We were not at our best” – Le Bris disappointed with Sunderland’s loss to Huddersfield

We were not at our best” – Le Bris disappointed with Sunderland’s loss to Huddersfield

Regis Le Bris Reflects on Sunderland’s EFL Cup Exit Against Huddersfield

Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris shared his thoughts with the media following his side’s 2-1 defeat to Huddersfield Town in the second round of the EFL Cup.

Despite a late equaliser from Marc Guiu, Sunderland were ultimately eliminated after a missed penalty by Milan Aleksic sealed their fate.

Huddersfield, managed by Lee Grant, took an early lead in the 7th minute through Leo Castledine, a loanee from Chelsea.

Although Sunderland managed to draw level in the 84th minute thanks to Guiu—also on loan from Chelsea and scoring his first goal of the season—it wasn’t enough to progress.

Le Bris: “Disappointed, but Valuable Lessons Learned”

Speaking after the match, Le Bris expressed his disappointment at the result but pointed to several positives, especially in terms of player development and tactical experimentation.

> “A bit disappointed because we always want to win. The main goal of the night was victory, and we didn’t achieve that. But that’s not the only takeaway. The first half was difficult, but it gave us the chance to test different options,” Le Bris said.

With many changes to the lineup, including several new and young players getting minutes, the match served as a valuable learning experience.

> “We had to see how players would perform under real match conditions. If one setup didn’t work, we tried another. The second half was much better. That gives us something to build on heading into Saturday,” he added.

Tactical Shift Brings Second-Half Improvement

Sunderland were notably stronger after the break, with a tactical switch to a 4-3-3 formation playing a key role. In the first half, the team struggled to create any clear chances. In contrast, the second half saw them register 15 shots, four on target, and three big chances.

> “The formation change likely played a big part,” Le Bris explained. “We used two forwards in the first half, but it was tough due to Huddersfield’s shape and low block.

In the second half, switching to a 4-3-3 with Wilson on the left, Marc central, and Pat on the right gave us more attacking balance.”

Team Rotation and Player Development

The team that lined up against Huddersfield was entirely different from the side that lost to Burnley at the weekend, with Le Bris making wholesale changes across the pitch. Several players, including Marc Guiu, were handed their first starts.

Despite the lack of cohesion early on, Le Bris remained optimistic about the energy and effort shown.

> “The energy was positive. Even if things didn’t go smoothly, the players were trying. You can’t expect instant results with a completely new lineup,” he said.
“Huddersfield showed more desire and intensity, and they scored a fantastic goal.

It was a good environment for our squad to develop. Just because the outcome was negative doesn’t mean these players won’t be considered for the next match.”