NILSON ANGULO: ANDERLECHT VIEW

With new Sunderland winger Nilson Angulo set to join his teammates on Wearside later this week, we spoke to the lads from Purple Anderlecht to discuss what we can expect from the Ecuadorian and how they feel about his last-minute exit.

Angulo is currently your joint-top goalscorer with six, and also your joint-top assister with five! Would you say he's one of Anderlecht's best players?

Angulo is certainly one of our best players this season, contributing significantly both offensively and defensively. Finding the right balance between those two aspects can be challenging at times, and that balance is often influenced by the overall game plan from our coach. Some of his goals may have come with an element of fortune, but that’s part of football, you still need the awareness and composure to take those chances.

He has the ability to beat opponents with his dribbling and acceleration. I believe he will perform at an even higher level when surrounded by better players. Consistency has been a challenge for the team this season, but despite that, he gave us some exciting dribbles and goals.

Where does he rank among some of the best players in the Jupiler Pro League?

I find it difficult to compare him directly with other players in the league. Anderlecht have had a tough season, and under the previous coach the style of football didn’t really suit him, which makes comparisons harder. In terms of potential, though, he can develop into a very good winger. He’s probably less decisive at this stage than someone like Tzolis at Club Brugge, but he’s an extremely hard worker and is physically more prepared for the demands of the Premier League.

With a rumoured fee of £15m, rising to £17.5m with add-ons, are you happy with the price or do you think Anderlecht could have held out for a better deal?

Overall, I’m pleased with the fee we’re receiving for him. Anderlecht have been dealing with financial difficulties for several years, so £17.5 million is very welcome. Of course, the World Cup is coming up and he’s expected to be a key player for Ecuador. If he performs well there, his value could increase further, but even so I think it’s a fair price at this moment. The downside is that, with the transfer window closing, there wasn’t enough time to bring in a suitable replacement.

Are you sad to see him go?

I’m a bit sad to see him go. He was one of the bright spots this year. If you wanted to witness something magical, you could usually count on him. Even when his performances were not at their best, you always felt he was capable of making a difference. Alongside Nathan De Cat, he was one of the few players who truly made coming to the stadium worthwhile.

Under Regis Le Bris, our wingers are expected to press well, work hard and track back to help out their fullback. Does Angulo have this work rate?

As I mentioned earlier, he has grown a lot defensively this year, and that was something the coach specifically asked of him. At times he even had to play as a wing-back, and he never disappointed in that role. He works extremely hard and always contributes defensively. I have the feeling Sunderland scouted him for those reasons, because RLB demands a lot from his players. When you watch Angulo’s games, you can never question his commitment or work rate.

He is said to be a right-footed left-winger. How useful is he with his weaker foot too?

When he arrived at Anderlecht, he often played on the right side, and that was also his position in our youth team. However, because he tends to shoot with his right foot, we moved him to the left flank so he could cut inside and get his shots away. That being said, he regularly went past his opponent on the outside and delivered good crosses with his left. So he’s certainly comfortable using both feet, even if he does prefer his right.

Is he versatile? Can you see him playing on both wings or perhaps more central?

As I mentioned before, he has experience playing on both flanks. Although he’s now more comfortable on the left, he can certainly do a job on the right as well. I feel that a more central role wouldn’t suit him as well, because it’s harder there to combine his dribbling with his pace. In tight spaces, he can sometimes struggle to find the right decision, but that’s something he can definitely work on if that’s what’s required of him.

What's his attitude like?

He’s a quiet lad who never loses his temper and never causes problems in the dressing room. He’s a hard worker and fully understands what it takes to succeed in professional football. Even when the coach was tough on him several times at the start of the season, he stayed calm, accepted the feedback, and used it to improve.

One red card early in the season was more about adapting to a new role than anything else, he’s certainly not a dirty player. When you’re an attacking winger and suddenly get asked to take on more defensive responsibilities, there’s always an adjustment period. In that respect, his defensive contribution has actually been very impressive.

And his injury record? Anything to be concerned about?

During his time at Anderlecht, there were no serious injuries so nothing to be concerned about.

Do you know if he speaks English?

When he first arrived, he didn’t speak any English and couldn’t understand it either. Naturally, that made it harder for him to settle into the team and make friends. Now, he understands most of what’s said in English and can speak a little himself. His english will continue to improve while he´s in England.

Finally, Angulo is said to be good friends with Noah Sadiki. Can you tell us anything about their connection?

As you may have noticed, Sadiki gets on well with everyone in the team! He’s a great guy and always makes sure that newcomers feel welcome. The same was true with Angulo, despite the language barrier, he included him in the group and helped him feel at home. That kind of support will certainly help him integrate quickly into the team at Sunderland.