Sunderland fans would wish they can somehow forget the past two seasons. During the 2016/17 season, they were relegated from the Premier League after finishing at the bottom of the table.
This campaign, the Black Cats failed to improve their overall performance and were relegated from the Championship. It all started when David Moyes was announced as Sam Allardyce’s successor in July 2016.
Moyes had a short period in the summer transfer window to bring in the players he wants. One of those he signed for Sunderland was Adnan Januzaj. The 23-year-old attacker was allowed to join the Black Cats on a season-long loan after Jose Mourinho took charge at Manchester United.
Januzaj had other offers, but having played under Moyes at United in the past convinced him it was the best decision to make a switch to the Stadium of Light.
The Belgium international believes the former Everton manager’s philosophy of playing long balls and hoping to try to create something in the final third saw him struggle in the Premier League. Sunderland scored only 29 goals from 38 league games, out of which 15 were scored by Jermain Defoe.
“I had several options, but I wanted to stay in England. It seemed to me the best choice to work again with David Moyes, with whom I had made a lot of progress at Manchester United,” Januzaj told Het Laatste Nieuws.
“However, it was a frustrating period. (Sigh) The philosophy at Sunderland was one of long balls and then try something. But it doesn’t work for me. Sunderland and I didn’t fit together – good analysts will have seen that too.”
“I do not regret it. You simply have highs and lows in a career. But if I could turn back the time, I would have opted for a dominant team that would bring a well-groomed football. I have to make the difference in the last 30 metres, not running behind high balls.”
