Sam Allardyce tells Sunderland: Embrace the fear and express yourselves
Saturday 21 November 2015 14:18, UK
Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce has urged his team to play without fear if they are to haul themselves out of a season-long relegation dogfight.
Sunderland head into Monday night's Sky Live match at Crystal Palace with only one Premier League win in 12 games and Allardyce knows they have to cut out the errors if they are to improve that ratio.
He said: "Mistakes generally come through pressure and we have to be able to handle that.
"We are under enormous pressure because of the position we are in, with people talking about us being relegation fodder, but we have to accept that and handle it in the right way.
"We have to produce the performances we know we are capable of and not play with fear, because fear is a terrible thing for a footballer.
"If they are fearful before they set foot on the football field, then they are never going to be able to perform to their best.
"There is a lot of Premier League experience in the squad and a lot of players who have been in this position before so they know what it is about.
"I don't want them to play with fear, just to go out there and express themselves as they have over several years, that is what will get us out of trouble.
"But there is only one thing which will build the confidence again, and that is getting results. So until that starts happening, confidence is bound to be a bit low."
The Sunderland manager also wants players to take more responsibility on the pitch when things are not going to plan.
"Motivating each other is a good stimulant. As a squad if things aren't going right you have to motivate yourselves especially on the field because you can't do that from the sidelines," he said.
"It is about talking, and saying 'well done' when you have done well, but also saying 'come on, you are not playing so well today, so buck your ideas up'."
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