Regis Le Bris and two other Sunderland figures earn plaudits after eye-opening Premier League feat
Sunderland have broken records since their return to the Premier League.
Heading into the October international break, Sunderland sit ninth in the Premier League table, having picked up 11 points from their first seven games.
Sunderland’s 2-0 defeat to Man United at the weekend was a poor one, though it will do little to distract from what has been an excellent start to the season.
While the likes of Granit Xhaka and Nordi Mukiele have emerged with plenty of praise, Ian Darke has heaped even more credit on three more important figures at the Stadium of Light.
Regis Le Bris one of three figures hailed for Sunderland success
Regis Le Bris has done a fine job at Sunderland, having masterminded their initial promotion from the Championship last season.
His tactical flexibility has paid off on more than one occasion and certainly contributed to Sunderland’s best Premier League start since 1967.
However, the squad of talent have also been crucial to that success, with Darke praising Florent Ghisolfi and Kristjaan Speakman for the work they have done on Wearside over the last few months.
Speaking exclusively to Mackem News, he said: “Le Bris has to take a great deal of credit, he and the people who did the recruitment in the summer, because they basically rebuilt the team.
“They’re putting in some very strong performances. I don’t think it’s been a freak, and Sunderland are one of the stories of the season in the Premier League.“
Sunderland’s numbers in the Premier League so far
At the end of the season, the only number that really matters is your league position, but for now, Sunderland have a lot to be optimistic about.
Via FotMob, the Black Cats have made the most clearances per match, showcasing just how impressive their defensive lineup has been.
Sunderland have also only conceded 8.8 xG this season, a number which only seven teams can better, including the likes of Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool.
Going forward is where they need to show the most improvement, with 6.4 xG recorded from their first seven games, with only three teams having less.
With that said, defensive solidity is often the key to survival, and as showcased by the numbers, Sunderland have plenty of it.
Enjoyed this article? Stay connected with all the latest Sunderland news, updates, and behind-the-scenes content by following us on our new Instagram account –@mackemnews247