Sunderland's board have given their backing to head coach Regis Le Bris despite the club sitting at the bottom of the Premier League table. The Black Cats last won a league match in August and have suffered six defeats in their opening nine games.
According to reports, the club remain confident in Le Bris's ability to turn results around and believe stability will serve the side better than a change of manager. Le Bris is said to be central to Sunderland's plans moving forward, with a collective effort expected to improve performances.
Confidence in the coaching staff
While Le Bris's tactical decisions and team selections have faced scrutiny, the senior football leadership at the Stadium of Light are reportedly confident the manager can oversee improvement. There is a determination within the club to address the team's difficulties.
Sunderland fell to a 3-1 defeat against newly-promoted Coventry at the weekend, leaving them on five points at the foot of the table. That form contrasts sharply with last season, when they finished seventh and secured European football.
European form offers some respite
Le Bris's team have shown better form in the Conference League, where they remain unbeaten. However, the head coach acknowledged that Sunderland's Premier League inconsistencies cannot continue.
“We gave two opportunities from two unforced errors,” Le Bris told safc.com. “We changed the momentum of the game and after that we had good spells and created chances. But this inconsistency is not acceptable at all. Consistency is the key word in this league. If you keep making individual mistakes, the opponent will kill you.”
Player frustration after Coventry loss
Following the defeat to Coventry, Granit Xhaka expressed frustration over the errors his side continue to commit. “It’s hard to take,” Xhaka told safc.com. “We prepared well and came here with belief, but if we don’t do the things we are speaking about, there is no chance to win any game.”
“There are so many mistakes from our side,” he added. “If we don’t do the basics, forget about everything else. Every weekend we are making the same mistakes and every weekend we are getting punished.”
