Story by
'Maybe we became arrogant' - Sunderland struggles continue
- Story by
- 'Maybe we became arrogant' - Sunderland struggles continue
"Arrogant" and "not good enough".
Nordi Mukiele offered a brutally honest verdict about why Sunderland have struggled so far this season, following their impressive return to the Premier League last term.
Advertisement
The Black Cats defender had his say after a 2-0 defeat by Bournemouth on Sunday. It was Sunderland's fourth Premier League loss in a row and leaves them second bottom in the table.
Only those inside the club can answer Mukiele's "arrogant" claim after the Black Cats' drop-off in results and performance.
They surprised everyone last season by qualifying for the Europa League at the first time of asking after eight years away from the top flight.
But have Sunderland been found out by their rivals? Are they suffering the somewhat mythical second season syndrome? Or might they simply be struggling with the added demands of European football?
Advertisement
"I think this game is just what we are looking [like] from the beginning of the season," Mukiele told Sky Sports. "We are not good enough.
"Why? I don't know. Maybe because we became arrogant, this is what I think."
Sunderland head coach Regis le Bris was not quite as damning but still disappointed.
"We were below the level, it's really clear. It's hard to take, hard to digest," Le Bris told Sky Sports.
"It's very painful because we were not Sunderland and it's not acceptable."
Is European competition hurting league form?
Danso was sent off in Sunderland's defeat against Bournemouth [Getty Images]
After seven games last season, Sunderland had 11 points and were ninth in the table having won three, drawn two and lost two.
Advertisement
At the same point this term, they have four points with one win, a draw and five defeats.
"We won't find excuses," said Le Bris. "We have a busy schedule. We want to embrace the challenge, but the position at the minute is not good."
Sunderland's league form so far points to a relegation battle, but in Europe they have a 100% record after wins over Dutch side AZ Alkmaar and second-tier Portuguese outfit Torreense.
They have now lost both games in the immediate aftermath of their Europa League outings, although one of those was an eight-goal thriller against unbeaten league leaders Manchester City.
Advertisement
Former Newcastle United goalkeeper Shay Given – who had a loan spell at Sunderland in 1996 while a Blackburn Rovers player – believes the Black Cats' squad may be not sufficiently set up to deal with the extra games after last season's seventh-placed finish.
He does see a route out of relegation danger, though.
"They overachieved last season, getting into European competition," said Given.
"I don't know if the squad is ready for a challenge on all fronts. You need a bigger squad, a deeper squad, and it's going to be a big ask. I'm just looking at the table and they're second bottom at the minute.
Advertisement
"I know it's only seven games played, but there are so many games coming up and in a short period of time. It's about the bread and butter in the Premier League - that's the most important thing. You like to think with Le Bris, they'll have enough to be safe."
Sunderland spent £161m on 15 new players after gaining promotion to the Premier League in the summer of 2025.
In the transfer window this summer, they invested about £60m on five new recruits but their success was probably more in keeping key players such as captain Granit Xhaka and striker Brian Brobbey, who is currently out with a hamstring injury.
Xhaka calls for calm following fifth Premier League defeat [Getty Images]
Defensive mistakes proving costly
Whether or not Sunderland's squad is deep enough, heading to Bournemouth to face a side who were without a league win before Sunday and had also just played in Europe on Thursday should have been one they were relishing.
Advertisement
Yet Sunderland could not have made it easier for the hosts at Vitality Stadium.
One of the recent summer recruits, Kevin Danso – a loan signing from Tottenham Hotspur - was bullied by Evanilson in the build-up to Marcus Tavernier's opener in just the sixth minute.
Centre-back Danso was then sent off in the 17th minute for dragging down the Brazilian striker when he was clear through on goal.
In the second half, Omar Alderete's weak backpass to goalkeeper Robin Roefs gifted Evanilson the chance to secure the three points for the Cherries.
According to Opta, in the Premier League this season no side has committed more errors leading to goals than Sunderland with five.
Advertisement
Alderete also became just the third player to commit multiple errors leading to goals this season, alongside team-mate Danso and Hull's Konstantinos Tzolakis.
Sunderland have also conceded 14 goals - only Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town have shipped more - which is more than double their goals-against tally after seven games last season.
They have only scored six, and their three attempted shots in Sunday's game – all off target - represented the lowest total for any team in a Premier League match this season.
It should be noted they have faced Manchester City, champions Arsenal and in-form Brighton, so it has not been an easy start.
Advertisement
"It's just the beginning. Football is like this," said Mukiele. "You can accept and just stand up and go back to work. If I believe we can go back to the top again, yeah, I believe about this.
"It depends about what we really want and this starts in training because we don't do enough and after you can see it on the pitch.
"You cannot lie about football and today I don't want to say we didn't want to win this game, but it didn't look like we want something.
"We just have to work hard to be back where we were like last season because right now this is not us - this is not Sunderland."
