Regis Le Bris reveals Granit Xhaka dressing room speech after Sunderland red card
Sunderland defied the odds to secure a home point against Aston Villa at the Stadium of Light.
The two sides were evenly matched in the first half before Reinildo was given his marching orders for kicking Matty Cash.
While that incident could have defined the match, it instead rallied the Black Cats, who were irresistible after half-time.
Cash then gave the Villans the lead before Wilson Isidor finished calmly under the helpless Emi Martinez.
After the game, Regis Le Bris opened up about Granit Xhaka’s influence in the dressing room and why he delivered a speech.
Granit Xhaka addresses Reinildo’s red card in dressing room
Xhaka had a fiery reputation while he played for Arsenal, with his disciplinary record coming under scrutiny.
However, the Switzerland international has calmed himself and has not been sent off since the 2021/22 season.
- Arsenal supporters booed Xhaka for a sending off at the Emirates Stadium
- His last red card was against Man City
- He has received two yellow cards this season
It is because of these experiences that he was chosen to be Sunderland’s captain, as he can provide meaningful advice to his teammates.
Indeed, it seems he has been doing just that after what Le Bris said after the game on 21 September.
“It’s still difficult, but we respect the decision,” the Frenchman said via the Northern Echo when asked about Reinildo’s red card.
“Granit spoke in the dressing room about the red card. He experienced this feeling before in his career, so it can happen. The main point was the score and the ability to win a point today.”
Granit Xhaka’s influence for Sunderland goes beyond the pitch
Sunderland are set to be without Reinildo for at least three matches after he was sent off for violent conduct.
However, rather than being lamented by his manager and teammates, he has been offered support, which is the correct approach.
Yes, Reinildo made a mistake, and it could have proved costly, but now he has the perfect chance to learn from his ways.
Indeed, there will be times when Le Bris’ young squad needs guidance, and this was a prime example of that.
Furthermore, there will be occasions when the Black Cats feel overawed, and there will be further setbacks throughout the season.
However, with Xhaka on hand to rally his team, the Wearsiders have what it takes to battle through the tough times.
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