Trai Hume details Sunderland dressing-room talks after poor start and makes clear promise to fans
Trai Hume has opened up on Sunderland’s response to their difficult league start and outlined what supporters should expect from the players
Trai Hume says Sunderland’s players have addressed their disappointing Premier League start and promised supporters a team that fights, presses and represents them.
The defender acknowledged performances had fallen below expectations following the goalless draw against Leeds United, which ended Sunderland’s four-match league losing run. Sunderland moved onto five points from eight games, but the improved defensive display offered encouragement.
Supporters applauded Régis Le Bris and his players after the final whistle, recognising their efforts in difficult conditions. Hume believes that backing comes with a responsibility to give fans a performance they can get behind.
Hume explains dressing-room response
After promotion and European qualification in successive seasons, Sunderland have faced a different challenge during the opening weeks of this campaign. Asked about the mood among the players and management, Hume said the group had recognised the need to improve.
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“No, it's obviously, it's not ideal, but I think we probably maybe expected this last season, obviously coming into the Premier League for the first time. And we knew the second season was even going to be tougher. And I don't want to say it's caught us by surprise, but we know our performance hasn't been up to the level that we wanted to be in. We have addressed it, and I think it's shown today in our defensive resilience and our hard work that we have improved it, and we want to keep on trying to get better and hopefully keep on, hopefully score goals and get more points.”
‘That’s on us as players and no one else’
Hume’s message to supporters was to maintain their backing, but he was equally clear that the players had to deliver the aggression and endeavour expected of a Sunderland side. “No, I think keep supporting us the way you do. The support's outstanding, and I think we're going to go out there and try and show that we're not playing as individuals; we're playing as a team with the 12th man behind us.
“And we're going out there to be Sunderland, and that's being aggressive, pressing, and being on the front foot and taking the game to the opposition. And like I said, we've probably missed that the first couple of games, and that's on us as players and no one else. And we have addressed it, and we're going to keep on trying to improve and go forward.”
‘You have to give the fans something to cheer on’
The reception at full-time suggested supporters had appreciated the improvement, even though Sunderland were unable to turn their chances into a winning goal. For Hume, the connection between the performance on the pitch and the response in the stands was straightforward.
“No, I think a point probably fair, but, yeah, I think I've been here a long time now, and I think you have to give the fans something to cheer on. And you can't sit back or be soft, or they're not going to cheer that on; that's not what they want. They want a team that's going to go out there and fight and be aggressive and press and, like I said, take the game to the opposition. And I think they saw that today, even though we obviously didn't get the win, but they saw a team that represents them and represents Sunderland, and that's what we have to do going forward.”