Sunderland have confirmed their support for manager Regis Le Bris despite the club's position at the foot of the Premier League. The 50-year-old retains the full backing of chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and the board, with the focus shifting to the players to turn around a season of defensive errors and poor results.
Captain Granit Xhaka addressed the situation directly, deflecting criticism from the coaching staff. "The coach is not the problem. The staff is not the problem," Xhaka said. "We have a very good feeling within the group and we know what we want to do. But it is up to us."
Defensive frailties exposed
Sunderland sit 20th with just five points from nine matches, having conceded 17 goals. Six of those have come directly from defensive errors, the highest such tally in the division. This represents a stark decline from last season, when the team had one of the league's strongest defensive records. Their only league win was a 1-0 victory over Fulham back in August, and they have been winless in their last seven top-flight fixtures.
The most recent setback was a 3-1 defeat at Coventry City last Saturday, a result that extended a concerning run. Le Bris's side have scored only seven league goals, underperforming their expected goals tally by six. Top scorer Brian Brobbey has three goals in seven appearances, but the attack has struggled for consistency.
European contrast provides context
While domestic form has faltered, Sunderland's European campaign has offered a contrasting narrative. They are unbeaten in the Europa League league phase, with two wins and a draw from three matches, and have reached the Carabao Cup quarter-finals. Le Bris pointed to the demanding schedule as a factor, a common challenge for clubs new to continental competition.
"We are exposed this season with this busy schedule and it's really demanding," Le Bris explained. "First year in Europe, you know that we'll have on average 10 less points. It's our reality."
The manager, appointed in 2024, guided the club to promotion and a seventh-place finish last season, securing European football for the first time in 53 years. That historic achievement has bought him significant credit with the hierarchy, who are conscious of the club's past tendency for mid-season managerial changes.
Immediate challenge ahead
Attention now turns to halting the slide, with a formidable test against Chelsea at the Stadium of Light next. The Blues, currently fourth, visit on Sunday 8 November. Sunderland will hope to replicate the spirit shown in their 3-2 win over Brentford last week, where Chemsdine Talbi, Timur Tutierov and Malick Fofana were on the scoresheet.
The board's decision provides clarity and challenges the squad to respond, starting with their next home game.
Read the full report at Daily Express
