Sunderland manager Regis le Bris spoke to Italian outlet Cronache di Spogliatoio this week about his time at the club so far and how he masterminded their promotion to the Premier League.
The Frenchman, who will be managing his second year in England in the top-flight, has also spoken to Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport.
He was asked about Sunderland’s challenge of staying in the Premier League, especially given the recent record of clubs going straight back down, and he described the division as the NBA of football.
The manager said: “We are talking about the NBA of football, but it is an exciting challenge and we like challenges. I am not scared, I remain convinced that it must be a collective effort: we want to build a strong team, a strong staff, a strong structure. Maintaining our values I think is what will allow us to be successful.”
When speaking about the possibility of going head to head against some of the best managers in the game, Le Bris said: “The way I am, I don’t worry too much about the future or the consequences: I always take it one day at a time, trying to understand how I can improve the team at this precise moment. I think about one minute at a time, and it will be the same when we have to face Liverpool.”
The 49-year-old also made it clear that Sunderland will have to over-perform and prove many people wrong to stay in the Premier League.
“What were the chances of Sunderland being promoted to the Premier League? It is clear that we will have to overturn some predictions, but we will try with our identity and our community.”
Le Bris also focused on the club’s famous fanbase and how Sunderland had relied on their support to earn promotion during the 2024/25 season in his interview yesterday.
That will have to be the case once again next season. The last few campaigns have seen newly promoted sides struggle and it will take a lot to turn that around.
Investment in the transfer window will obviously be key, but Le Bris is looking at a broader picture of creating the right environment at Sunderland.
