Sunderland midfielder Yann M’Vila says it would be crazy for his side to travel to Manchester City on Boxing Day with an expectation of having nothing to lose, as the club desperately seek to gain more points in their fight to stay in the Premier League.
Sam Allardyce’s side have lost three successive games, a run which has seen them slip to 19th place in the table, with only the hapless Aston Villa beneath them, and M’Vila says that the need to acquire points means that the Black Cats can’t go to City expecting to come away with nothing.
He told Steve Brown of The Chronicle:
You just have to look at our situation and common sense shows you the task we’ve got with the position we’re in. But for me, every time we go onto the pitch we have to the hunger and belief that we can win. I want to do it for my family, I want to do it for these supporters. It’s crazy to say that Manchester City is a game where there’s nothing to lose. We have to have the hunger that we can win. Of course, we need to get more points before it’s too late. It’s difficult when you’re five points adrift, but what’s to say we can’t win the next two games? There are no matches where you can’t win.
The French international also spoke about last weekend’s defeat to Chelsea and explained how disappointed the side were with their performance.
Some people will say that because it’s Chelsea, you should lose. No. All the clubs in the Premier League are the same. Yes, there’s big clubs and little clubs, but on the pitch, you’re all men. You have to be right mentally and have the right hunger. We have to do it for this club, for these supporters who come and watch us in such numbers every week.
After the trip to face City, Sunderland host Liverpool before they face two massive league ties in terms of the relegation fight. Their home game with Villa and trip to fellow strugglers Swansea are separated by and FA Cup tie with Arsenal.
