But the same couldn't be said of Le Bris' knowledge of the English game.
Long before Le Bris got his big break in England, he was doing his homework on the country and the culture.
And that included an internship with today's opponents Chelsea.
It was around 15 years ago that Le Bris spent time with the Blues, going to games at Stamford Bridge and spending time at the club's training ground and academy.
The opportunity came about thanks to Le Bris' relationship with former Chelsea goalkeeper coach Christophe Lollichon.
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"I was maybe 35, 36, something like that," Sunderland's head coach recalls ahead of his return to Stamford Bridge today with the [Black Cats](http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/sunderland?ref=au).
"I wasn't there too long. I connected with Lollichon so I visited the academy, I spoke briefly with Petr Cech which was very interesting. I knew him a bit from when he played at Rennes before, and it was a connection with Christophe because he was the goalkeeping coach with Petr.
"I observed two or three games. It was interesting. Good club, good methodology, good experience.
"I went two or three times to Stamford Bridge. Good stadium, good atmosphere, many good games. I was on an internship to find out new ideas, to connect with different clubs.
"It was a personal internship with different visits. I went to Everton, Liverpool, Leeds. Arsenal, Nottingham Forest. Crystal Palace. Many clubs."
Does Le Bris think, then, that the homework carried out early in his coaching career paved the way for him to be such a success at Sunderland in his first job in England?
He says: "Maybe. It's difficult to say but when you know the environment probably it's easier to connect with the club and culture."
And Le Bris' previous short stint with Chelsea isn't the only link between the clubs who meet at 3pm today.
Bertrand Traore played just 10 Premier League games for the Blues but the circumstances surrounding his signing in 2013 led to Chelsea later being slapped with a transfer ban.
Traore returns today hoping to be named in the Sunderland starting XI for the third successive game.
"A new challenge for a footballer is exciting," said Le Bris of the winger.
"He's one of these players with a good experience, lived different moments in his professional life, and he will be really important for us.
"We have this good balance with different experiences between young and older players. And everyone has his own challenge within our story. But for Traore it will be interesting."
Sunderland are yet to see the best of Traore but Le Bris thinks the 30-year-old will play a key role this season.
He said: "He's a good winger. Left-footed. We don't have many players with this ability.
"He's still in this adapting period when you need to find your preferences, your confidence, but he's strong and I believe he will be important for us."
Today's game looks like being Sunderland's most difficult of the season so far, and Le Bris wants his players to learn from the experience of their defeat at Manchester United last time on their travels.
He said: "The main issue was our mid-block, defensive mid-block.
"It wasn't because of one player, it was a connective work flow. You have to learn as a manager, a team, a player from different experiences. This one was negative.
"It was a good lesson for now because we learnt from it and I hope against Chelsea it will help us."