NafisaTimothée Pembélé Reflects on Sunderland Struggles After Positive Start at Le Havre
Timothée Pembélé has opened up about his difficult spell at Sunderland and his renewed optimism at Le Havre, where he is currently on loan. The 22-year-old French defender made the move to Ligue 1 on summer transfer deadline day, and his remarks, relayed by Paris Normandie, reflect both relief and renewed focus.
Sunderland secured Pembélé from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2023, handing him a long-term contract until 2028. However, his time in the Championship quickly turned challenging. A knee injury sidelined him for the first half of the season, and when he returned, opportunities were limited. Pembélé managed just eight appearances, clocking under 300 minutes on the pitch.
Now, with Le Havre, Pembélé’s fortunes have shifted for the better. He has already matched last season’s playing time, featuring in close to 300 minutes over seven matches. Speaking candidly, he explained the frustration of his Sunderland spell and how it impacted his mindset.
“It’s not that I’d lost it, but I was in a different mindset… I wasn’t playing, so there wasn’t the same pleasure in going to training,” Pembélé admitted. “I was going to training for myself, because I needed to keep up a rhythm, because there was surely a project waiting for me…”
The contrast between last season’s struggles and his current situation is striking. Pembélé expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him by Le Havre’s coaching staff and his teammates.
“I feel better and better! Physically, psychologically… it helps when you play one match after another! We don’t have the following results for the moment, but it’s always a very good thing because it’s been a long time since I’ve had so many matches, maybe even for two years. So, I’m happy that the coach, the staff, the players too, trust me.”
Pembélé also revealed that Sunderland teammate Abdoullah Ba, who arrived at the Stadium of Light from Le Havre, had spoken warmly about the club.
“Yes, I feel really good [at Le Havre]! It’s been a long time since I felt like this. I talk with everyone, I’m happy to come to the club, it’s been a long time since I felt that way. I already had this image of HAC as a family club… and at Sunderland, I was with a player from La Cavée, Abdoullah Ba, who spoke very well about here. It was a club like this that I needed to rediscover the pleasure of playing football.”
Le Havre’s welcoming atmosphere and the opportunity to play regular football have clearly reinvigorated Pembélé, offering a sharp contrast to his struggles at Sunderland. Now settled in France, the young defender appears determined to rediscover his best form.
Nafisa
