JONNY WILLIAMS admits it was tough watching the new series of Sunderland ‘Til I Die.
The Charlton midfielder was victorious against his former side in the League One play-off final at Wembley last May.
And Williams, a star in the club’s original Netflix documentary when he opened up on visiting a psychologist, says he was left hurt by the ending of the latest season despite winning promotion.
Williams, who has watched the second series which came out last week, said: “I’ve just finished it and it was a tough watch because in an ideal world we’d have both got promoted.
“It hurt me that they didn’t get promoted. I wish them well and hope they get back as soon as possible.
“It was a tough day in the final. It meant so much to me as a player after everything I’d been through, the injuries, the ups and downs, not getting the opportunities in my career.
“I’ve always believed in myself and the emotion after the game was individual relief. To come out on top at Wembley was massive.”
Williams, 26, proved popular in the first season of the Sunderland doc when he spoke openly about trying to overcome injury and confidence issues during his loan spell in the 2017-18 season.
He added in an Instagram Q&A through New Era Global Sports: “It was a tough season for me, the injuries and living a long way from home. A lot of people saw the effect that had on me on the TV series.
“The cameras were rolling the whole time. It was non-stop, in the changing room and the physio room, you couldn’t do anything.
“When I did watch the first doc it was tough because I didn’t know what was going to be on the series.
“When it came out I got a lot of nice messages around the world. That’s me as a footballer how honest I am, maybe too honest at times with my emotions.
“Some people would shield away up and not express them. But that happened.”
Kent-born Williams has won 21 caps for Wales but England Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce tried to poach the playmaker when he was 17.
The Championship midfielder added: “I’ve never thought about playing for England.
“But I had a meeting with Stuart when I was 17 after Gary Speed called me into the senior squad for the first time. It lasted about a minute. I was in and out in a flash.”
Williams would have been in Ryan Giggs’ squad for this summer’s Euros which has now been delayed by 12 months due to the coronavirus crisis.
He said: “I was looking forward to the Euros but that’s all changed now due to the circumstances. Hopefully that gives me something to work towards next year.
“I worked hard, played games and Giggs saw that. He’s given me the opportunity to play on that stage again and I thank him for that.
“It’s great to be back in a Wales shirt. There were times where I thought I wouldn’t make another Wales appearance when I dropped to League One but I’ve managed to overcome that.”
