Latest news with #LeBris
ITV News
25-05-2025
- Sport
- ITV News
Régis Le Bris: Sunderland's Premier League return ‘impossible to predict'
Régis Le Bris admitted it was 'impossible to predict' Sunderland's promotion to the Premier League when he took over last summer after they beat Sheffield United 2-1 in the Championship play-off final at Wembley. A stoppage-time winner from 19-year-old substitute Tommy Watson put the gloss on a remarkable campaign as they earned a return to the top flight after eight years away. Sunderland's play-off campaign included winning goals in the 89th, 122nd and 95th minute capping off a dramatic change of fortunes for a side who finished 16th last season. 'It was impossible to predict,' Le Bris said. 'They played fantastic football sometimes (last season). Against Southampton they won 5-0, so it was clear that it was possible to play very good football and to be efficient and very dominant. 'But at the same time, they were so inconstant, so my job was to give the methodology to bring this consistency.' It had looked unlikely for much of the play-off final during which the Blades had had the better of Le Bris' side, taking the lead midway through the first half through Tyrese Campbell's clipped finish. VAR denied Chris Wilder's team a second first half goal that would have put them two ahead and cruising back to the Premier League. Harrison Burrows' strike was ruled out with his team-mate Vinicius Sousa judged to have interfered with the view of goalkeeper Anthony Patterson. It gave Sunderland a lifeline that they duly clung on to haul themselves out of the Championship. First Eliezer Mayenda rifled the ball into the roof of the goal to level with 14 minutes to play, before Watson wrote himself into Wearside folklore with his final touch of the ball for the club before departing for Brighton. 'We need talented players, we need strong connections between them," Le Bris added. "I think they deserve this. 'They worked so well together. This game is a good example of the season.'
New Straits Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Le Bris hails Sunderland's 'impossible' promotion to Premier League
London: Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris claimed his side's promotion to the Premier League was "impossible to predict" as they clinched a dramatic 2-1 win against Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final. In his first season in charge, Le Bris revitalised a team that finished 16th last term and led them back to the top-flight after an eight-year absence. Sunderland's promotion was sealed in the most remarkable fashion as Tommy Watson struck in the fifth minute of stoppage-time in the 19-year-old's final appearance before joining Brighton in the close-season. The Black Cats had trailed to Tyrese Campbell's first-half goal at Wembley on Saturday. But Eliezer Mayenda equalised with 14 minutes left before Watson bagged the priceless winner. It was an astonishing twist to the single richest match in world football as Sunderland hit the jackpot with a promotion worth an estimated £200 million (US$270 million) in increased revenue. "It was impossible to predict. Last season Sunderland were so inconstant, so my job was to give the methodology to bring this consistency," Le Bris said. A contentious VAR call denied United a goal that would have put them two up before half-time. Harrison Burrows' strike was ruled out after his team-mate Vini Sousa was judged to have interfered with the view of goalkeeper Anthony Patterson. Sunderland made the most of that escape to book their return to the Premier League for the first time since 2017, ending a bleak period that included four years in League One. "We need talented players, we need strong connections between them. I think they deserve this," said Le Bris, who was a surprise appointment by Sunderland last year after being relegated with French club Lorient. "They worked so well together. This game is a good example of the season." Le Bris added that he had no doubt about including Watson in his squad and throwing him on in the closing stages despite his impending move to Brighton. "It was clear in our mind and in his mind that he is still a Sunderland player and the squad accepted this decision as well, knowing that he's a good player and he can help," he said. United led the Championship at the end of March before suffering a late collapse that allowed Burnley and Leeds to clinch automatic promotion. The Blades have now lost four Championship finals in their history, failing to win promotion from the second and third tier play-offs in 10 attempts. It is the worst play-off record in English football and boss Chris Wilder admitted their latest failure would sting for months. "It's going to take quite a while to get over this one," he said. "We're going to have to suffer and go through the pain. "They're big boys and they've got to get over it if they're going to have decent careers." Wilder was frustrated by the VAR decision that went against his side in the first half, adding: "I don't think the goalkeeper saves it. I don't think he gets anywhere near it."
