Karen Carney demands Nordi Mukiele response after Sunderland outburst and more from Granit Xhaka

Karen Carney has challenged Nordi Mukiele to follow his public criticism of Sunderland’s standards with a response on the pitch, while calling on Granit Xhaka to show his leadership.

Speaking ahead of Sunderland’s Europa League clash with Lech Poznań, the former England international singled out the experienced pair as players who needed to help their side recover from a difficult run. Mukiele had questioned Sunderland’s mentality after the defeat at Bournemouth, suggesting arrogance had crept in following last season’s success. Carney said his inclusion against Lech brought an opportunity to respond, while stressing that captain Xhaka had to lead the team.

Xhaka and Mukiele challenged to step up

Carney began by assessing Sunderland’s victory over Torreense the previous week, when Régis Le Bris turned to his substitutes to help secure the result. She argued that their problems in the final third extended beyond the players brought in through rotation.

“You obviously picked the team last week probably with the Premier League game in mind. All the managers are juggling in October. What you found was the quality wasn't good enough, particularly in the final third. To be fair, I think that's been a theme the last few games for Sunderland, not just when you've put maybe the so-called fringe players on.

“So when they're struggling against the second division Portuguese team, then you have to put the big guns on because actually it was important to get the result. You've travelled all that way, the fans have travelled all that way, so we need to put our A-gamers on to try and get the result, which they did. This was then coming on last week. The quality in the final third was better; you had more experience. Ultimately, they obviously came up with the quality finish that won them the game.

“Tonight, people like Xhaka, for me, have got to step up in terms of leadership, particularly what the players have come out with and said about standards and arrogance. You need your leader to lead them. We spoke so much about him last year being the main guy.

“He's obviously got to lead his team tonight. Mukiele, you came out with the comments as well, he starts. As much as there are some new players playing tonight and they got the job done last week, this is an important performance and result that they need to hopefully capitalise on and start their season, which hasn't been great the last few weeks.”

Carney admits concern over Sunderland drop-off

Carney acknowledged Sunderland’s challenging Premier League schedule but said their recent performances had given her greater cause for concern. She pointed to mistakes and a decline in the basic work that had helped Le Bris’ side succeed last season, identifying the European fixture as an opportunity to respond.

“They've had some tough Premier League games, City, Arsenal, Brighton, Brentford and Bournemouth, then off the back of Europe. There have been some tough games. Like we said last week, we covered the Arsenal game. The game was a right push, but it's just the quality and those extra details and mistakes that have cost them. The last two weeks has worried me a little bit more, though, because it has been a bit of a drop-off in terms of the running and the drills, the basics that they've done so well last season. But this is a good game for them tonight to get back on track.”

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