Interview by Munley Romaine: Antonio Conte’s lessons, standard Liegi and Sunderland lighting
Sunderland needed inspiration.
A goal to Preston North End four minutes from the end last month, they were for a defeat at home that would have affected their push for a place in the end of the season’s end-of-season promotion playoffs. Romaine Mungle had other ideas.
It was as if the weather was stopped: a small fake, four touches, a domain of the hips and a movement of the ball preceded a sumptuous blow that enriched and immersed in the upper corner. Mundle had produced something from nothing, as often has this season. It was the last act of brilliance by one of the most exciting wings of the second English level.
“This is an incredible goal!” ✨
Romaine Munley 👏 pic.twitter.com/sfi8qpiujz
– Sky Sports Football (@skyfootball) 11 March 2025
Mundle’s senior career began with a tackle.
It might seem surprising, since it is a skilled and creative wing that has made a name with the Under 21s of the Tottenham Hotspur. But a moment of tenacity attracted the attention of the head of the Spurs coach at the time, the former Juventus midfielder and Italy Antonio Conte, and saw Mungle promoted to the team of the first team at the beginning of 2023.
“I made a strong equipment on a first team, then I scored. I remember that Conte passed one of the coaches who indicated me,” says the now 21 year old. “After the session, one of the directors told me that Conte wanted me to be with the first full -time team.”
⚡️ We took an initial advantage to the Lamex Stadium
Mount with the goal, Donley with assistance 💪#Totliv // 1-0
– Tottenham Hotspur (@Spurusoffial) August 26, 2022
Mondle had already had a senior level taste with the London Club, making the bench for the first stage of a play-off in Europe Conference League against Pacos de Ferreira of Portugal in August 2021 during the short kingdom of Nuno Espirito Santo and join their training sessions sporadically.
Takeing was a proud moment for the young man who had been to the club since he was six; A fan of Spurs who lived in front of their old White Hart Lane stadium and grew up by idolizing their wing in England Aaron Lennon. After joining the first team, he ranked Lucas Moura, Ben Davies and Eric Dier as Mentori.
“I remember having gone to the gym and having done all the preparation, of trying not to look out out of place,” says Mundle. “Then Eric told me to follow him, do what he does. He was practicing the habits that the players of the first team had and tried to learn from them. He (Dier) told me to enjoy the training and express myself.”
It took some time for Mungle to adapt to Conte’s physically demanding training sessions. There were difficult races before and after training and Trapani who were high intensity. Remember that his body felt “completely destroyed” but that he needed to recover to cross the same day the following day.
Mondle celebrates a goal for Spurs Under 21 with the first team Lucas Moura, on the right, in 2023 (Lewis Storey/Getty Images)
Another thing that Mundle had to get used to Tottenham were managerial changes.
In March 2023, Conte had left and, like the predecessor Nuno, had left under a cloud. Mondle remains effusive for the couple, who is currently experiencing a fruitful seasons with Naples, according to the Italian Serie A, and Nottingham Forest, third in the Premier League after having fought the relegation for the previous two years, respectively.
“Two good managers, two different ways of coaching,” he says. “The training with Nuno was more fluid, but Conte was great for tactical things. We knew what was expected, even young guys. He was an extraordinary manager. What you see on the sidelines is him; a strong character, a lot of passion. Everything with him was intense and we had to adapt to it.”
Mundle made the bench only twice under Conte without climbing the field, but he hoped that his senior debut would be under the provisional manager Ryan Mason, his former Academy coach, in the last weeks of that season 2022-23. But with an opportunity not to come and his contract that is turning, Mundle was eager to go on for the football of the first team, despite having a new agreement with Spurs on the table.
He had offers from Reims of France Ligue 1, Side Championship Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City and Anderlecht. It was their partner Belgian Flight Side Standard Liegi who offered the best proposal and Mundle signed in June.
This path proved to be tumultuous, however.
The beginning was positive, since Mundle played as a substitute for the first four championship matches of the standard of last season before an ankle injury reduced his progress. There were also important problems off the pitch, with the club that has financially released under the owners of 777 partners, the US investment company whose attempts to buy Everton collapsed in June.