North Wales Chronicle
24-05-2025
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Sunderland's return to Premier League ‘impossible to predict'
A stoppage-time winner from 19-year-old substitute Tommy Watson capped a remarkable campaign – in which the French coach has marshalled a side that finished 16th in last season's second tier – as they earned a top-flight return after eight years away. 'It was impossible to predict,' said Le Bris. 'They played fantastic football sometimes (last season). Against Southampton they won 5-0, so it was clear that it was possible to play very good football and to be efficient and very dominant. 'But at the same time, they were so inconstant, so my job was to give the methodology to bring this consistency.' It had looked unlikely for much of a play-off final during which the Blades had had the better of Le Bris' side, taking the lead midway through the first half through Tyrese Campbell's wonderful clipped finish. A contentious VAR call denied Chris Wilder's team the goal that would have put them two ahead and cruising back to the Premier League, from which they were relegated in last place a year ago. You deserve this, Gaffer 🥺 — Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) May 24, 2025 Harrison Burrows' strike was ruled out with his team-mate Vinicius Sousa judged to have interfered with the view of goalkeeper Anthony Patterson. It gave Sunderland a lifeline that they duly clung on to haul themselves out of the Championship, first Eliezer Mayenda rifled the ball unto the roof of the goal to level with 14 minutes to play, before Watson wrote himself into Wearside folklore with his final action for the club before departing for Brighton. Le Bris added: 'We need talented players, we need strong connections between them. I think they deserve this. 'They worked so well together. This game is a good example of the season.' Tommy Watson capped a remarkable campaign with Sunderland's late winner (Nick Potts/PA) Le Bris added that he had no doubt in including Durham-born Watson in his squad and throwing him on with 17 minutes to play at Wembley, despite him having agreed a move to the Amex last month. 'It was clear in our mind and in his mind that he is still a Sunderland player and the squad accepted this decision as well, knowing that he's a good player and he can help,' he said. Blades boss Chris Wilder, whose side led the Championship at the end of March before suffering a late collapse, reflected on a difficult summer ahead for his players. What a way to sign off… 19-year-old Tom Watson earned Sunderland promotion to the Premier League with a 95th minute winner in his final match for the club 🤯 — Premier League (@premierleague) May 24, 2025 'It's going to take quite a while to get over this one,' he said. 'We're going to have to suffer and go through the pain. 'They're big boys and they've got to get over it if they're going to have decent careers.' Of the controversially-disallowed goal in the first half – where Burrows was judged to have unsighted the goalkeeper – Wilder said: 'I don't think the goalkeeper saves it. I don't think he gets anywhere near it.'
