Sunderland Coach: 'Small Details in the Premier League Provide Valuable Lessons'

Coach Regis Le Bris believes that the small details in the Premier League have offered important lessons for Sunderland following their draw with Leeds, as the team continues to develop their style of play.

Coach Regis Le Bris states that the small details in the Premier League are valuable lessons for Sunderland after their 1-1 draw against Leeds Unitedin the 18th round of the 2025/26 season.

Speaking to SkySports, the French tactician admitted it was an extremely tough match, just as he had anticipated. According to Le Bris, Leeds demonstrated they are still in great form and have many quality players capable of making a difference in a single moment.

“We started well, scored a goal, and even had chances to extend the lead before halftime. I think that was a crucial moment in the game,” the Sunderland coach analyzed. He emphasized that failing to capitalize on the second scoring opportunity cost the team, especially as Leeds changed their tactical setup after the break.

Le Bris acknowledged Sunderland struggled with ball progression and high pressing when the opponent adjusted their play style: “When Leeds altered their approach, we had difficulty finding our build-up points and maintaining pressing. At that time, they controlled the game better,” he said. Nevertheless, the 48-year-old coach praised his players’ spirit as Sunderland regained energy and created several dangerous chances towards the end of the match.

In particular, Le Bris highlighted the importance of “fine margins” — the very small but decisive details in the Premier League: “This is normal in the Premier League. It’s a valuable lesson for us. Sunderland is undergoing changes with many new faces, and this match showed that the team can still play good football, even if it’s not perfect yet because this is a learning journey,” he affirmed.

The Sunderland manager also expressed satisfaction with Simon Adingra, who scored the opening goal. According to Le Bris, this goal carried great morale significance, proving that any player can overcome difficult periods with continuous effort and team support.

Notably, the goal against Leeds marked Adingra’s second consecutive goal in the final match of the calendar year in the Premier League, after achieving the same feat with Brighton in 2024. This further strengthened Le Bris’s belief that Sunderland is on the right path, despite the challenges ahead.