Tony Mowbray has explained the approach to man-management that has brought the best out of his young Sunderland players as they reached the Championship play-offs. The Black Cats exceeded all expectations by finishing sixth in their first season back in the second tier, before losing 3-2 on aggregate against Luton Town in the semi-final.
But while there was disappointment at having come so far only to fall at the final hurdle and miss out on a Wembley appearance, Sunderland fans have praised the football their team has played all season long. And Mowbray and his coaching team deserve credit for that as they have moulded a young, inexperienced, team that has been beset by injuries into a unit that finished ahead of teams such as Norwich City, Watford, and West Brom, all of whom were among the bookies' favourites for a top six place this term.
"It's not about me," said Mowbray, modestly. "I love footballers. I try to make them feel special. I just want them to express their talent.
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"If they fall short, they won't play and they sulk for a bit. But then they have to go and find a level where they play every week.
"Footballers have to play football, and if you've got good players who you trust and can fit in how you want to do it, then you have to put your arm round them and tell them you're giving it everything and they'll give it back. That’s how it works."
Sunderland have a big summer ahead with clever recruitment needed to replace the likes of Amad, who enjoyed a stellar season while on loan from Manchester United, and to strengthen the squad in areas where it looked threadbare. And there will also be players leaving Wearside - either on loan or permanently - with some not having played as much football as they would have wished.
Mowbray said: "You can’t keep 20-odd players happy. Some of them need to go and play football elsewhere, and that's what football is.
"It's not because I don't like them, it's because I think he's doing the job better than you. You can stay around, but don't sulk when you're not playing, don't be negative to the football club and the team.
"That’s how football is, and that's all I do really. I try to encourage them to be good pros, to work hard and understand where they are in their journey in their football career."
The planning for next season is already well under way, but one issue that must be resolved as a matter of urgency is Mowbray's own future. The 59-year-old has overachieved with the squad he inherited when he took charge at the end of August and he still has another year remaining on his contract, yet there have been numerous rumours in recent weeks that the club is considering other targets with names such as former Alanyaspor boss Francesco Farioli, ex-Barnsley and New York Red Bulls coach Gerhard Struber, and Red Bull Salzburg coach Matthias Jaissle, touted for the job.
Mowbray said after Tuesday night's defeat at Luton that he wants to remain at Sunderland, but admitted he did not know what his future may hold. And, given the job he has done this season, if Sunderland do not give him public backing it will only serve to encourage interest from elsewhere with newly-relegated Southampton said to be monitoring his situation.
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