eNCA
24-05-2025
- Sport
- eNCA
Le Bris hails Sunderland's 'impossible' promotion to Premier League
LONDON - Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris claimed his side's promotion to the Premier League was "impossible to predict" as they clinched a dramatic 2-1 win against Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final. In his first season in charge, Le Bris revitalised a team that finished 16th last term and led them back to the top-flight after an eight-year absence. Sunderland's promotion was sealed in the most remarkable fashion as Tommy Watson struck in the fifth minute of stoppage time in the 19-year-old's final appearance before joining Brighton in the close season. The Black Cats had trailed to Tyrese Campbell's first-half goal at Wembley on Saturday. But Eliezer Mayenda equalised with 14 minutes left before Watson bagged the priceless winner. It was an astonishing twist to the single richest match in world football as Sunderland hit the jackpot with a promotion worth an estimated £200 million ($270 million) in increased revenue. "It was impossible to predict. Last season, Sunderland were so inconsistent, so my job was to give the methodology to bring this consistency," Le Bris said. A contentious VAR call denied United a goal that would have put them two up before half-time. Harrison Burrows' strike was ruled out after his team-mate Vini Sousa was judged to have interfered with the view of goalkeeper Anthony Patterson. Sunderland made the most of that escape to book their return to the Premier League for the first time since 2017, ending a bleak period that included four years in League One. "We need talented players, we need strong connections between them. I think they deserve this," said Le Bris, who was a surprise appointment by Sunderland last year after being relegated with French club Lorient. "They worked so well together. This game is a good example of the season." Le Bris added that he had no doubt about including Watson in his squad and throwing him on in the closing stages despite his impending move to Brighton. "It was clear in our mind and in his mind that he is still a Sunderland player and the squad accepted this decision as well, knowing that he's a good player and he can help," he said. United led the Championship at the end of March before suffering a late collapse that allowed Burnley and Leeds to clinch automatic promotion. The Blades have now lost four Championship finals in their history, failing to win promotion from the second and third-tier play-offs in 10 attempts. It is the worst play-off record in English football and boss Chris Wilder admitted their latest failure would sting for months. "It's going to take quite a while to get over this one," he said. "We're going to have to suffer and go through the pain. "They're big boys and they've got to get over it if they're going to have decent careers." Wilder was frustrated by the VAR decision that went against his side in the first half, adding: "I don't think the goalkeeper saves it. I don't think he gets anywhere near it." smg/ea
Powys County Times
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Sunderland's return to Premier League ‘impossible to predict'
Head coach Regis Le Bris admitted it was 'impossible to predict' Sunderland's promotion to the Premier League when he took over last summer after they beat Sheffield United 2-1 in the Championship play-off final at Wembley. A stoppage-time winner from 19-year-old substitute Tommy Watson capped a remarkable campaign – in which the French coach has marshalled a side that finished 16th in last season's second tier – as they earned a top-flight return after eight years away. 'It was impossible to predict,' said Le Bris. 'They played fantastic football sometimes (last season). Against Southampton they won 5-0, so it was clear that it was possible to play very good football and to be efficient and very dominant. 'But at the same time, they were so inconstant, so my job was to give the methodology to bring this consistency.' It had looked unlikely for much of a play-off final during which the Blades had had the better of Le Bris' side, taking the lead midway through the first half through Tyrese Campbell's wonderful clipped finish. A contentious VAR call denied Chris Wilder's team the goal that would have put them two ahead and cruising back to the Premier League, from which they were relegated in last place a year ago. You deserve this, Gaffer 🥺 — Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) May 24, 2025 Harrison Burrows' strike was ruled out with his team-mate Vinicius Sousa judged to have interfered with the view of goalkeeper Anthony Patterson. It gave Sunderland a lifeline that they duly clung on to haul themselves out of the Championship, first Eliezer Mayenda rifled the ball unto the roof of the goal to level with 14 minutes to play, before Watson wrote himself into Wearside folklore with his final action for the club before departing for Brighton. Le Bris added: 'We need talented players, we need strong connections between them. I think they deserve this. 'They worked so well together. This game is a good example of the season.' Le Bris added that he had no doubt in including Durham-born Watson in his squad and throwing him on with 17 minutes to play at Wembley, despite him having agreed a move to the Amex last month. 'It was clear in our mind and in his mind that he is still a Sunderland player and the squad accepted this decision as well, knowing that he's a good player and he can help,' he said. Blades boss Chris Wilder, whose side led the Championship at the end of March before suffering a late collapse, reflected on a difficult summer ahead for his players. What a way to sign off… 19-year-old Tom Watson earned Sunderland promotion to the Premier League with a 95th minute winner in his final match for the club 🤯 — Premier League (@premierleague) May 24, 2025 'It's going to take quite a while to get over this one,' he said. 'We're going to have to suffer and go through the pain. 'They're big boys and they've got to get over it if they're going to have decent careers.' Of the controversially-disallowed goal in the first half – where Burrows was judged to have unsighted the goalkeeper – Wilder said: 'I don't think the goalkeeper saves it. I don't think he gets anywhere near it.'
