---
title: "Advocaat’s pre-match conference"
canonical: "https://readsunderland.com/2015/09/21/advocaats-pre-match-conference-2/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Chris Sparks"
section: "Articles"
published: "2015-09-21T16:16:08Z"
modified: "2015-09-21T16:16:08Z"
---

# Advocaat’s pre-match conference

Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat has shocked many at Sunderland today in his pre-match conference, stating that he would walk away from Sunderland if he felt he wasn’t the right man for the job, although he has said he is a long way off from throwing in the towel. The Dutchman is still enjoying his time at Sunderland, who host Manchester City tomorrow night in the capital one cup, Advocaat said:

> “Let’s be clear, if I feel it is better for somebody else to take over then I will go. Believe me. We just need a little bit more. I have no regrets.”

The former Zenit manager was asked if he was close to walking away, he replied:

> “Very far (away). We did not have pre-season with some of the players. Now you can see they are coming a little bit to the level, but they still have to gel. The combination of players still has to be better. I will set up a bit differently against Man City. I like to see what the players who play tomorrow do. I still have a good feeling about this squad. If we get 40 points I think that will be enough.”

Advocaat has faith in his squad despite a poor start, he explained:

“Because of what I see in training and during the games. Bournemouth are not better than Sunderland, but Bournemouth are a team who have played together for a couple of years. That is the difference. I have no doubts there are better times ahead.”

Lee Cattermole and Seb Larsson have some work to do to regain their starting spots from last season, with Advocaat saying his is trying other options. Whilst Duncan Watmore, who has impressed thus far will continue to play for the under-21’s for now.

> “I have tried Cattermole and I have tried Larsson. Now I will try somebody else. Duncan Watmore is not in Sunderland’s squad to face Manchester City”

Advocaat is optimistic for tomorrow’s game and was in a defiant mood, he said:

> “We have nothing to lose tomorrow. In my opinion we are coming up against one of the best sides in Europe. The good thing is we can see from the figures, the improvement in the players physical wise.

> “We are getting to the stage now where there are no excuses. We are going in the right direction. But I said before, it takes time to get players in to the right physical condition when they have only trained at their previous clubs. We have the quality and there are no doubts about that. It is just a matter of when.”