Fülöp: We want to win for Sbragia
Dec 31 2008 by Mark Douglas, The Journal
MÁRTON Fülöp admits that Sunderland’s players let down Ricky Sbragia in his first game since being confirmed as the Black Cats’ permanent manager.
And the Hungarian goalkeeper says the squad are desperate to make amends to Sbragia, who has the unanimous support of the dressing room in his bid to keep Sunderland in the Premier League.
The comprehensive 3-0 defeat at Everton represented the worst possible start to life under the newly-installed manager, who was swept into the job partially with the help of the players’ support.
Their excellent performances during Sbragia’s caretaker period – allied with the players’ public calls for him to be given the job – did not go unnoticed but now Fülöp admits it is time for them to perform.
“The players were happy that he was given the job, he has respect in the dressing room,” he said.
“We want him to be successful around the club because that means that we are successful as players too.
“We were disappointed with the result on Sunday, though. I don’t think we had a shot at their goal so I think they deserved the win.
“We went to nick a point or three and that’s why it was so disappointing when we didn’t show enough quality on the pitch. They punished us because they wanted the win more than us. That was the big disappointment for us.”
Sbragia’s appointment was
greeted with a round of applause in the dressing room but the feel-good factor did not last long as Sunderland committed a series of basic defensive errors to gift Everton the victory.
That is still smarting Fülöp, who admits that he was not immune to the problems that blighted the team.
“We knew (Mikeal) Arteta has really good delivery and we thought it would be their main threat. We couldn’t defend like we did,” he admitted. “The sun was there but I can’t use it as an excuse. There was a big crowd in front of me so I went over to the other side and I think the wall just split and it went through the wall. It was a good strike and very hard to react.
“The second one bounced off the wall. I think I would have saved it but it came off somebody’s legs – it was bad fortune.” Sbragia will have a decision to make when Craig Gordon returns to fitness in the New Year, although Fülöp intends to fight for his place.
“I’ve enjoyed my run in the side and I want to keep going even if Craig is back. I want to make it hard for him,” Fülöp said. Meanwhile, despite his reticence to return to Sunderland, Sbragia will include the recalled Michael Chopra in the squad for the FA Cup third round tie against Bolton.
Cardiff released a statement saying: “The loan of Michael Chopra finishes on Wednesday, December 31, and Sunderland wish him to return to the Stadium of Light. We would like to thank Michael for the last two months, and wish him all the best on his return to Sunderland.”
Sbragia will make a decision on extending the loan spells of Graham Kavanagh and Michael Liddle at Carlisle tomorrow. Cumbrians’ boss Greg Abbott is expecting to hear by this afternoon whether he will be allowed to keep Kavanagh and Liddle until the end of the season. He has also dismissed reports that Kavanagh will be offered a player-coach role at Brunton Park.
“That is people putting five and six together and getting 63,” Abbott said.
“If coaching is something Kav wants to do in the future, it will be looked at down the line. But at the moment he has got to concentrate on the playing side.”
