Enzo Maresca looked ahead at the challenges that he expects from Sunderland on the weekend.
The team beat **Wolves**2-0 last week and they sit on 14 points, the same tally as Chelsea. They have managed the process of turning over the squad in the summer with a mix of ambitious, experienced and youthful signings, standing out among the three teams promoted from the Championship.
Regis Le Bris is the man who has overseen his evolution, having guided the group to the top tier with a last minute 2-1 triumph over Sheffield United in the playoff final of the Championship. He has the respect of Maresca, who himself led a relegated Premier League outfit to the topflight in 2024.
“They show since the season starts that they are a good team, they play together, they work together, play as a team. They have the same points as us. They showed how good they are doing since they started and the game, it's a Premier League game, I don't think there is any game that can be easy.
*“I spent one season with Leicester in the Championship and I love the Championship, so even if we play Premier League or Champions League, I always try to watch the Championship, so I watched Sunderland since last season when the new manager arrived.*
“They are doing very good not just from this season but from last season. They play good football, they are quite strong, physically strong, so I really like the way they are doing things.
“The challenge is always the same. We go out to try to win the game, knowing that there is another team that also they want the same, they want to win the game and they want to try to create a nice situation, a different situation for us.”