Alex Neil: 'It's bizarre that Sunderland fans paint me as the villain'

Stoke manager Alex Neil believes Sunderland fans should be grateful to him, not angry.

Alex Neil thinks it is ‘bizarre’ that Sunderland fans dislike him, essentially saying they should be grateful instead.

Neil will return to Sunderland for the first time this weekend since he walked out on the club to join Stoke City in August.

That brought a sudden and shock end to what had previously been a very successful and harmonious seven month association between Neil and Sunderland, which of course included promotion out of League One.

However, despite that he will receive a very hostile reception at the Stadium of Light, and he appears to be a little baffled as to why.

"People will have their views on it, but they don't know all the different dynamics and aspects of everything that goes on, what's said and what's not said,” Neil said.

"More importantly, for me I think I was as good for Sunderland as they were for me. The team couldn't get out of League 1 for what, five seasons? I delivered that for them.

"I find it really bizarre now that I'm painted as the villain. Everybody's got their different prerogatives."

Ultimately, Neil has missed the point entirely in his assessment of his perception among Sunderland fans.

Managers leaving football clubs – especially Sunderland – is nothing new. In fact it has happened at Sunderland every season in recent years.

The manner in which he left iss what left the bitter taste.

Neil can preach all he likes about people not knowing the ‘different dynamics,’ but it’s a fact that whilst Sunderland were playing a Championship fixture, the man still being paid to lead them had walked out and was watching another club.

That’s a phenomenal degree of disrespect to the supporters, the players and the club as a whole.

There is not a Sunderland fan on the planet who does not acknowledge the job he did, but he has painted himself as the villain by the sheer disrespect he showed the club – and the total abandonment of his obligations towards it. 

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