Middlesbrough supporters should “dream” says Rob Edwards

The latest North East sport headlines, from Daniel Wales.

Transcript

00:00Middlesbrough head coach Rob Edwards has said that Borough supporters should not be afraid to dream

00:05ahead of the opening match of the new championship season in which Borough take on Swansea City

00:11at the Riverside Stadium in one is a repeat of last year's first fixture.

00:16Yeah, I think a club like this, there should be hope and there should be expectation.

00:20We've got to put that pressure on ourselves because it's a big football club.

00:24And I want our supporters to be able to dream.

00:26I think it's important they're able to do that and I'm not going to discourage that.

00:29I just want them to have a realism as well and know that this is a difficult league.

00:33It's a challenging league. Obviously, the team's coming down, the team's coming up, add an extra spice.

00:39So, yeah, it's going to be difficult, but we've got a good group.

00:42And by the end of the window, I think we'll be in a stronger position as well to give a really good account of ourselves.

00:48But we'll give it everything.

00:51Yeah, we finished 10th last year, but we weren't that far off either.

00:54You know, it was tight.

00:55So, yeah, I'm really looking forward to what lies ahead.

00:59And in terms of recruitment, you've had you three signings this summer.

01:03Are you expecting a lot more movement come the end of the window?

01:06There will be more. Yeah, there will be more.

01:08The guys are working really hard behind the scenes.

01:10Obviously, we're here now and we're focused on tomorrow and doing the work at the training ground on the grass.

01:14And Sunderland have confirmed that forward Elisa Mayenza has signed a new long-term contract with the club.

01:22This will now keep him at the Stadium of Light until 2030.

01:26Yeah, I'm very happy to be here.

01:33I think everybody knows that.

01:36For me, that's my team, that's my club, that's my city.

01:39So, it's a special moment for me and I'm very happy to be here.

01:43You just touched on it there a little bit, it being your club and your city.

01:48What kind of message do you think this sends to the Sunderland supporters?

01:52Just, I'm very happy to be here and the Sunderland fans are very, very special supporters.

02:05I think one of the best supporters in England.

02:09I think when we plan a Stadium of Light is always special.