Sunderland face Norwich City at the Stadium of Light tomorrow with Regis Le Bris insisting: “We have many strong options and that is better for me.”
The Black Cats have gained some momentum in the last three matches with two wins sandwiching a draw at home to Bristol City. Last weekend’s victory at Swansea City was much-needed and now Le Bris’ team head back to home soil hoping to make it three victories from four.
Le Bris has to decide who to go with at the back now that Luke O’Nien has returned, with Le Bris confirming that while there has been illness at the club the players are fine.
“They seem okay, right now, but it’s unpredictable,” he said. “I have options and it is very important with different areas in the squad to have many strong options.
“We have five games until the January 4 so we will have to manage the full squad and if we have many options, it’s better for me, better for the team, and it’s better for the players because they know that they can’t play at their highest level every time, so we need a squad and we can manage five, six, seven players for positions I think it’s better for us.”
Norwich present another different challenge. Le Bris added: “Norwich are a good team, they press with high intensity, high up the pitch and they are good in that part of the game and with the ball they have many qualities as well.
“So it should be a good challenge again, a tough challenge. We can start with a game-plan and if one team scores the other has to react so it’s still unpredictable but this team have many good qualities.”
Bouncing back from 2-0 down at Swansea has given the team added confidence and Le Bris added: “It was a slow start to the game but for many reasons. We conceded two goals. Sometimes it can happen and it doesn’t mean the team wasn’t involved in the game. Sometimes it can be a decision and the scenario was like that. Maybe we were a bit slow in possession especially.
“But on the bench we knew we were close to our direct opponent and it was possible to win because we have good qualities and we could manage the situation.
“We were 2-0 down, then 2-1 and then probably, even though in the last four or five games we were not very clinical, the confidence was there and we could play our game. I felt confidence, character and resilience was important. Now it’s a question of new experiences with five games in a short period so it will be different.”
There were reports of Le Bris wanting to bring in an extra coach for set-pieces but he said: “We are still aware what we can improve but the main priority is not that one. It’s in the background, it’s still an option, but the priority is to prepare the game, play the game, analyse and prepare for the next one. Then we have a transfer window very close and that’s the main focus right now.”
Asked if he wants to bring in a striker, Le Bris continued: “Probably we have a specific attention about one or two players who can help [strikers] but it’s not an easy task because the group is strong.
“With many young players and many young surprises because some of them were not expected to play at that level and because they have had opportunities to play I think this is the identity of the club. They showed they were able to play at that level.
“Now it is a question of consistency, injuries, opportunities as well. It’s a question of connection. It’s not just one more player, it’s somebody who has to fit with the project and the make-up of the team and it’s not an easy task.”
View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/regis-le-bris-drops-hint-30629250
