Reflections on Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal
Dan Ballard produced one of his best displays for the club as they drew 2-2 with Arsenal
Régis Le Bris is hopeful that Sunderland's tailored regime for Dan Ballard can help him maintain his superb start to the Premier League campaign.
Ballard has been in sensational form since being recalled to the starting XI for the play-off semi finals, which came at the end of an injury-hit campaign for the defender. Though he did suffer a minor groin injury at Burnley earlier this season, he has continued his exceptional run of performances into Sunderland's Premier League campaign.
The 26-year-old produced arguably his best performance yet on Saturday given the calibre of opposition in Arsenal, scoring, assisting and making a brilliant late block from Mikel Merino to ensure Sunderland earned a valuable point.
Le Bris hopes it is a sign that his injury issues are now behind him.
"Last season he had an injury early in the season, so he struggled to find the good rhythm," Le Bris said.
"And if you miss the pre-season, I think physically it's still difficult to find the good connection with your own performance, the squad and so on. He showed at the end of the season that he was a really good defender. So it was mainly a question of form and consistency. And I think now he tries in his way, but with the coaching staff, with all the staff we have around the player, we try to find the right balance because it's a specific profile.
"You can't train Ballard like you train a midfielder or someone like that. I hope it will be the case for the following stages of the season. And at the minute, I think he's in good shape so we want to continue like this."
Le Bris believes that the standard of the Premier League is helping many of his players, including Ballard, to make further strides in their games.
He said: "If you experience the Premier League like we are doing now, I think you can learn every time. So it's the case. Our team-mates are probably better this season.
"Our opponents are better this season. And if you are still consistent, you are playing many games, I think you learn every day. He's tall, he's big, he's aggressive. And he has good quality. I think he's talented as a defender. I hope he'll continue to grow like that."
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What surprised RLB about his Sunderland defenders when he joined the club
Reflecting on that late block from Ballard, Le Bris praised both the commitment and skill of his defenders in protecting their box.
"I was surprised when I started here about their attitudes to defend the goal," he said.
"And here in Sunderland, we have many players who will give their life to keep a clean sheet or to stop a shot. And it's a question of mentality, it's a question of technique as well. And, for example, Trai [Hume], Ballard, Luke [O'Nien], are really good for that."
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