Alex Pritchard spoke about signing for Sunderland and the influence of Lee Johnson on his arrival on Wearside...
ARRIVING
“It’s great to be here. It’s another great opportunity for me, in my chapter on the football road and I’m just getting ready to get going really.”
THE MOVE
“It happened quite quickly to be fair, I’ve spoke to the manager and obviously I’ve known the manager for a while and he obviously knows me as a player and a guy, I think it came around quite quickly and now we’re here.”
LEE JOHNSON
“For sure, I think over the past few years, the way my football’s gone its crucial for me to be with a manager that I know and he knows me as a person and a player so I think it’s crucial for me.”
SUNDERLAND
“The club speaks for itself and anyone you speak to, it’s Sunderland. It’s a massive club and you see the stadium, the training ground, the fans and I just think this could be a great fit. Obviously the reason to be at a club like this is it’s in League One, it should never be in League One but that’s where it is at the moment and I think everyone knows that. That’s why I’m here, to try and get this club back to where it needs to be.”
CHAMPIONSHIP
“There were offers out there and I think, like I said, it’s crucial for me to be with a manager, playing style and a club like this. I think it was possibly a good decision to make this decision and you never know how it goes, but hopefully it will go well.”
WHAT TO EXPECT
“Just a guy that wants to get on the ball and make things happen. I think looking back over the last few years, especially with this manager since he’s been in, Sunderland have had a lot of the ball. I think I’m best suited to a team that has a lot of the ball and just try and make things happen really. Over the past couple of years it’s been difficult for me but if I can kind of get my mojo back and maybe start scoring a few more goals and get my confidence back, you never know what could happen.”
SUMMER
“Obviously it’s been a bit of a hard summer because you’re thinking of where you’re going to be and what you’re going to be doing so it’s obviously about keeping fit, and now it’s time to just get my boots back on and get going.”
TEAMMATES
“Obviously that’s a big part of it, the changing room and you look at the stadium and the pitch and the fans and you just want to get back there, especially with the COVID situation. There’s been no fans I think now it’s getting the fans back in and the attendance here’s massive so it’ll just be good to get everyone back in the stadium.”
