Sunderland Boss Le Bris Commends Players Following Unforeseen Promotion Success

Sunderland’s manager, Regis Le Bris, remarked that his team’s promotion to the Premier League was “impossible to foresee” following a thrilling 2-1 victory over Sheffield United in the Championship playoff final.

In his inaugural season at the helm, Le Bris rejuvenated a squad that had previously finished 16th, leading them back to the top tier after an absence of eight years.

The Black Cats secured their promotion in extraordinary fashion, with Tommy Watson netting a dramatic winner in the fifth minute of stoppage time—his last appearance for the club before transferring to Brighton in the off-season.

Initially, Sunderland found themselves trailing after Tyrese Campbell’s first-half goal at Wembley on Saturday.

However, Eliezer Mayenda found the equaliser with just 14 minutes remaining, setting the stage for Watson’s crucial late strike.

This remarkable finale marked a significant milestone in what is often dubbed the richest match in world football, as Sunderland’s promotion is projected to generate an additional £200 million in revenue.

“It was impossible to foresee. Last season, Sunderland were quite inconsistent, so my role was to instil a method that would foster this consistency,” Le Bris explained.

A contentious VAR decision had denied Sheffield United a goal that would have potentially seen them double their lead before the half-time break.

Harrison Burrows’ strike was disallowed after it was determined that his teammate, Vini Sousa, had interfered with goalkeeper Anthony Patterson’s line of sight.

Sunderland capitalised on this stroke of luck to secure their return to the Premier League for the first time since 2017, ending a disheartening stretch that included four seasons in League One.

“We need talented players and strong connections among them. I believe they truly deserve this,” said Le Bris, who was an unexpected choice for Sunderland last year following his relegation stint with the French club Lorient.

“They collaborated exceptionally well, and this match is a prime example of our season.”

Le Bris expressed confidence in including Watson in his squad and utilising him in the dying moments, regardless of his imminent switch to Brighton.

“It was clear for us, as well as for him, that he remains a Sunderland player for now, and the squad accepted this decision, knowing he has the quality to contribute,” he noted.

On the other hand, Sheffield United had been leading the Championship at the end of March but experienced a late-season slump that allowed Burnley and Leeds to secure automatic promotion.

The Blades have now faced defeat in four Championship finals, having failed to achieve promotion through the playoffs across ten attempts, leaving them with the worst playoff record in English football. Manager Chris Wilder conceded that this latest setback would resonate for months to come.

“This one is going to take quite a while to get over,” he acknowledged. “We’re going to have to endure and process the pain.

“They’re grown-ups and they need to move past this if they want successful careers.”

Wilder also expressed his frustration over the VAR call that went against his team, adding: “I don’t believe the goalkeeper saves it. I don’t think he gets anywhere close to it.”