Source: SKY_Sports
McCartney in Keane admission
Sunderland defender George McCartney admits the players are happier under Ricky Sbragia than predecessor Roy Keane.[LNB] Keane left Sunderland in December with Sbragia initially taking over on a caretaker basis before the landing the job on a permanent basis.[LNB]McCartney admits all was not well under Keane's stewardship and that the players are far happier and relaxed under Sbragia.[LNB]"We had a shaky period under Roy Keane when we didn't win for about seven matches, which dragged us towards relegation," McCartney told the Sunderland Echo.[LNB]"But, in the last four or five games under Ricky, we've started playing better football and got more confident with each match we've played - and that showed against Arsenal.[LNB]"It's good to be looking above us, rather than below, all the time.[LNB]"Having a happy dressing room is always a base to build on.[LNB]"If the team spirit's low, then when you go out on to that pitch you're not really going to achieve anything.[LNB]Freedom"Ricky's taken over the job and he's given the lads a bit more freedom to express themselves and it's paying dividends in the matches we've played.[LNB]"He talks to us more and a player knows that, when he goes on to that pitch, he has to give 100 per cent all the time.[LNB]"I think, under Roy Keane, the lads were a bit disheartened and he went about things differently from the way Ricky does.[LNB]"He's given the lads self-belief again."[LNB]
