Régis Le Bris
Sunderland has made a commendable return to the Premier League, largely thanks to their solid defensive performance. Recently, they secured a 1-0 victory over Leeds United, marking a significant milestone by reaching 40 points after 29 games. This achievement has positioned them just four points from the top seven and 12 points clear of the relegation zone. Despite scoring only 30 goals, the third-lowest in the league, Sunderland’s defensive prowess is evident with only 34 goals conceded, ranking as the fourth-best in the division. However, the xG metrics reveal some areas of concern, particularly in their attacking efficiency.
Regis Le Bris said: “We had a good conversation with Granit this week, because he’s really experienced. We spoke about the different areas that we are developing now. So out of possession at Leeds and Bournemouth we were excellent, the way we pressed the opponent, our mid-block was good, our deep block was good. We repeated this season this kind of performance out of possession.”
Regis Le Bris continued: “Our build-up is getting better as well and the progression phase is clear when we have our key players, because it’s always connected. But the final attacking third is the most difficult, and here we have good principles with our triangles, our wide triangles, for example, but they haven’t played a lot together because we changed often.”
Regis Le Bris added: “It’s obviously a concern because we want to improve every area, and this is not the best one for sure. But it’s not only about the attacking players, it’s about the squad. You can score on set-pieces as well and this has not been the case in recent weeks. The midfielders can score because they can shoot from outside the box, for example. It’s a full process and it’s not only one responsibility of one player, it’s about the full squad.”
The xG statistics indicate that Sunderland’s attacking record is among the lowest in the Premier League, with only Wolves and Burnley having a lower xG value. Additionally, Sunderland has overperformed their xGA by 12.74, the highest in the league, suggesting that their defensive success is partly due to opponents missing key opportunities and the exceptional performance of goalkeeper Robin Roefs.
Sunderland’s manager, Le Bris, highlighted the ongoing efforts to improve their attacking play, focusing on building consistent relationships among players and enhancing their performance in the final third. The team’s struggle to find consistency in attacking partnerships, due to frequent changes and injuries, has been a challenge. However, Le Bris remains optimistic about finding solutions and improving the team’s overall attacking output.
As Sunderland prepares to host Brighton this Saturday, their focus will be on maintaining their defensive strength while seeking to enhance their attacking capabilities to climb higher in the Premier League standings.
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