‘Stay calm, stay grounded, don’t get ahead of yourself. At some stage, a sticky spell will come’. It has taken until well into the second half of the season, but his words have eventually proved prophetic.
Sunderland head to Bournemouth for tomorrow’s lunchtime kick-off on their worst run of the season, having won just two of their last 11 league matches. Their performance in last weekend’s home defeat to Fulham was undoubtedly one of their poorest of the campaign, but while Le Bris admits to being disappointed by his side’s downturn, he is not entirely surprised by it.
And when, as he confidently predicts they will, Sunderland emerge from the other side of their dip, they will be a stronger and better-placed team for the experience.
“We are going through a difficult run, which is not comfortable,” said Le Bris. “We don't like it, but it's part of the process. We are in a tough league, a newly-promoted side, a young team with injuries, suspensions, different events. We expected that probably a bit earlier.
“It's not the best period from a result perspective, but for the foundations of the club, for the foundation of the team, we are learning a lot. I think it's often during these tough phases that you are learning more because you need to stick to your plan.
“You need to stick to your identity, to stay united, to stay calm and to work more. I think it's the case, even if the results are not positive.”
Le Bris has remained level-headed throughout this season, and as he spoke at his pre-match press conference yesterday, the Frenchman was keen to point out just how far his team have come in the space of 12 months.
This time last year, they were reeling from a home defeat to Hull City that left them fourth in the Championship table. Few then would have predicted that, just one year on, they would be within two points of the European places in the Premier League standings.
“Sometimes, we forget really quickly who we are, and where we were as well,” said the Sunderland boss. “It's important to mention again our journey, how difficult is this league, how young is this squad.
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“There are so many things that go along together, and you have to remember them. When it's negative, as has been the case for these recent results, it doesn't mean that we are not progressing.
“It doesn't mean that we are not in a good place according to our objectives, but it's tough and it's part of the process, and you have to accept that.”
To make matters even more difficult, Le Bris is having to dealing with a spate of injuries that have decimated his squad ahead of tomorrow’s trip to the Vitality Stadium.
Brian Brobbey is missing in attack, with either Wilson Isidor or Eliezer Mayenda set to take his place. Romaine Mundle and Jocelin Ta Bi are unavailable in the wide positions, with Nordi Mukiele, Reinildo Mandava and Dennis Cirkin all ruled out of the back four.
Mukiele’s absence means Lutsharel Geertruida could well find himself filling in at right-back, but while the Dutchman should be able to replicate some of his French team-mate’s defensive contributions, he is less attacking and cannot reproduce Mukiele’s long throws.
Earlier in the season, Sunderland looked like they could threaten every time they were awarded a set-piece. In the last few games, their threat has been notably reduced, something Le Bris attributes to both failings within his own squad and the increased attention that Sunderland’s opponents are giving to the Black Cats’ set-pieces.
“It’s hard to say what has changed, but we have been working hard on this topic this week,” said Le Bris. “Not only because we faced a problem, but also because we need to evolve as the staff. When you reach a certain level and it's not enough, you have to work harder to reach the next level.
“The first part is probably the opponent. They analyse our set-ups and try to find the best way to threaten us. [Dan] Ballard, for example, is often targeted defensively and offensively, this is really clear.
“Also, our delivery wasn’t really good against Fulham, so it's important to work on that as well. And probably we need to evolve sometimes to make it less unpredictable for the opponent. It’s an evolution.”