Sunderland star Brian Brobbey thinks he deserves more praise, particularly for his hold up play, but doesn’t care if he doesn’t get it.
The striker has been talking ahead of the international break this week as he basks in the limelight following a hat-trick against Manchester City last weekend.
He is now in his second year with the Black Cats and flying high after a solid first season with them last season.
Brobbey had arrived as a late addition to Regis Le Bris’ squad but has since established himself as the first choice under the Frenchman, with 10 goals and one assist in 38 games so far.
Last weekend saw him bag his first ever hat-trick – against Manchester City no less – and it’s something he wants to talk about.
“It doesn’t bother me”
“I scored three goals last weekend. That was the first hat-trick of my entire career. And against Man City, too—against good players, good defenders. I’m proud of that,” he said for an interview in today’s print edition of De Telegraaf.
Thursday sees the Dutch national team renew hostilities with Germany in the Nations League. They are an opponent that the Sunderland striker knows well, having faced them two years ago.
He didn’t score in that game but provided the assist for Denzel Dumfries to level the scores in an eventual 2-2 draw. That game was a demonstration of talents that don’t get recognised he felt.
“I didn’t play badly back then either, right? I think everyone knew what my qualities were. But in that match, I really showed them,” he added.
“I believe I’m good at linking up play. That isn’t always recognised, but it doesn’t bother me. For me, the match against Germany wasn’t really a confirmation that I’m a bona fide national team player, because I already knew what I was capable of.”
World Cup hangover
It’s a good period for Brobbey, who has gone from criticism at Ajax to adoration at Sunderland.
Three goals at the World Cup has also helped the changing perceptions in the national team as well.
But he’s not happy with what went down in the summer and intends to use that as motivation moving forwards.
“I feel proud of my three goals at the World Cup, but the awful feeling of the early elimination against Morocco lingers,” he concluded.
“We want to use that disappointment as motivation. The World Cup left us wanting more. Now we’re focusing on the Nations League, then the European Championship qualifiers, and finally the Euros themselves.”
