wins, one draw and one loss.
Media praise for Roefs
Reports from the match highlighted the manager's tactical approach as key to handling a difficult evening. "Robin Roefs guided Sunderland through a tough Europa League night against AZ," was the consensus view. The performance was built on a solid defensive foundation, limiting the Dutch side's opportunities despite their possession.
For AZ, forward Kees Smit was noted as a standout, described as "the nimble" attacker who caused problems. Sunderland's back line, however, held firm to preserve the clean sheet and the three points.
Building momentum
The win provides a significant boost ahead of a demanding Premier League schedule. Sunderland currently sit 14th in the table with four points from four games, having scored three goals and conceded five. They travel to face Manchester City, who are second, this weekend.
Roefs will be without the services of Habib Diarra and Romaine Mundle for the trip to the Etihad Stadium, with both players currently sidelined. The manager will hope the confidence from this European success can translate into a positive performance against the champions. Sunderland's next home game is a Premier League clash following the international break.
Manager Regis Le Bris praised Enzo Le Fée's decisive contribution. "You need good players in the right moment," Le Bris said. "And Enzo is a great player. He can create, he can score, he can help in defence. Yes, he's great!" The victory marked Sunderland's first European fixture in 53 years. Le Fée won and converted the 66th-minute penalty, having also missed a spot-kick in the 0-2 defeat to Arsenal last weekend.
Manager Robin Roefs will take the same starting eleven that beat AZ Alkmaar into Saturday's match at Manchester City. The club confirmed the unchanged lineup from the 1-0 Europa League win, which featured Enzo Le Fée scoring the decisive penalty. Sunderland, 14th in the Premier League with four points from four games, face a City side that thrashed Norwich 5-0 in their last outing.
