RLB PRE COV

Ahead of the first leg, Regis Le Bris has reflected on Sunderland's season, the differences between SAFC and Coventry, and compared us to Champions League finalists PSG!

PLAY-OFF DEFEAT = FAILED SEASON?

“That is the job. It doesn't change anything - I know the rules of the job, and I have to face the challenge as a manager. After that, you have your emotional assessment and then you can have your review of the season, and you can decide. I just want to improve and develop the squad, to help the club grow and to grow me as a manager. At the end of the season, I will be a better coach than when I started here.”

NOTHING TO PLAY FOR

This all started with a massive achievement. We were in the top four all season and secured the fourth place. After that, probably after the games against Leeds and Hull, we felt that the automatic promotion became unrealistic. But at the same time, the fourth place was secured really early, so we didn’t really have anything to chase. In that situation, I think it’s tough for all of the teams in the world. If you look at Paris St Germain in France, for example, they won the title and went unbeaten all season. But when they started to prepare for the semi-final, they lost two games in a row, one at home and one away. Even the biggest teams in the world can struggle in that situation, and I think it was the case for us as well."

NEW MINDSET

“Now, we play for a specific event and we have something to chase, so the mindset will be completely different.”

SUNDERLAND AND COVENTRY

“We have two different situations, two different teams, two different squads. The identity of Sunderland is not the identity of Coventry, and we have our own style of play, our own squad, our young players, our experienced players. They are different so we can't compare."

HANGING IN THE BALANCE

“At the end of the Championship, we went fourth, they went fifth, okay, so different situations. Now, during these two games, it will be short. Now, it's a question of confidence, a question of desire, a question of managing the games properly, and that's it. It's only football.”