Tony Mowbray has been impressed with his new Sunderland squad in his first week in charge at the Stadium of Light. While Wednesday's 3-0 win over Rotherham came just one day after his appointment, the new Black Cats head coach has spent the week getting to know his players.
As he prepares to take his side to Middlesbrough on Monday night for the Tees-Wear derby, Mowbray says the motivation within the squad has stood out.
Mowbray spent much of his playing career on Teesside, and also managed Middlesbrough for three years, but his focus is all about Sunderland now. And he says his knowledge of the North East football scene means he knows what is expected of him at Wearside.
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“It’s been a whirlwind few days personally, of course,” Mowbray said ahead of Monday night's showdown. “Having got to know the place this week, the facilities are really impressive, but at a football club it’s about the people in the building rather than the building itself.
“Everyone has been really helpful, and we had a game the day after I entered the building which couldn’t have gone much better. I feel refreshed and ready to go, and Monday is a huge opportunity to continue from Wednesday and look to win the game.
“I played and managed down the road at Middlesbrough for a long time, as is well established, but I’m a professional. I’m Sunderland Head Coach now and we’re going to try to win every game. In my short time with the players, they appear to be a young, motivated and driven group who are quite tight-knit. I’m huge on helping footballers to develop, and I see a very switched-on group here.
“Having grown up in the North East, managing Sunderland, managing Middlesbrough, I know the environment and the people who come to the matches. I lived and breathed that myself, and as a result it’s the kind of culture I look to instil into my football team.”
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