Regis Le Bris Discusses Team Strategy and Ambitions Ahead of Stoke City Match

Sunderland will host Stoke City in a Championship match on Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 12:30 GMT. During his pre-match news conference, Black Cats manager Regis Le Bris provided several key updates, including the availability of defender Dennis Cirkin, who returns after being sidelined for the past three matches due to a wrist injury. Regarding Chris Mepham’s suspension, Le Bris stated: “The back four is a big strength for us because we have many options, even with suspensions or injuries. It’s the rules, and we have to deal with the rules.” Addressing the team’s ability to convert opportunities, he remarked: “It’s the only focus we should have at the minute – how we can create more chances and how we can convert the chances we have to score. I think we have the potential, and I think we have the players in the team to do it.” Le Bris expressed his belief that the solution lies within the current squad rather than through the transfer window, commenting: “We talked a lot about a striker at the beginning of the season. We said if we don’t have a striker, we can’t score, but so far we’ve scored 26, so it’s possible to score with other players.” He also mentioned that the previous week was “emotionally intense” and emphasized the importance of recovery. Regarding the team’s objective to return to the top of the table, Le Bris stated: “This league is not finished. It’s very long, so you can struggle for a short period, which was the case, I think. But the foundations are good, so we have to believe in it.” Discussing their opponent, Stoke, he remarked: “We face them three times in one month, so by the end, we will be best friends, I think – we will see with the results. Tough game; a good team with good players.” Addressing the fans and their influence, he said: “They deserve to have positive emotions, and we need them to give back. Sometimes it’s like a circle; it can be vicious, or it can be the opposite. So we can create a new positive dynamic with just one good result.”