Nordi Mukiele says Sunderland's slump might be down to complacency after their surprise-package run, and the defender isn't dodging the blame.
Sunderland's wobble in the Premier League has prompted some honest soul-searching from inside the dressing room. Defender Nordi Mukiele has suggested the Black Cats may have let arrogance creep in after the early momentum that made them one of the division's most talked-about sides.
The admission is striking. Sunderland were the feel-good story, a side playing without fear and winning admirers. Now the mood has shifted, and Mukiele believes the change in results may be linked to a change in mindset as much as anything on the tactics board.
His words point to a familiar danger for any club that rises quickly. Once the underdog tag fades and opponents start preparing properly, the margins tighten. Hunger, humility and attention to detail have to stay at the same level, or the table starts to bite.
For Sunderland, the task now is to turn that self-criticism into action. Owning the problem is a good first step, but only results will show whether the squad has really taken the lesson on board as the Premier League grind continues.
