Regis Le Bris ready for Sunderland judgement after play-off campaign

REGIS LE BRIS could not have asked for a better start to his Sunderland career, but the Black Cats boss accepts the success or failure of his first season in English football will ultimately be determined by the fate of the club’s play-off campaign.

Sunderland has had so many successes this season – the best start to a league season in 99 years, the most Championship points since the 2006-07 season, and confirmation of a play-off spot with a month left – that it’s easy to forget that Le Bris has been in charge for less than a year.
It is also easy to forget the enormity of the wreckage Le Bris inherited when he came over last summer, with the Black Cats regressing significantly under both Michael Beale and Mike Dodds last season, as well as the current squad’s average age, which is the youngest in the second tier.

Despite his accomplishments, Le Bris acknowledges that, to some, the season would still be viewed as a failure if Sunderland fails to gain promotion via the play-offs, which begin tomorrow night with the semi-final first leg at Coventry City. Harsh? Undoubtedly. However, football management is a reality.

“That is the job,” said Le Bris, who had only managed Lorient for two seasons before taking over the Stadium of Light. “It doesn’t change anything – I know the rules of the job, and I have to face the challenge as a manager.” After that, you can do an emotional assessment, examine the season, and make a decision.

“I just want to improve and develop the squad, help the club flourish, and develop myself as a manager. At the end of the season, I will be a better coach than when I first started here.”

While Le Bris has a background in youth development and academy coaching, his opponent on the touchline at CBS Arena tomorrow night could have taken a different path into management.

Frank Lampard was a world-class attacking midfielder who previously managed Chelsea and Everton in the Premier League. However, when his Sunderland side faces Coventry tomorrow, Le Bris will be on par with him.

“We have two different situations, two different teams, and two different squads,” explained the Black Cats manager. “Sunderland’s identity is not the same as Coventry’s, and we have our own style of play, squad, young and experienced players. They are not the same, thus we cannot compare.

“At the end of the Championship, we finished fourth and they finished fifth, so it was a very different situation. Now, these two games will be brief. Now, it’s all about confidence, passion, and effective game management. “It’s just football.”