Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris retains the full support of the club's board despite a difficult start to the season. The Black Cats have won only one of their first nine Premier League matches, leaving them bottom of the table and eight points adrift of seventh place, where they finished last season.
Le Bris guided the club to Europa League qualification in an impressive first campaign back in the top flight. This term has proved harder, with the team scoring just seven league goals so far. Sky Sports report that the Sunderland board remain confident the Frenchman can turn things around despite last Saturday's 3-1 loss to Coventry.
Captain backs the coach
While the board acknowledges results have been underwhelming, it believes Le Bris is still the right man to manage the club. Captain Granit Xhaka shares that view, saying: "The coach is not the problem. The staff is not the problem."
"We have a very good feeling within the group and we know what we want to do. We are prepared very well from the staff side of things. But it is up to us. And if you are not doing the things that you are training all week for, then you will have problems. And as I keep on saying, the mistakes are killing us at the moment. If you can't stop them, then you can't win."
Cup success offers hope
Despite their league struggles, Sunderland have reached the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, where they will face a struggling Crystal Palace next month. In Europe, the north east club are unbeaten with two wins and a draw and have a trip to AC Milan to look forward to next month.
Their cup form underlines the hierarchy's optimism that Le Bris can steady the ship. The 50-year-old said after the defeat to Coventry: "We are exposed this season with this busy schedule and it's really demanding. Is it unexpected? I don't think so. Many clubs last year experienced exactly the same situation."
"First year in Europe, you know that we'll have on average 10 less points. It's our reality. We start the league in this situation. Does it mean that we are happy? Absolutely not. We have to get better because it's hard to play this first half."
"It's hard to not be able to play our football with confidence, with the ability to be ourselves. But the reality of this competition is that one. When you are not at your best and you can't repeat every three days, you are in this situation."
Le Bris remains combative
Le Bris insisted he still feels the backing of his players and the board. He added: "I've no doubt. I don't think like this. For me, we experienced so many difficult situations to achieve what we achieved, and we won't give up just because it's a bit tough at the beginning of the season."
"So, 100 per cent I'm combative. I feel the unity of the club. The players obviously still have doubt because when you lose, you try to find solutions. I don't feel that the players are trying to escape their own responsibilities, which is the most important, I think. And for the players, it's the case. For the staff, it's the case. For me, it's the case. So, I keep working hard."
