Tainio targets mid-table

Midfielder acknowledges frustration at final year with Spurs

Last updated: 2nd August 2008

Teemu Tainio Sunderland

Tainio: Looking for success

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Teemu Tainio admits he was keen to quickly finalise a move to Sunderland after a frustrating last season at Tottenham Hotspur.

The Finnish midfielder has signed a three-year contract at the Stadium of Light and is aiming for a mid-table placing this term.

And, after struggling to make an impact under Juande Ramos at Spurs, Tainio is looking forward to playing for Black Cats boss Roy Keane.

"I really think we can do well. And success helps you to bring more players in," Tainio told the Daily Mirror.

"When you see 50,000 fans at home games it shows that this is a massive club, but you have to take it step-by-step.

Legend

"At the moment we're aiming about mid-table. The club's growing and we want to be part of it.

"The manager was what I expected, the thing that strikes you most is his ambition.

"It was really important to get the move here sorted quickly because I knew that I was going to leave Spurs. The last year at Spurs was quite frustrating. I was played out of position at left-back or right-back. I've never played there before.

"The lads who had played under Martin Jol suddenly didn't play any more, so there was a feeling that something was going to happen with the changes and three of us are here now.

"When you've had two fifth places to finish 11th is not what the club wanted and it was a disappointing season.

"Of course we won the Carling Cup, but the club really wanted to be in the Champions League. One reason I came here is because Roy Keane is a legend."