Malle’s passage in Belgium lasted only half a season (Isosport/MB Media/Getty Images)
“The first two weeks I thought:” Wow, I am in a different country with a different football style, “says Mungle.” I had to be on the ball with everything: as I ate, adapting to a new culture, seeing new ways of playing. I went to the Spurs, where everything is done for you, to a new environment.
“(The financial situation) was hard. I used to train and see things, but I had to think of it. Every time I trampled on a tone, any thought and problems go away.”
At the winter transfer window, Mundle was back to a crossroads. Which next for the young wing, who had only done six appearances in the first Belgian flight, none of them start, in his debut season with the standard?
“Initially, I wanted to borrow,” says Mungle. “But then Sunderland came and explained their project to me.
“I went from being to Tottenham for 15 years to be in a club for six months, so it was new to me. As soon as I had unplaced my things (on Liège), I had to do the suitcases again and leave the country. But I was grateful for Sunderland who gave me that opportunity, because in Belgium I was thinking,” I lost six months? I could be done here …
The rest of last season also had his complications.
Michael Beale, the manager who had brought Mundle to Sunderland, was fired less than three weeks after signing. Mundle did 11 appearances and played only nine minutes in the last six championship matches-the ex-wing of Spurs Jack Clarke, who was also the key to convince him to join the North-East club, was chosen in front of him-twenty Sunderland sank for a disappointing sixteenth finish.
“I went away in the summer thinking:” I have to do a lot of work here “”, says Mundle. “The first week of the low season, I didn’t talk to anyone. I had to work on myself physically, mentally and be more intelligent than the men who have played for years:” They may not be faster or stronger than you, but they are smarter. “I had to improve my game.”
He did it – fast – scoring three goals in as many departures under the new French coach Regis Le Bris in August and early September.
Playing left in a 4-2-3-1, Mungle’s courage in attack by full-backs gained enthusiastic reviews and contributed with five goals and two assists in 21 championship appearances, 16 of them begins, for a team currently fourth in the table with seven games to be done. It was also a happy new year for Mungle Rio’s younger brother; The seventeen year old, who plays in full back or midfield, signed his first professional contract at the Norwich City championship team in November.
Entering this weekend of the 9.8 Mungle Round of 9.8 Progressive Doors (defined as a ball door that moves it at least 10 iarde closest to the opponent’s goal) for 90 minutes was the highest third in the championship behind Mikey Johnston by West Bromwich Albion (11.2) and Middlesbrough Lovero Lonee Ben Doak Doak (10.2). Only three players in the second level had an average of more than its 6.6 acquired for 90.
On that side, he combined well with Dennis Cirkin, graduate on the left and colleague Spurs Academy, 22 years old. Le Bris team is full of young talents, with the lowest average age in the division at 23.2. Chris Rigg, still only 17 years old, continues to shine in midfield, while an agreement of £ 10 million ($ 12 million) has just been agreed for the 18 -year -old wing Tommy Watson to join the Brighton & Hove Albion of the Premier League in the summer. Jobe Bellingham also continues to impress and has a good relationship with Mungle inside and off the pitch.
Mondle celebrates with Jobe Bellingham, on the left, and Cirkin (Martin Swinney/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images)
There have been low times, however, such as the knee tendon injury in November that kept him put aside for three months. Or be the subject of racism on social media.
“Persons not educated … it was an opportunity for me to talk about it honestly,” says Mundle. “If you are brushed under the carpet, how will people learn?”
There have also been bizarre moments.
Last week, after winning a penalty against Millwall, Mundle was dried when the ball was given to the defender Luke O’nien instead of being allowed to take him alone. O’nien then kicked the place, but Mungle says that the accident was an “misunderstanding” that in the end proved to be academic in a 1-0 Sunderland victory.
That victory kept them in fourth place, nine points from the first three and 15 free from seventh place, with the sides that finished the third in sixth place making the play -offs.
A victory away today (Saturday) against West Brom, who is one of the many teams that are still observing the last two points of play-off, would help Mungle’s belief that Sunderland can still challenge for one of the two automatic promotion points.
“It’s not a great margin; they are three wins,” he says. “We will not exclude you until it is finished. It is about building a momentum. It would be incredible to get to the Premier League. I want to do it with Sunderland.”
(Photo above: Mi News/Nurphoto via Getty Images)
