LE BRIS ON BAD RUN

Regis Le Bris has urged supporters to be patient during Sunderland's poor run of form. He says this was expected at some point during our first season back in the Premier League and is staying positive with what he's seeing in the squad.

TOUGH PERIOD

“We are going through a difficult run which is not comfortable and we do not like it. It is part of the process, we are in a tough league as a newly-promoted side, also a young team with injuries and suspensions. We expected it to come probably a bit earlier. It is not the best period from a results perspective but for the foundations of the club, we are learning a lot. I think it is often during these tough phases that you are learning more because you need to stick to your plan and your identity to stay calm and to work more. I think this is the case, even if the results are not positive.”

DON’T PANIC

“Sometimes we forget really quickly who we are and where we are. It is important to mention again our journey, how difficult this league is, and how young our squad is. There are many things to make sure that when things are negative it does not mean that we aren’t progressing and aren’t in a good place according to our objectives. But it’s tough, it’s part of the process and you have to accept that.”

UPCOMING AWAY GAMES

“We need tough challenges to grow once again, and we have to match their intensity. That is really clear. They are in good form but they have specific characteristics as well so the intensity is key. It is important to impose our ideas as well because even if results are not positive, I think we are still building our foundations. Some of the phases we are not perfect but we’ve reinforced some good parts of our game. It is not well-rounded and you have to be well-rounded if you want to win something in this league. The process is ongoing.”

PREPARED FOR THE TOUGH RUN

“I think as a club we are ready and also as the coaching staff. For the players, it is often more difficult because you like to have confidence, you like winning, you like to have positive vibes. It is never easy to play with the same freedom, the same feeling, when you lose. So, it is a new experience but it is important to face it because it’s part of a career at this level.”

PLAYERS LINKED AWAY IN THE SUMMER

“That is going to be another part of the journey a bit later on, but our main focus is not that one. I think Flo (Ghisolfi) and Kyril (Louis-Dreyfus) are working hard on this part of the project: the mid-term and short-term in football. For me, the next objective is always the next game, the next training session, the next conversation with the players, and so on. I am confident about the ability of the club to stay strong and ambitious, to have a good way to build this club to make it sustainable in the Premier League. But it is always a tough challenge because the competition is high.”

POSITIVES IN THE BAD RUN

“They stay connected and united. It is clear that they are still focussed on the game. We know exactly how we want to manage different phases but it is not always balanced. You could be strong on set pieces for example, which was the case for the first part of the season, and then we were really weak against Fulham. It is always a bit unstable and inconsistent because the league is evolving. You can’t stay just at the same level, you always have to improve. But when you try to improve one part of the game - for example our high press and build-up under pressure is getting better - another phase is now worse, and we are so exposed. So it is the lesson of the game, we will have another challenge and is it always moving. That is part of the process, you have to learn and stay consistent, but I feel that the energy is still positive. We expect another reaction.”