Régis Le Bris
Chris Rigg impressed on his Premier League debut for Sunderland, stepping up following Habib Diarra’s groin injury that will keep him sidelined until December. Rigg’s performance in the 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest demonstrated his potential, and he is expected to retain his place in the starting lineup for the upcoming match.
Régis Le Bris said: “His response has been really positive. He was frustrated and disappointed, which is normal. One of his main qualities is he is a squad player. So he can manage his frustration for the squad, for the collective purpose. And he’s really young, his reaction was really balanced. So for me it’s really normal to accept his frustration, but at the same time, he can keep the right level and stay connected with the output of the squad.”
Le Bris continued: “He played really well last season in the Championship, showed his qualities but his consistency as well because this Championship is really tough. He was probably a bit exhausted at the end. This season, he got an early injury, so he wasn’t connected with the flow of the squad at the beginning, but he worked hard to reconnect with the squad. So when he had this opportunity to start after Habib, it was just natural and I wasn’t surprised. I wasn’t worried about using a new player, even if he’s really young, because he works hard every day. He knows how we are playing and he has a talent. So it’s positive for the coach.”
Le Bris added: “It was 35 minutes, so we’ll need more experiences to find out how he can play, how he can help the squad at this level. But I wasn’t surprised by his level and the way he connected with the game plan, with his teammates on the right side. How he pressed with Wilson because they used to do that last season. So it wasn’t a new setup. Now we’ll see because I repeat every game is a new experience, a new problem, a new scenario, a new opportunities, new problems to solve.”
Discussing Diarra’s injury, Le Bris said: “He’ll need time to recover and properly, without rushing the process because he’s a really young player and this injury is important, but I think if we take care of him through the rehab process and it will be okay for the future of Sunderland. Whether it [he is back] early or a bit later, we’ll see. We don’t know yet to be fair, because I think every player reacts differently to a surgery. Maybe he will recover really quickly, maybe it will be a bit longer, so we don’t know yet. I hope he can play for us in December, but we’ll see.”
Rigg’s opportunity arose after Diarra’s unfortunate injury, which has left a gap in Sunderland’s midfield. Le Bris expressed confidence in Rigg’s abilities, highlighting his hard work and understanding of the team’s playing style. As Rigg continues to gain experience, he is expected to play a crucial role in Sunderland’s upcoming fixtures. Meanwhile, Diarra’s recovery timeline remains uncertain, with hopes that he might return in time for Sunderland’s December matches and potentially the Africa Cup of Nations for Senegal.
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