Jordan Pickford has come to the defence of under-fire Everton manager Marco Silva, highlighting how years of instability caused Sunderland to eventually succumb to double-relegation.
Pickford saw many a manager change as he came through the youth ranks with the Black Cats, but it's been much the same since his move to Everton back in 2017.
In just two-and-a-half seasons the England number one has played under four different managers, with current boss Silva under increasing pressure.
But Pickford has called on Everton to stick with the Portuguese head coach.
He told the Liverpool Echo: “I don’t know how many (managers) I had at Sunderland. You want stability throughout the club don’t you? That’s what you want as a player.
“We are just the players and there is so much more going on at the top and bottom of the club and that’s the case in any football club but as players you just want stability, knowing what’s going on and moving forward and just playing football.
“That is what we are paid for, and you’ve got to enjoy playing football and if you are not you shouldn’t be playing.
“Sometimes we have to look at ourselves as individuals and as a squad.
“It is not always right to blame the manager. Everyone has to hold their hand up at the right time. Some people make mistakes in games, I’ve made mistakes in games and I’ve held my hand up for my mistakes so we’ve got to be together and be united and be ready for the fight.”
Like Everton, Sunderland have continued their high turnover of managers also.
Since Pickford's departure, Phil Parkinson became the fourth permanent manager for the Black Cats, but the current man faces calls to be sacked after just 11 games in charge.
Pickford actually played under Parkinson at Bradford for a season when he went on loan there from Sunderland.
