Sunderland have made a brilliant start to the Premier League season, surpassing the expectations of many who doubted their survival despite an impressive summer transfer window.
They are currently in the Champions League zone, and their recent run of wins has put them in a very good position to stay in the top flight.
Against Chelsea, they showed determination and character, causing a huge surprise at Stamford Bridge thanks to a late goal from the approaching summer, Chemsdine Talbi.
One of the key players in this success has been captain Granit Xhaka, for whom manager Regis Le Brice did not spare good words in his press conference.
“He leads by example and gives confidence and hope. When we play away, like against Chelsea, he believes we can win and he shows it. He says it – in the dressing room and everywhere else. So you will believe it, you will follow it,” he said.
Le Brice also said that as a coach he does not want to be the central figure, considering Xhaka as the perfect acquisition to take responsibility and lead the team in different situations.
“As a coach, I do not want to be the main man. That is not my goal. I want to give knowledge, power and responsibility to the players. We have footballers on the pitch who know how to manage small situations. We are improving, we are becoming more proactive, more flexible and more adaptable to solve problems and take advantage of opportunities that arise,” he added.
Sunderland’s next challenge is on Monday night against Everton, before Arsenal travel to the “Stadium of Light” before the next international break.
The team has already exceeded perhaps even its own expectations, but Le Brice insists that the season is still long and that it is time for new objectives, without losing consistency.
“Consistency is probably the key word. You can be competitive for a short period, but for the whole championship it’s something else. This will be our next challenge,” he concluded.
