Van Aanholt focused on Eagles but feels Sunderland pain
Patrick van Aanholt admits he feels sympathy for the plight of former club Sunderland but is adamant he is now fully focused on ensuring that Crystal Palace don’t join them in the Championship.
Sunderland’s inexorable drop into the second tier was finally confirmed last weekend as they lost at home to Bournemouth and Hull got a point against Southampton.
Van Aanholt was part of the Black Cats’ set-up for the first half of this campaign before moving to Palace in the January transfer window.
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
His former employers may have occupied one relegation spot this term but with the Eagles on 38 points – six above Swansea in 18th – after a 2-0 loss to Burnley last Saturday, their own safety is not yet secure and that is at the forefront of the Dutchman’s mind.
“I’m very sorry for Sunderland – I was there for two-and-a-half years and they helped me to the Premier League, and I am sad for them,” said van Aanholt.
“But I am at Palace now and I have moved on – we still need another win to get to 41 points and be safe and I am very positive we will do that.
“After the Burnley defeat we are naturally disappointed but we move on and we have three more games to play and we must keep going.”
