Sunderland manager David Moyes has insisted that he was simply being "realistic" when warning of another relegation battle this season.
The Black Cats boss expects his side to struggle at the wrong end of the division this term, much like they have for the past four years.
Moyes has seen his team fail to claim a point from his first two games in charge, and has now reiterated claims that he has his work cut out to turn around Sunderland's fortunes over the coming months.
"I've told people that it was always going to be difficult," Moyes, who replaced Sam Allardyce a month ago to the day, is quoted as saying by BBC Sport. "I think I said when we came we were always going to build. I've come in late on, it's never going to be easy.
"I hope I was being realistic. There was no point in me telling people untruths - I wouldn't do that. Do we want to be there? No. The fact of the matter is we need to make improvements. We need to get more players in, we need to add to the squad."
Sunderland are currently in the bottom three of the early Premier League standings following their losing start to the season.
