Wednesday 3 February 2016 17:08, UK
Jan Kirchhoff admits Sunderland have a fight on their hands to retain their Premier League status for next season.
Tuesday's 1-0 home defeat to Manchester City left Sunderland third from bottom of the table and four points from safety, but recent signing Kirchhoff says he seen enough in the match to convince him they have the stomach for a battle.
Kirchhoff, who joined from Bayern Munich on an 18-month deal earlier this month, said: "We have had a hard season trying to stay in the league, but this evening we saw what we are able to do when we put this much intensity into a game.
"We were capable of getting a point or maybe a victory against City, one of the best teams in the league. If we put that intensity into every game, we will be able to stay in the league, we will have no trouble winning against teams at the bottom.
"We have to go on, we have to work hard, we have to play hard, we have to stay on the pitch as a team, as a good squad and then we will be successful."
Kirchhoff had a tricky start to his Sunderland career with a nightmare debut against Tottenham, in which he gave away a penalty and deflected a goal past keeper Jordan Pickford.
However, against City he was put in to midfield and sat in front of the back four helping to marshal the defence alongside new centre-back signing Lamine Kone.
"That's football. I have been playing now for almost eight years and you get evenings when everything goes wrong and you get evenings when everything goes right," added the German.
"You have to get on with it and do your work, play your game, stay confident, try to do your best every day and when you are on the pitch, try to get your performance on it. That's what I do.
"When I have a bad game, it doesn't kill me and I don't think about it for more than one night. You have to struggle on, you have to work hard and be fit for the next game, and tonight I showed what is my strength and what I can give to the team.
"I am sure that there will be evenings when I am not in this condition and I will not play as well as tonight, but that's life. Just stay calm and be relaxed, try to give your best and help the team to win games."
