Yann M’Vila: ‘If a Russian turns up with a gun and I’ve an axe, who’s going to win?’ The Sunderland midfielder seems to have put off-field issues behind him to become the key man in Sam Allardyce’s side for Sunday’s Tyne-Wear derby please log in to view this image There were rumours of much drama during Yann M’Vila’s spell with Dynamo Moscow but the midfielder says: ‘Everything was absolutely fine and in order.’ Photograph: Tom Dulat/Getty Images Louise Taylor Thursday 17 March 201622.30 GMTLast modified on Thursday 17 March 201622.32 GMT Shares 9 Comments 11 Save for later Yann M’Vila listens to the question, nods, half-smiles and shifts in his seat. “Let’s talk about this axe then,” says Sunderland’s former France midfielder. “There was one in the house but it was the landlord’s – and let’s be honest, if a Russian turned up with a gun and I’ve got an axe, who is going to win that fight?” It seems an extraordinary conversation to be having in sedate, suburban Cleadon – the posh part of the city and the site of the football club’s training ground – but M’Vila is far from your average professional. A 25-year-old once described as an amalgam of Claude Makélélé, Patrick Vieira and Yaya Touré is describing the events of last summer when he was training with Dynamo Moscow with a view to signing from Rubin Kazan. The Russian media reported that M’Vila had been accused of trashing his rented home in the wake of a conflict with Dynamo and the club’s recently dismissed French interpreter spoke of toxicity between the club’s head of security and foreign players. As talk of an extortion racket targeting the players mounted, it was claimed M’Vila kept an axe at home for his own protection. It all makes Sunday’s Tyne-Wear derby cum relegation showdown at Newcastle seem kindergarten stuff but the central character pours scorn on much of the supposed drama. “Maybe one of the big problems was my Russian translator – he was fired by Dynamo,” he says, laughing off those claims of a trashed apartment. “But if you like, you can call up my old landlord. I always paid my rent. Everything was absolutely fine and in order.” Even so he was reported to have sought sanctuary at Sunderland last August after fleeing Moscow. The Rubin Kazan loanee shakes his head and bristles slightly. “I think some people have an incorrect image of Russia,” he says. “I enjoyed my time there, especially the people. Russians are really kind, really nice. I think they’re absolutely fantastic.” M’Vila is somewhat frostier towards Roberto Mancini, the coach who sent him home early from another loan, at Internazionale, last season. “I was fantastic in training at Inter Milan,” he says. “I worked hard. I was sometimes better than other players. It was just that my face didn’t fit. I had nothing to be ashamed about.” A man whose considerable ability – he is surely Sunderland’s player of the season – demands that he should be adding to his 22 France caps, readily admits his conscience has not always been similarly clear. Arsenal and Liverpool, among others, once coveted him. “It was far from a headbutt, I just pushed him,” he smiles. “But I have done some bad things in my life; I’ve made some mistakes. Every time though I’ve always admitted it and I’ve paid for it. I would always say I tell the truth – and I think I’ve definitely matured a lot. Look at the stats this season. I’ve played about 30 games and had one yellow card.” Sam Allardyce will trust his key midfielder maintains such discipline at St James’ Park and, after excelling in Sunderland’s 3-0 derby win on Wearside last autumn, M’Vila relishes the prospect. “The atmosphere was electric,” he recalls. “It was unique, I’d never experienced anything like it. I’d played in the Milan derby and it was great but not quite to the north-east level. Here if you make a good tackle you’re applauded almost as if you’ve scored a goal. It’s almost like playing a game on the street. It’s fantastic. The fans really give you wings to fly.” Considering the acute relegation peril confronting Sunderland and Newcastle, Sunday’s meeting will be imbued with an added intensity befitting possibly the most significant Tyne-Wear encounter yet. M’Vila’s choice of a heavily zipped black and white designer tracksuit – hardly a statement of political correctness from a Sunderland player in derby week – may suggest indifference to local sensibilities but, in this case, appearances are deceptive. “We need to be together and we need to be aggressive on Sunday,” he says. “I want to make sure Sunderland stay up.” He remains “ready to chat” about the possibility of staying on next season and is enjoying life in an area where he even has a French neighbour. “I can sometimes see Moussa [Newcastle’s Sissoko] from my window – he lives just over the road,” he says. “We flew back together from Paris the other week but we don’t really talk about the derby game.” Chatting in depth through an interpreter, M’Vila turns slightly reticent as he discusses a troubled youth in Amiens and Paris. “I had a very difficult upbringing,” he explains. “My parents always made sure there was a meal on the table but we didn’t have a lot of money. I saw lots of things which would turn your hair curly, things which really shook me up.” This disturbing hinterland facilitates an appreciation of life’s shades of grey. “Watching France in the European Championship this summer and not being part of it will hurt a little bit,” he acknowledges. “Playing for France again is still a hope of mine but it’s not my primary goal. My primary objective is to make the fans smile – and to make sure Sunderland stay in the Premier League.”
I love this guy. He's my favourite player at the moment and is definitely player of the season for me.
My son has M'Vila on the back of his shirt. I normally tell him not to get a loanee on the back but this guy is so good it doesn;t bother me. Everyone knows how much of a cattermole fan I am - but this guy is a top player and him and Kirchhoff are the first time I've thought "Catts should be a bench player" for years! (I'm not going to use that thing all the pundits say "he's a top player, but not a top, top player" ****e) if you're a top player then why do you need an extra top? Love watching M'Vila play. The little breaks we've had this month will probably do him good too. He's said he'd stay if we stay up - I hope we do! Him and Kirchhoff are the sort of players we've wanted at this club for years! Just hope Jan can keep himself fit for the season!
1) So has my Adam 2) You just did From the 80's . . . . "For Gustace Miller . . . . M'Vila" (Arthur Mullard, I think)
Agree - Said to terry recently, Kone's fitness and physique with Wes Brown's football ability would be one of the best defenders in the world! Think Kone is a big best and a proper "no nonsense" but he'll never be a Bobby Moore or Charlie Hurley style ball player. Although Yaya will be keeping an eye out for him next time they play each other!!
