Sunderland manager Michael Beale has responded to recent speculations about his departure from the club.
Sunderland and Beale parted ways this Monday, with the 43-year-old supervising only 12 games as manager.
He quit the club after losing to two relegation-threatened opponents this season, Huddersfield Town and Tony Mowbray’s Birmingham City.
Shortly after Beale’s departure, stories surfaced alleging that he had lost the Sunderland dressing room.
It was stated that following a defeat, Beale forced the Sunderland players to do extra training and gave himself the day off.
Michael Beale plays down Sunderland dressing room rift
But Beale has now reacted to those allegations.
Speaking with We Are Sunderland, the former Black Cats manager said:
“I just wanted to clarify that no players received additional training following the game at Birmingham. All players were off on Sunday as planned and returned to training yesterday as usual. Saturday was our third game in seven days, so everyone needed the day off as scheduled.
“I hope the club finds the appropriate manager moving forward. Fans deserve to return to the Premier League, where a club of this size belongs. I wish the club every future success.
The players and staff were a delight to deal with, and allegations of behind-the-scenes troubles are far from accurate.
A difficult situation for Beale post-Sunderland
Whether the initial allegation regarding a rift in the dressing room holds true is yet to be verified. However, Beale evidently felt compelled to refute them vehemently, indicating his strong stance against their validity.
Regardless of the truth, Beale’s handling of the situation does not reflect positively on him, particularly considering his previous remarks that initially strained his relationship with Sunderland fans.
Moreover, the incident involving Trai Hume’s handshake further complicates matters for Beale.
Even if the rumors of unrest within the team are unfounded, it might have been wiser for Beale to refrain from commenting on the issue.
As the club moves forward, Beale will likely do the same, reflecting on his next career move following a tumultuous year post his tenure at Rangers and now at Sunderland.
While he remains highly respected as a coach in football, it’s possible that management might not be his ideal fit. He could potentially secure a role as an assistant or first-team coach elsewhere in England, though Beale might opt to take a hiatus from the sport until the current turbulence subsides.
Meanwhile, Sunderland faces Swansea City at the Stadium of Light this weekend, diving back into the thick of action.
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