Tommy Watson did not participate in Sunderland’s Premier League International Cup match against Borussia Monchengladbach, with Northern Ireland youth international Rhys Walsh taking over on the left flank.
Ukrainian forward Timur Tutierov and regular defender Ben Crompton were also absent due to injury concerns, as confirmed by Murty. “Timur felt something in his groin, and Tommy was with the first team,” Murty told The Echo. “Ben pulled his hamstring against Bilbao, so we’re getting that scanned and will have more information soon.”
The visitors opened the scoring in the first half with a penalty awarded after Sunderland defender Tom Lavery’s foul. Monchengladbach extended their lead shortly after the break with a goal from Noah Pesch, followed by Shio Fukuda, who scored the initial penalty, making it 3-0 just minutes later.
Despite Sunderland’s efforts to find a goal, they struggled throughout the match, ultimately losing 3-0.
“I’m not happy with the result; losing is never acceptable, and we shouldn’t be content with how we lost,” Murty stated post-match. “I feel our opponents didn’t have to work too hard for their 3-0 win. We essentially gifted them three goals through poor play and lack of understanding. This competition offers immediate feedback—mistakes lead to punishment.”
Murty emphasized the need for Sunderland to learn from their opponents, noting, “They punished us effectively, while we failed to capitalize on our chances. If we had converted our opportunities, it could have changed the game’s momentum. For the final 15-20 minutes, they kept us at bay while we struggled to break through.”
When asked about the quality of Monchengladbach’s team, filled with youth internationals, Murty remarked, “I don’t seek excuses. I expect a level of determination and character from my players to confront challenges head-on. At times, when we executed our play well, we posed a genuine threat. However, we often faltered in crucial moments, whether due to naivety, a lack of game understanding, or being physically overpowered.”
