Sunderland Winger Adnan Januzaj Claims He Has Learned a Different Approach at Stadium of Light

On-loan Sunderland winger Adnan Januzaj has admitted to learning a new-style of play while on loan at the Black Cats this season.

The 22-year-old has made 20 Premier League appearances for Sunderland so far this season, bagging three assists.

Januzaj has previously only played for top European clubs, spending seasons at Manchester United and Dortmund, but feels that playing for relegation-threatened Sunderland has nurtured his style of play into one that is more defensive.

“I have been learning the other part of the job,” he told the ?Chronicle. “It has not been easy.

“It is also about your mental strength. You have to do more running and be stronger.

“I have always been strong mentally. I have people that have always pushed me and know what I can do – mental strength was never a problem.

“People were talking about me when I didn’t have much game-time a year ago saying it was down to mentality. It wasn’t.

“I was not focused on that, I was focused on my football.”?

Januzaj went on to discuss that while he’s used to playing for teams set up to attack, Sunderland often set up to defend and frustrate big teams, something he has been forced to get used to this season.

“It is hard,” he added.

“When you are in a team that sees more of the ball then I’d be able to do more with the ball. Now we defend more.

“It is not easy because you have counter-attack and when you do you tend to have three or four players around you. Sometimes it is not easy to find that last pass.

“I am one of the dangerous players. My mindset here is to defend first and then attack.

“I have played for Manchester United against teams near the bottom and you know they will come and defend.

“That is what we have done to the big teams.”