Sunderland face Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday lunchtime.
Bournemouth full-back Adrien Truffert has praised Sunderland playmaker Enzo Le Fée for his “quality” and “intensity”, but has admitted that when the two face off for their respective clubs at the Vitality Stadium this weekend, they will not be “friends”.
The duo know each other well having shared a stint at French outfit Stade Rennais earlier in their careers, and will come up against each other for a second time in the Premier League, having both featured in the Black Cats’ 3-2 victory over the Cherries last November.
Bournemouth squandered a two-goal lead at the Stadium of Light that afternoon, with Le Fée scoring his side’s first from the penalty spot as they mounted an improbable comeback. But looking ahead to Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off on the south coast, Truffert has made it clear that he is out to exact revenge over his former teammate.
What has Bournemouth defender Adrien Ruffert said about Sunderland star Enzo Le Fée?
Speaking to Bournemouth’s in-house media team, when asked about his relationship with Le Fée, Truffert said: “Everybody knows we are not here to be friends on the pitch. We are still friends. We are happy when we play against each other. It’s like every time when you play against your friend, you are happy.
“But on the pitch, we are not friends. Outside the pitch we are friends. He’s a top player, top quality on the ball. In the intensity or in the duel he is strong. It’s a pleasure to see him playing like this in Sunderland but I hope for him it’s going to be a tough game against us!”
Turning his attention to Sunderland writ large, he continued: “It’s always a good team. They have good players, a good coach. They play together and are strong so, as always, it’s going to be a tough game. Everybody this week is focused to play this game at 100 per cent. We are at home in front of our fans and we need to win this game as always.”
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For his part, Le Fée has been speaking recently about his desire to one day represent France at senior international level. When asked about his hopes of playing for the national team during an interview with beIN Sports, the Sunderland talent said: "Of course I think about it. Not about this year or this summer, to be honest, but it is one of my targets in my career to play a World Cup with my national team.
"First of all, to play for my national team. But if I can play one World Cup with my national team, I think that would be the top of my objectives. We are in the best league in the world. If I can perform in this league, why not?"
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