“Régis Le Bris Reveals Champions League Secret That Could Spark Sunderland’s Play-Off Dream
Sunderland Set to Kick Off Play-Off Campaign at Coventry City
Sunderland head coach Régis Le Bris is confident that fans will see a revitalized team when their Championship play-off journey begins at Coventry City on Friday night.
Despite ending the regular season with five consecutive defeats and only one goal scored, Le Bris has rotated his squad extensively in recent weeks. He believes this approach has positioned Sunderland to rise to the occasion against a tough opponent. Drawing a comparison to Paris Saint-Germain’s recent Champions League performance against Arsenal, Le Bris remains optimistic that his players will elevate their game when it matters most.
“This journey began with a significant achievement,” Le Bris said. “We stayed in the top four all season and locked in fourth place early on. After our games against Leeds and Hull, it became clear that automatic promotion was no longer within reach. With our place secure, there wasn’t much left to push for, and in those situations, it’s challenging for any team.”
Le Bris pointed to PSG’s domestic dominance followed by back-to-back losses just before their Champions League semi-final as an example of how even elite teams can struggle with motivation ahead of major fixtures. “Now we have a clear goal again — something tangible to pursue — and that will change the mindset completely,” he added.
Although Romaine Mundle and Aji Alese are unlikely to feature until the second leg, Le Bris has noted a sharp increase in training quality and intensity in recent weeks, which reinforces his belief that the team is ready.
“I believe the players are prepared,” he said. “Training over the last three weeks has shown a real shift in focus. While that didn’t immediately show in our matches against Oxford and QPR, the commitment and intensity in training have been excellent.”
He also noted that players have become more engaged, even argumentative at times — a sign, he says, of their dedication and investment in the team’s tactical plan.
“With several injured players returning, the overall level in training has gone up. No disrespect to the Under-21s — they’ve been important — but the standard naturally changes when more senior players are back. These players are motivated by high-stakes games, and I’m confident they’ll be ready for Friday night.”
