Regis Le Bris has shown confidence in Sunderland’s ability to secure a favourable result when they face Manchester United in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Black Cats welcome the in-form Red Devils to the Stadium of Light in a match-day 35 fixture, hoping to bounce back from their recent slump.
Manchester United won 2-0 earlier in the season when both sides met, but Le Bris believes his side have learnt from that game and are well prepared for this particular encounter.
“The first 30 minutes, they were really dominant and they exposed us. It was a strong experience and it was useful for the games afterwards”, Le Bris said.
“It means when you are not ready in a small part of the game, the opponent can damage you. They have strong players with the ability to score at any moment.
“We have to show the best version of Sunderland this weekend.”
Manchester United have enjoyed a resurgent run under Michael Carrick and have also sealed a return to the UEFA Champions League after a two-year absence.
Meanwhile, Sunderland have suffered a dip in form and are winless in their last three matches, including a dismal 5-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in their last home league game.
Sunderland will be without Daniel Ballard for this encounter, after the defender was sent off for a hair pull on Wolves’ Tolu Arokodare in last weekend’s 1-1 draw.
“At the minute, it’s really important to stay humble because I don’t know if we started to dream after a good period, but as soon as you drop your level just by 10 per cent, the league is so demanding that you can’t stay alive in the game”, Le Bris added.
“The players like a challenge, to be just on the edge, to show how good they can be. But it’s also a question of togetherness, the connection between players and managing key moments”, he concluded.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
