Match Day Thread Sunderland AFC v Sheffield United – Championship Play-off Final - Saturday 24th May 2025 - KO 15:00

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What Regis Le Bris asked players in first meeting

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https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/s...-bris-asked-players-first-sunderland-meeting/

WHEN Regis Le Bris addressed his Sunderland players for the very first time after taking charge last summer, he asked them a question: "What is the aim this season?"

The answer was emphatic - to win promotion.

At that stage, Le Bris is honest enough to admit he didn't know whether that was possible. After all, he'd just taken charge of a side that had slumped to a 16th place finish in the Championship. But it didn't take the Frenchman long to realise he had the quality at his disposal to give any side in the second tier a game. The challenge, he knew, was consistency....

"We've got through difficult moments. We've suffered together and we've shown we have the ambition and desire. After 48 games, we deserve to be here." Le Bris added: "We are exactly where we wanted to be. In our first meeting in this room, I asked them what is the purpose of the season and they told me they wanted to get promoted. Here we are. We'll have this opportunity."

When asked whether he thought at that stage promotion was possible, Le Bris said: "I'd just received the information. It was tough at that moment to know. You can create this ambition throughout the season. Their faith was really strong. Because they were 16th last season the step could have been a bit high. But when I watched the games from last season it was really obvious this team could play really good football but lacked consistency. For me it was possible to improve consistency through methodology and work in the season."

Sunderland burst out of the blocks and set the pace in the Championship early in the season. So was there a moment when Le Bris realised his side were indeed capable of competing at the top?

"It's tough to say that because the season is so long," he said. "You can be in the top four, five or six for two thirds of the season and then be ejected. I felt often this team was talented and able to be competitive against the strongest teams in the league but that doesn't mean you can be consistent. You can only judge that at the end of the season. To be competitive in one game, against Burnley in the first game for example when we were really good. Middlesbrough and Leeds as well. It was clear this team can be competitive but can we be consistent? You only know that at the end of the season."

And something else he now knows is that his side might be young but they're mentally equipped to deal with the toughest Championship challenges.

He said: "We can talk about talent and tactics but one of the strongest qualities of this group is mindset. The way they are connected and how they can manage different emotions. We deserve this fixture. It's not always a question of age, it's a question of connection. You can be 17 and ready or 30 and have a problem to manage the emotions."

And with that in mind, Le Bris thinks his players will take tomorrow's game and all that surrounds it in their stride.

"We finished last week on Tuesday so we had three days of part training and two days off, then a full week to prepare for the last fixture of the season. They were well balanced this week and we are repeating what we did all season. We'll focus on our game and identity and deliver. It will be another tough game."
 

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Seen a lot of stuff over the last few days on social media and YouTube. A lot of people saying make us proud.
I am already proud and have been all season, I will be dissapointed if we do not win, but my pride will not be dented nor my spirit diminished by 1 result.
For the players and staff I hope they make the most of this chance, for the fans I hope they make the most of this time, and for the club as whole I hope they can see that the vision and processes in place are working.
My belly is fluttering around like a washing machine, and my head is trying to make sense of the occasion. Will our young squad cope, or will they just take it in their stride with the exuberance of youth.
Did our fans blow themselves out against Coventry or is there still some energy in the tank. Will RLB get his tactics right. Will our strikers be on their game. Will VAR make a difference.
I am sure Sheffield fans are full of the same questions?
We have consistently answered critics in big games this season and this is the last hurdle.
I don't need the team to make me proud, that has already been achieved. I want them to play to the best of their ability and leave it all on the Wembly turf.
If they do that then I truly believe we win! No matter the score.
exactly this,

no one gave us a chance, all had us down as being in the bottom 6 not the top

all said RLB wouldnt last and would be sacked by Xmas,

we have excelled this season, at times played the best football we have all seen in many years,

we are on the cusp of something amazing incredible, and that starts tomorrow, at 15:01!
ha'way you red and white wizards
 
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I feared Coventry more.

I think we will win a tight game, and I’m hoping ELF is running the show in the middle of the park.

Really hope Mundle starts, even if he can only do 1 hour. One or Two goals up when he has to go off, then we hang on.

2-1 HAWAY.

Bart

Just bumped into Il Presidentè, from your bowling club, on the Stansted express <laugh>
 

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Can anyone let me know the appropriate action for a very loud sloppy eater on the train. Cheers
 
Pick your phone up, pretend to phone someone and, just loud enough for him to hear, say
“FFS, can you hear this f*clear on the train, I’ve thought someone had put some water down for his dog.”
This is my favourite response. Blokes hammering through a tube of Pringles like he’s never ate before. Lips going 90 mile an hour