Xhaka the real deal, Le Bris has serious dilemma – Lessons learned from Real Betis loss
Sunderland fell to a 1-0 defeat against Real Betis at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
The Black Cats’ summer business has been overwhelmingly positive, though the results in pre-season certainly haven’t been.
Sunderland‘s latest defeat to Real Betis was their fourth in a row, and while results at this stage in the year mean nothing, plenty of information will have been drawn from them.
With that in mind, Mackem News looks at the three biggest talking points from the latest defeat.
Sunderland have struck gold with Granit Xhaka
From the second he stepped onto the pitch at the Stadium of Light, Xhaka looked a level above anyone else.
His anticipation was second to none, and he made things look so easy whenever he was in possession of the ball.
The Swiss international linked play very well, and nearly registered an assist on his Sunderland debut had it not been for a tight offside call on Simon Adingra.
Xhaka is a nailed-on starter for the Black Cats in the Premier League, and he looks set to play a crucial role in their fight for survival.
Sunderland need to sign another winger
Bolstering the defence is a priority for Sunderland, though it is clear that the addition of another winger will be crucial in the coming weeks.
Chemsdine Talbi has shown flashes of his quality since arriving on Wearside, but has yet to have a real influence when it comes to producing in the final third.
His assist in the defeat to Hull was tidy, but as showcased from his other performances, he will need time and patience to get to his best.
With Romaine Mundle sidelined and a lack of options after that, it is essential that Sunderland address that before the season gets underway.
Regis Le Bris has a serious midfield dilemma
It seemed almost nailed on that a midfield of Xhaka, Enzo Le Fee and Habib Diarra would be the go-to for the Black Cats, though it is not so apparent now.
Noah Sadiki has been outstanding in pre-season, and his performance alongside Xhaka was exemplary on Saturday afternoon.
Regis Le Bris will have to drop one for the clash against West Ham in just under two weeks, and as of right now, there is no easy decision to make.
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