As a keen student of interior design, Fabio Borini knows all about minimalism and fully appreciates the benefits of clean lines, pared-down spaces and clever use of light. When it comes to the insides of houses, this most stylish Italian has long understood that, sometimes, less really is more but now he seems to be applying the same concept to an increasingly unshowy, attacking game big on functionality and efficiency. Deployed wide on either flank in Sunderland’s 4-1-4-1 formation, Borini has been transformed from a limelight-craving centre-forward into a no-frills tracker-back whose dedication to the cause helps explain why Sam Allardyce’s side are currently favourites to win their private relegation battle with Newcastle and Norwich. “I call my role a blind job because people don’t notice the work you’re doing,” says Borini. “I feel a bit like Thomas Müller at Bayern Munich – they pick him because he does a lot of blind jobs, which makes things easier for everyone else.” The need to create a platform from which Jermain Defoe, Allardyce’s lone striker, can menace opponents while also protecting Sunderland’s full-backs – arguably the team’s weakest defensive link – explains why Borini has scored only four times in 24 appearances since his £10m move from Liverpool last summer. “My natural position is to play up front, especially as one of two strikers,” says the 25-year-old as he prepares for Saturday’s trip to Stoke. “Playing wide is hard. Sometimes it’s more about going backwards than forwards. It’s about defending and tracking back rather than enjoying the ball in the opposition half, and it’s why I’m not scoring as many goals as I want. “You could see against Arsenal last week [whenSunderland drew 0-0 at the Stadium of Light] that I probably touched the ball more in my own box than in the opposition half so it does get a little bit frustrating. It’s not so enjoyable.” He has relished discovering the north-east to be “a bit similar” and particularly appreciates Allardyce’s honesty. “He’s a very straight guy,” Borini says. “You know what he’s thinking and, even if you don’t, he’s going to tell you. He shouts a lot, sometimes for no reason, and he doesn’t always speak proper English but he’s a manager you listen to.” Like Allardyce, Borini is deeply into both psychology and sports science. Indeed until recently a player who claims he can learn more about a person from their choice of decor and internal colour schemes than during an hour’s conversation, employed a personal mental coach for six years. He credits Roberto Civitarese with smoothing the transition from northern Italy to Chelsea. “As a young guy you don’t know how things work and there’s a lot of distractions,” he says. “He was very expensive but he helped me focus on the right areas and understand what I needed to do.” When Allardyce succeeded Dick Advocaat, the manager hired a psychologist to work with Sunderland’s squad. “My talks with him have had a positive outcome,” says Borini. “Psychology can make a big, big difference. If your body’s right 80% of football’s in the mind. Look at Leicester – something’s definitely changed in their minds this season.” Borini’s dedication is such that he has installed a gym at the home he shares with his wife, the model Erin O’Neill. “Physically, I need to do a little bit more work than some players,” he says. “I need top-ups.” Mentally few team-mates can be as agile as a multilingual Italian who regularly reads books in English – he’s currently reading the diary of Anne Frank –and is sufficiently artistic to have designed pieces of furniture for the interior of a new holiday home in Ibiza where he can practise his already flawless Spanish. For the moment, though, Borini is applying himself to solving a single, critical, problem. “Sunderland’s a big club with great fans and one of the biggest stadiums in England,” he says. “Most Premier League clubs are smaller than us and we won’t always be fighting relegation but, before we can change everything, we have to stay up. We must make sure we don’t get relegated.”
He has relished discovering the north-east to be “a bit similar” and particularly appreciates Allardyce’s honesty. “He’s a very straight guy,” Borini says. “You know what he’s thinking and, even if you don’t, he’s going to tell you. He shouts a lot, sometimes for no reason, and he doesn’t always speak proper English but he’s a manager you listen to.” This bit tickled me a little.
I like him a lot. Confident lad with a bit about him. Think he genuinely enjoys being here as well. Also does quite a bit for the foundation I believe.
I likes that a lot! A smart guy playing for us. Then I see a picture of his missus and I dont like him again
I liked that a lot, but I hope he isn't feeling too much "unnoticed". In fact, I never rated him as a striker, and was disappointed when we signed him. I like him a lot more now. He's doing a good job.
Sums up Fabio - honest : energy commitment & attitude - as Poyet said a great team club player - pleasure to work with
Remembering his goals, especialy the one set up by the astute Jozy, lay off , I would also like to see him get a run for us in his favourite position, but for now he is doing a fine job for the team, well done Fabio.
Exactly he is not a clinical goalscorer - can score the spectacular but misses the straightforward poacher goals - but immense attitude. Also very sound reasoning from him why he was reluctant to come from Liverpool to a relegation threatened Sunderland - honesty Now a valuable member of our improving team onwards & up
Sums Jozy up, only did one good thing and he didn't even do it on purpose. Just checked his wiki and he's got 13 goals in 28 games over there. I wonder what the English equivalent of MLS must be. Sunday league?
Why is it that whenever a player gives an interview like this, they play like an utter **** in their next game? Can't we give the interviews to our U-21s to do, at least until the end of the season, so the first team squad focus on their jobs and stop talking ****e/themselves up. Alternatively, we try some reverse psychology on N'Doye and get him to do all the interviews in the hope he puts in a decent performance.
Who didn't play like **** yesterday? Probably Mannone and Defoe are the only 2. Defoe was given an almost impossible task the way we played but he did well except where I thought he could've easily laid someone in instead of trying the spectacular. The other 9 were poor. Easy to play well in a team playing well. When a team is rubbish everyone looks rubbish
butter him up and he may just invite you for a 3 some, while your porking her he will be porking you, those latins eh
