Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris has discussed Leeds United’s chances of promotion ahead of the upcoming meeting at the Stadium of Light.
Le Bris was a managerial target of Leeds‘ before the appointment of Daniel Farke and took over in the dugout at Sunderland during the summer.
After the Black Cats’ disappointing 2023/24 campaign, Le Bris actually has Sunderland top of the Championship heading into Friday night’s game.
However, despite their fine start, Jobe Bellingham still sees Leeds as the benchmark for sides looking to win promotion, and it appears Le Bris is the same.
Leeds currently sit fifth in the table but know a win would see them move above Sunderland and into first place, at least temporarily.
Sunderland boss Le Bris on Leeds’ promotion hopes
Even after the exits of Crysencio Summerville, Archie Gray and Georginio Rutter, Leeds were still many people’s favourites for promotion in pre-season.
Leeds’ start will have done little to deter that, though Farke wanted to shutdown that favourites tag in his press conference earlier this week.
Sunderland are yet to even concede a goal in any of their home league matches this season and so will prove arguably the toughest test for Leeds yet.
Leeds will also be without a number of key players including Ethan Ampadu, but speaking in his pre-match press conference, Le Bris still feels Farke‘s side are primed for promotion and is wary of the ‘many’ threats they pose.
He said: “We know that this is a strong team, sized for promotion I think. They have many strengths in possession, out of possession, counter-attacks, well managed.”
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Le Bris makes comment on Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier
Prior to landing the job at Sunderland, Le Bris spent 12 years working in various roles at Lorient.
After starting off as a coach in their youth setup in 2012, Le Bris then progressed up to the B team and eventually senior side in 2022.
As such, Le Bris knows Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier from his time at the French club, hailing him as a ‘very good’ player in his presser.
He said: “Very good goalkeeper, I know him. It will be a good challenge for us, another good challenge for us, because we need to respect every team, whether at the bottom or at the top.
“Every game is difficult to win and that game will be different. We will need to manage it with intelligence because we don’t want to be naïve, but want to play with our identity.”
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