‘Not how we want to play football’ – Michael reveals message to Sunderland players

Michael Beale emphasized the importance of cutting out backward passes and playing with more tempo during Sunderland’s 3-1 victory over Plymouth. He described the first half as sluggish, prompting him to deliver “honest words” during halftime. Players such as Pierre Ekwah and Jack Clarke acknowledged Beale’s halftime talk for sparking the team’s turnaround.

Beale’s halftime message focused on eliminating backward passes, speeding up the tempo, and reducing unnecessary touches on the ball. He stressed that this style of play did not align with Sunderland’s footballing philosophy and urged the team to reset and perform better in their upcoming match against Huddersfield.

Sunderland has faced challenges against lower-ranked teams in the Championship this season, including disappointing results against Rotherham and Huddersfield. Beale emphasized the importance of rectifying these issues in the upcoming fixture against Huddersfield, noting the significance of securing points, particularly against a team fighting relegation.

Beale emphasized the need for a positive mentality and quality performance in every game, highlighting the team’s responsibility to perform regardless of the opponent’s position in the table. He underscored the importance of focusing on their own performance and not becoming complacent based on league results.