Sunderland boss Steve Bruce feels Europe will be out of reach this season.
Bruce, despite their signing spree this summer, has played down expectations of a top six finish.
"When you look at what the top five or six are doing this summer, we're not going to break into that," he told the Sunday Sun.
"But I think we're making big strides.
"If I look at where we were two years ago when I came into the club and what I saw out there this morning, to be honest it's night and day.
"Other teams have improved, to be fair, but I think we've improved significantly. To be fair, that's my job."
