“The balance wasn’t right”- Régis Le Bris explains Sunderland selection decision in honest verdict on Preston North End draw
Régis Le Bris emphasized the importance of squad rotation for Sunderland as they navigate a demanding season, following a tough 0-0 draw at Preston North End.
Sunderland struggled in the first half at Deepdale, looking second-best to their hosts, but showed improvement after the break. Despite the second-half improvement, chances to score remained scarce. Le Bris made a surprise decision to leave Patrick Roberts and Romaine Mundle on the bench, bringing them on after the hour mark.
“It’s a long season with a lot of games packed into the week,” Le Bris said. “We have to manage the squad carefully and give opportunities to different players. It’s crucial that all our players stay in peak condition.
“When we start without Patrick, it’s important to keep possession and give others time to step up. We knew we’d miss his quality, but the plan was to bring him on in the final 30 minutes, and that’s when we changed the game. Ultimately, we need a big squad where everyone contributes. It’s vital that everyone is involved. While we’re not satisfied with the performance, we worked together through a tough game. In a long season, sometimes you have to play like this.”
Le Bris admitted that his team was fortunate at times during the match but expressed satisfaction with earning a point.
“It was another tough away game against a strong team,” he reflected. “We struggled in the first half to apply high pressure and weren’t in the right positions. We were too far from the first press, and as a result, the second balls eluded us. We conceded a lot of chances and our restarts were also difficult. The balance wasn’t right. But in the second half, we made changes, and the energy shifted.
“It wasn’t enough to score, but in the end, we’re happy with a point away from home. We might have been lucky at times, but luck is something you need. We’re not happy with the performance, but a point is still valuable.”
