Sunderland left-back Patrick van Aanholt was removed from David Moyes’ starting XI just before the 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.
Ex-Chelsea defender Frank Sinclair told Sky Sports News HQ that Patrick van Aanholt’s removal from Sunderland’s starting XI prior to their Premier League clash at Tottenham Hotspur may have possibly affected the Black Cats’ players mentality before kick-off, although he admits the right decision was made.
Van Aanholt was set to start at left-back for Sunderland – who are without a win in the league so far this season – but Moyes made the decision to replace him with loan signing Jason Denayer just moments before the match was due to start.
The Dutch international was clearly unhappy with the decision as Denayer revealed the news to him, but reports suggest that the defender was withdrawn from the squad following the results from an earlier heart scan.
These reports were confirmed by the Sunderland manager and Sinclair feels the way the situation played out was ultimately a big hindrance to the Black Cats.
“You’d take your eye off the ball a little bit because you’ve obviously worked on a side all week going into that game, you’re warming up for a game with certain instructions in your head,” Sinclair said on Sky Sports News HQ.
“All of a sudden you get that sort of hiccup in the warm-up and other players must be thinking what’s going on here – they see the unsettlement of van Aanholt knowing he’s not going to be playing in the game.
“But in a situation like that the manager has got to make a decision quick and think of the safety of the player first and foremost. It was unfortunate for the football club that it was all seen on tv.”
How was Sunderland’s handling of the van Aanholt situation?
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