Nordi Mukiele didn’t mince his words after Sunderland’s defeat at Bournemouth – and perhaps that’s exactly what was needed.
“I don’t know. Maybe because we became arrogant, this is what I think,” he said. “It’s just the beginning, football is like this. You can accept and just stand up and go back to work.”
He went further, questioning whether enough was being done on the training ground and admitting that, against Bournemouth, Sunderland didn’t look like a team desperate to win.
Coming from one of the few players who emerged from the south coast with any real credit, those comments should make us all sit up and take notice.
Because this isn’t simply about a bad afternoon at Bournemouth – it’s about standards, attitude and a worrying sense that something has gone wrong at Sunderland.
Mukiele’s words were telling, and our captain, Granit Xhaka, struck a similar note in a post on Instagram. Both messages pointed towards the need for greater accountability, but saying the right things after a defeat is only the first step.
Now comes the difficult part – doing something about it.
I don’t disagree with the sentiment behind either message. Sunderland’s performances are trending in the wrong direction, and the players have a responsibility to put things right.
Of course, Régis Le Bris must accept his share of the blame. He is the manager, and finding solutions to our current problems is his responsibility. But the players cannot hide behind their manager, either. They are the ones stepping onto the pitch, and they are the ones who must start showing the intensity, commitment, and togetherness that have been missing. Because if things don’t change, we all know what could happen next.
Football is ruthless. Results dictate decisions, and even a manager who has earned enormous goodwill can find himself out of a job if performances don’t improve. Sunderland’s ownership has shown that it is prepared to make difficult decisions when it believes the club’s future demands them.
And that is what worries me most.
It would be a desperately sad day if Régis Le Bris ultimately paid the price for a team that has stopped performing to its potential. I have enormous admiration for what he has achieved at Sunderland, and I believe he deserves the opportunity to turn this around.
But football doesn’t hand out points for past achievements, good intentions or the affection of supporters. Eventually, results have to follow.
The players need to understand that. If they continue to fall short, it won’t necessarily be those responsible for the performances who are shown the door.
So this is my message to the Sunderland players: do something about it.
Start showing that you’re in this together, and that you’re prepared to fight for your manager as well as yourselves. Show it in the way you train, in the way you prepare and in the way you approach every challenge.
And don’t wait until Leeds arrive at the Stadium of Light next Sunday, or until you travel to Poznań on Thursday.
It starts today.
When you walk into training, remember what it means to be a Sunderland player. Remember the celebrations in Portugal. Remember the joy you brought to supporters last season. Remember the connection you built with a fanbase that has backed you through thick and thin.
You have a responsibility to this club, to your teammates, to your manager and to the supporters who follow you everywhere.
Nobody is asking you to win every game. But we are entitled to expect commitment, pride and the determination to put things right when things go wrong.
So get your heads up. Get back to work. Sort this out amongst yourselves.
Then beat Poznań on Thursday. Then do the same against Leeds on Sunday.
The task is clear. The responsibility is yours.
Let’s go again.
