Sunderland have made a brilliant start to their Premier League campaign, having won promotion via the EFL Championship play-offs last season
Sunderland wonderkid Chris Rigg has refused to get carried away with any talk about the Black Cats finishing in a European spot this season. Sunderland have made a brilliant start to life back in the Premier League – picking up 14 points from their opening eight top-flight fixtures.
Regis Le Bris’s side are currently in seventh position following their 2-0 win over strugglers Wolves at the weekend. The Wearsiders spent over £140million this summer in an attempt to stave off relegation back to the Championship.
It’s so far, so good for Sunderland and Rigg, who is just 18-years-old, started his third Premier League game during the win over Vitor Pereira’s side. “I’m buzzing to be fair,” Rigg said post-match when asked about Sunderland’s start to the season.
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“It’s so good to be in a team that you know everyone’s got their backs. For example, if someone’s lost the ball, I’d know I’d work for them.
“And the opposite, if I lost the ball, they’d work for me. So I’m just buzzing to be a part of this team – and so proud of the team, as well.”
Rigg is closing in on 100 senior appearances despite his young age. He broke into the Sunderland first-team set up as 15-year-old and hasn’t looked back since.
He continued: “I think it’s every boy’s dream to be a Premier League player, and not just to be a Premier League player, to be a player that’s grew up in this city, this town and what it means for the fans. So like you say on the pitch, I give it my all for the fans.
“And yeah, just so proud to finally call myself a Premier League player.
“I’ve definitely got the qualities to be a Premier League player. Obviously, I’ve still got so much more to learn – as you can see – and the team’s got so much to learn.
“We’re still gelling, there’s still a lot of new players that need to gel. But I think we’re on the right path.”
When asked if Sunderland fans could dream this season about a potential European finish, Rigg said: “I’ve been a football fan and I would dream because they’re doing so well and hopefully it can only get better. Personally, I don’t [think about European football]. I just look for the next game, because you’re only as good as your last game.
“At times, there was a bit of sloppiness from myself and from my team-mates today, but that digging in, grittiness and working hard together got us through the game.”
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