Sunderland survival ‘for everyone involved ... who believed from day one’ says Advocaat

'When I started ... I said if you believe in the quality you have we can do it' and Sunderland did indeed secure their Premier League position on Wednesday, in a goalless draw with Arsenal.

Sunderland players celebrate at the final whistle of their Premier League 0-0 draw against Arsenal on Wednesday night as they mathematically avoided relegation. Adrian Dennis / AFP / May 20, 2015

Dick Advocaat will decide if he wants to remain as Sunderland manager by next week after the emotional Dutchman wept tears of joy following the 0-0 draw at Arsenal that secured his side's Premier League survival.

Advocaat’s team gave an obdurate defensive display at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday to earn the point they needed to be certain of avoiding relegation.

And the usually taciturn Sunderland manager responded by showing his softer side as he began to cry while celebrating with his players and fans at full-time.

After masterminding such an impressive escape act at a club that looked doomed before his arrival on a short-term contract, the 67-year-old now has to decide if he wants to remain at the Stadium of Light next season.

Bombarded by questions about his future following the Arsenal draw, he revealed he plans to give an answer to owner Ellis Short once Sunday’s season finale at champions Chelsea is out of the way.

“I will give an answer on that next week. I’m sorry, I have to think about everything,” Advocaat said.

“If I stop then it is my last job.”

Advocaat will rightly take the plaudits for resurrecting a team who were thrashed 8-0 at Southampton under his predecessor Gus Poyet earlier this season and had just lost 4-0 at home to struggling Aston Villa in the match before his appointment.

Revitalised by Advocaat’s level headed leadership, Sunderland are unbeaten in their last five matches and have lost only two of their eight fixtures since the former Glasgow Rangers coach replaced the sacked Poyet.

But Advocaat was keen to give all the credit to his players and staff for buying into his belief that survival was still possible.

“It is not about me, it is about everyone involved, the owner, the people who work in the office, and the players who believed from day one,” said Advocaat, whose side are now four points clear of third bottom Hull City.

“Nobody was expecting we would do it here against a great team, so to do it on our own gives me a special feeling.

“When I started we had just had a 4-0 home defeat and lost my first game at West Ham, but I said if you believe in the quality you have we can do it.

“I’ve never been that emotional after a game before. It was when I saw my assistant (Bert van Lingen). He has been with me a long time and just said let it out.”

It was hard to tell from the subdued reaction from Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, but his side also had reason to be pleased after a draw that should guarantee they finish third and qualify for next season’s Champions League group stage.

Arsenal are three points clear of fourth placed Manchester United with a significantly superior goal difference, but Wenger was more concerned with his players’ lethargic finishing as he looks ahead to the FA Cup final against Aston Villa on May 30

“You can say we dominated possession, but we lack a bit of sharpness at the moment in our movement and the way we prepare our chances,” he said.

“It was a tough game on Sunday against Man United and we looked a little jaded.

“It is a little bit concerning that we look a bit jaded. I don’t know if I will rest players on Sunday. It is possible.

“When you don’t win you are frustrated but you see now the point we took at Man United was vital.

“What is important now is we win on Sunday. We are in a strong position to finish in the top three and then win the Cup final. Let’s do it.”

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