Chemsdine Talbi makes ‘crazy’ Sunderland admission after what he’s seen at the Stadium of Light this season
Chemsdine Talbi is beginning to shine in a Sunderland shirt.
The young Moroccan made the switch from Belgian outfit Club Brugge over the summer, and has made 18 appearances for Sunderland thus far.
Recently returning from AFCON, Talbi produced what is undoubtedly his best moment yet for the Black Cats on Monday, scoring a sensational third in the 3-0 win against Burnley at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland are unbeaten in 12 Premier League home matches, and are well in the race for European football, Talbi has earmarked the Black Cats’ faithful as one of the driving forces behind the current success.
Chemsdine Talbi earmarks Sunderland fans as a driving force
There aren’t many fanbases that can compare their experiences with those of Sunderland.
Following an eight-year stint away from the Premier League, featuring multiple years in the third tier, Black Cats fans were always going to relish their return to the top-flight.
“From the first game I was here, it was a crazy atmosphere,” Talbi told the Sunderland Echo.
“Before I came to Sunderland, I was looking at the fans and heard a lot of good things about them. The first game, I fell in love with this stadium. So I’m really pleased with that, and they need to continue like this because they help us a lot to get the three points at home.”
Born in Belgium, the Moroccan international came through the ranks at giants Club Brugge, where he impressed in the Champions League as they reached the round of 16 via a 5-2 win against Atalanta last term, with Talbi himself picking up the player of the match award.
The 20-year-old admitted: “I didn’t know a lot about Sunderland. My father did well because he’s a little bit older. So he knows the history of the club, but now I know all the history.
“We feel that when we come in this stadium, it’s crazy fans.”
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Sunderland home record will make a huge difference
It goes without saying that Regis Le Bris’ side have been sensational on home soil this term, having gone unbeaten in all 12 league matches at the Stadium of Light.
During this time, Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa have all dropped points on Wearside, emphasising just how much of a fortress Sunderland’s stomping ground is.
Impressively, 26 of the 36 points amassed thus far have come at home, and with Sunderland sitting eighth in the standings, the continuation of this strong form could have a huge say in the race for European football.
The Black Cats are a well-drilled but energetic side, and the atmosphere at the Stadium of Light completely plays into this.
There aren’t many sides across the division that can boast such a fortress, and Sunderland have to take advantage of this as the season reaches its crunch point.