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. 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? "I think this game is just what we are looking [like] from the beginning of the season," Mukiele told Sky Sports.
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." After seven games last season, Sunderland had 11 points and were ninth in the table having won three, drawn two and lost two. 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.
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