adminLe Bris Speaks Ahead of Sunderland’s Premier League Return
Regis Le Bris addressed the media ahead of Sunderland’s highly anticipated return to the Premier League—marking their first top-flight match in eight years. The Black Cats will open their season at the Stadium of Light, welcoming Graham Potter’s West Ham United.
“It Feels Natural” – Le Bris Backs New Captain
Granit Xhaka, one of Sunderland’s marquee summer signings, has been named club captain. The experienced midfielder, 30, brings seven seasons of Premier League experience at a high level—qualities that made him an obvious candidate for the armband.
“It’s really natural because of Granit’s level, his experience, leadership and understanding of the game,” said Le Bris. “You can tell within 10 minutes on the pitch—he’s the one to lead.”
Le Bris also sees this as a development opportunity for last season’s captain, Dan Neil.
“For Dan, it’s a chance to grow. He’s still only 23 and has the potential to become a Premier League-caliber player. For us as a club, as a squad, and for me as a coach, this new experience is about growth—and that applies to Dan as well.”
“Every Season Has Its Own Story”
In recent years, newly promoted teams have struggled to stay in the Premier League, with all six promoted sides in the last two seasons failing to avoid relegation. Le Bris is determined to change that trend.
“Last season we broke the pattern with five defeats in a row. But every season is a new story. We can’t be limited by what’s happened before. It’s a new challenge, and we believe we can compete for every single point—for ourselves and our fans.”
He emphasized that his team thrives on proving doubters wrong, much like they did in the Championship last year.
“This is our mindset. We don’t know what the future holds, but we get to choose how we work, how we play, how we respond to challenges, and how we build our unity. That’s in our hands.”
“A Lot of Work to Do” After Promotion
Following a dramatic end to the 2024/25 season—culminating in a play-off final victory over Sheffield United—Sunderland earned promotion back to the Premier League, setting off a busy summer of preparation and transfers.
“It’s been a busy period, no doubt,” said Le Bris. “But it’s also been very interesting. The workflow’s been really positive, and you can feel that energy throughout the club. There’s been a lot to do, and big changes across the board to get us ready for this level.”
Despite the challenges, Le Bris praised the collective effort behind the scenes.
“The challenge is huge, but the energy has been fantastic. The way we’ve worked together to solve problems and spot new opportunities—overall, it’s been a very positive experience.”
So far, Sunderland have brought in 11 new players this summer, giving fans plenty of new names to watch against West Ham. But the recruitment might not be over yet.
“We’ll see,” Le Bris said. “There are still one, two, maybe three positions we could look to strengthen. But it all depends on the market and the players available. We’ve got two weeks left, so we’ll see what happens.”
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