KEV TALKS GUIDED ME
Chris: Calm Keegan was an inspiration
SUNDERLAND boss Chris Coleman has revealed Newcastle legend Kevin Keegan inspires his team talks.
The revelation is likely to shock both Mackems and Geordies.
“Keegan was superb, fantastic,” said Coleman, whose second from bottom side face Brentford at the Stadium of Light today.
“It wasn’t always a rallying cry or a ‘Fight them on the beaches’. You can get carried away with that.
Chats
“He’d sit down next to you and have a cup of coffee while at other times he was there with his sleeves rolled up.
“He’s certainly the best I played under in that respect.”
Coleman’s cosy chats came while he was a player under the legendary England striker at Fulham.
And since arriving on Wearside two months ago, the man they call Cookie has used different ways to motivate his relegation-threatened side, including ranting and raving at them.
But he stunned his players with his calm attitude at halftime against Bristol City last Saturday when the Black Cats were three goals down.
They came back to draw 3-3 in a game fans labelled ‘Bristanbul’ as it mirrored Liverpool’s Champions League final comeback against Milan in Turkey – a game they won on penalties.
“I’ve probably been louder and more aggressive in other team talks,” he said. “I don’t know what they were expecting from me but I talked to them about what the end game could be like for us if things continued.
“Sometimes I’ve tried to give a stirring address but there are times to be more passive.
“If you reach the stage where certain individuals are saying things, rather than you, that’s great because you need them to own it. That’s what my players did in the second half.”
Despite Sunderland’s multitude of problems on and off the pitch, Coleman insists he is still loving the job.
“I love it up here and I love the area,” he said.