‘Certain relegation’ – Ex-Leeds United man makes Sunderland confession before praising fans

Former Sunderland midfielder and pundit Michael Brown has hailed the club’s remarkable Premier League campaign, admitting he initially believed the Black Cats were destined for relegation after winning promotion last season.

Speaking after Sunderland moved onto 40 points and continued their impressive run under Régis Le Bris, Brown praised the club’s recruitment, tactical flexibility and the influence of senior figures such as Granit Xhaka. Below are Brown’s comments in full to Sky Sports:

Q: Sunderland already have 40 points this season. How have they managed that so quickly?

Michael Brown: “It's honestly, it's an unbelievable situation, what's happened there. I was covering them at the end of last season, it was in the playoffs, and it was like a dream, possibly, and I've gone along to Sunderland thinking, I wonder how they're going to get on, the playoffs are going to be one step too far."

"Dan Ballard, a late header, and then the playoffs." And then you thought, right, and I was listening to certain supporters on the phone, working on shows, and it was like, yeah, I fancy Sunderland to finish around mid-table. I'm laughing, sort of going, it's a certain relegation." You look at the player recruitment, not knowing many players that are coming in and then the way they've set it alight, and what's really impressed me is they can mix it up, they can set up possession, they can get after you."

"Now to get 40 points, so we're right up against it in the week. I was covering the game against Leeds United, but they found a way, they found something, and showed a desire to keep a clean sheet. It wasn't always pretty at times, but they haven't just done that. They've had different answers, they've lost people for AFCON, and then Granit Xhaka's been out."

"The signing of him, they set it off and we're going, what must they have paid him, why is he coming to Sunderland? But what he's been able to do is have the dressing room, control it, and that's full credit to the manager, not having the paranoia of allowing a senior player to get hold of a group who have come in. He's knitted them together, and he's been so cute tactically, whether it be full-backs coming to join midfield areas to start off on the build-up, to set up possession, change from different areas, and to go quick."

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"Long throws, adapting different situations." I think he's been great, and I think he's been super to see." Other clubs now, it's sort of set the tone for their recruitment for them to be able to go and change it, but really impressive to go on 40 points so quickly."

Q: Granit Xhaka has been hugely influential for Sunderland this season. Has he surprised you with the role he’s played?

Michael Brown: "Do you know what? Someone who knows the football club, like Luke O’Nien, has just been in support."

"He's just had to wait. And it's great to see because he came on at Manchester City, got a red card and you're thinking, as a career, I want to play in the Premier League. I want to be with Sunderland. And then Granit Xhaka, who just wasn't fit enough to play in the week. And he come on sub and all of a sudden, honestly, it changed because he knew that he could go and flip leads, get it in behind and then a set-up and then a calmness on the ball."

"And like you said, I think it helps your cool head when you get results, when you're winning. We might see a different side, a bit of a spice inside him that goes when you're not getting it. And we probably thought we would see that with the Sunderland side."

Q: What does the rest of the season look like for Sunderland from here?

Michael Brown: "I think it's going to be so important in the summer now that they've done it." "It allows them so much time to go and plan, to go and strengthen. Can they sustain it? It's going to be the biggest test now because everyone's ready for them. The momentum changes."

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