🔗 Share this article 'We’re like a family here': Sunderland's midfielder revels in positive vibes at Sunderland. Vous or Tu? It reveals much about the young Senegalese star that his elation at being promoted from the youth ranks at Strasbourg to the senior squad was tempered by worry over the two French words for “you.” Would addressing new, older teammates by using “tu” be considered disrespectful? In the end, the young midfielder played safe and selected the more polite “vous”. Cue wholesale laughter from the older players who instructed him not to be so silly; he was one of them now. “After I had the first call with the coach, I reflected and said to my parents: ‘Sunderland’s where I want to be; that’s where I want to play.’ England's top flight was always a goal of mine and the coach outlined for me a well-defined and appealing project.” Roughly half a decade later, Diarra is sitting in an office at Sunderland’s Academy of Light explaining why he ignored overtures from, among others, several top European clubs. His natural politeness remains but it is clear that the young Senegal international and doubt are practically unacquainted. Diarra carries himself with the confidence suited to a player who led Strasbourg at the age of 20 and, only last month, returned from Morocco holding an Africa Cup of Nations championship trophy. A Clear Project Now that the groin issue that sidelined him for much of the first half of the league campaign healed, Diarra is on a quest to demonstrate precisely why he agreed to become Sunderland’s most expensive acquisition last summer. Pundits in France and Senegal questioned Diarra’s surprising decision but he knew all about Régis Le Bris’s reputation as a gifted youth coach. “I haven’t been surprised by the coach’s ability because I already knew what he’s able to achieve,” says Diarra. “Playing against his teams I realised he was very good, very strong in terms of strategy. He’s someone I know is helping my game progress. And although our primary aim is reaching 40 points, a place in Europe is certainly a achievable goal this season.” A Unified Environment Outside, the cold winter gusts and driving rain makes the region look as bleak as it is often stereotyped. Inside, things are considerably warmer. The atmosphere is devoid of the type of strain found in certain clubs where office workers are kept apart from first-team players. Diarra portrays the environment as “really natural” and praises Le Bris’s role in its formation. “Our manager repeatedly states to us that we’re like a family here and we all support each other,” he says. “Each of us takes pride of each other.” Liberty and Structure If the organisation, discipline and immense effort supporting Sunderland’s defensive organization are a testament to the head coach’s attention to minutiae, Le Bris also likes his players to use their initiative. He offers his midfielders full freedom to be creative and swap roles. “The coach sets his tactics out within a structure but we have license to play within it,” says Diarra, who prefers to be deployed as a box-to-box No 8. “Out on the pitch that feels good. That freedom is so important. Our captain, Granit, helps us a lot. He’s a really big player and a superb role model.” Path and Settlement Diarra is using a French interpreter but his English has advanced to the point where he can grasp most questions. He is now concentrating on acquiring the vocabulary to also answer them, which would be his third tongue. He is proficient in Wolof, the language he spoke in his youth in Guédiawaye near Dakar. His early maturity helped him deal with the disappointment of needing groin surgery followed by four months on the sidelines last autumn. “Being injured so soon after arriving here was frustrating, for sure,” he says. “But it was up to me to manage myself.” Diarra is now anticipating playing in this summer’s global tournament. Given Senegal have been drawn in the same group as France, a emotional matchup awaits the former Les Bleus under-21 midfielder. “I enjoyed representing for France but my heart spoke,” says Diarra. “I have no remorse. I was born in Senegal; it makes me proud to play for them.” Comparable feelings apply to Sunderland. “I’ve adapted very well,” he says. “I feel really comfortable here.”