00:00Many Sunderland supporters would not have dreamed of such a positive start to their long-awaited return to the Premier League.
00:08They sit in 7th place with 14 points after 8 games following their victory over Wolves at the Stadium of Light,
00:15which saw new defender Norey Mukhealy score the game's opening goal.
00:21Mukhealy's goal came from an effective 1-2 with full-back Trey Hulme, which opened up the Wolves' defence.
00:27And it wasn't the first time that a Sunderland defender had scored an important goal so far this season,
00:32with Omar Alderette netting a header at Nottingham Forest, which turned out to be the winner at the City ground on that occasion.
00:40Sunderland's defensive options are, of course, much changed from what the club had available in the Championship last season,
00:46with several of the summer's signings, including goalkeeper Robin Roofs, being defensive-minded.
00:52Could it be, then, that Sunderland's success so far has come down to the improvements in their back line,
00:59especially given that despite forward options also being brought in,
01:03Regis Le Brice has maintained faith with Wilson Isidore and with Elisa Mayenda, who were at the club last season.
01:11Le Brice revealed that creating a solid defence at Sunderland was indeed a big priority in the summer transfer window.
01:18Yeah, I think it's important to build consistency, especially in this league.
01:25If you are solid and to protect your goal, you don't concede many goals,
01:32I think it's better to build confidence and to be able to be competitive.
01:38Regis, just looking at the defence again, how high are the confidence levels at the moment?
01:43Because, of course, they're putting in some really solid performances, clean sheets and contributing to attacks as well.
01:48Yeah, it's fragile because our last experience at Manchester United was tough.
01:56I think we struggled for 30 minutes and tried to find a solution and change the system.
02:02So it shows that when you are not top, top, the opponent has the ability to punish you.
02:09So it's always like a process.
02:12We know that so far we are good.
02:14We know the pillars we have to involve to be strong.
02:18But at the same time, it's always fragile.
02:20But I think it's an important part to build confidence and to help the team and the players to play good football.
02:29And how do you go about coaching those defenders you've got to join the attacks and contribute to them
02:34and come out with an outcome that we saw against Wolves with Nori Mukherjee and Trey Hulme combining for the goal?
02:41Yeah, it was after a long throw.
02:43So we stayed high and developed a position with different positions, unusual positions at the end of the situation.
02:54So it shows that starting from a long throw, you can attack high with versatility.
03:00And I think Nori and Trey are a good example of that.
03:03They can play both left or right, center back.
03:06So when you are in this position, you are not disturbed and you can develop the action.
03:12Just looking at the forward line now, did you think that going into the season that you had enough firepower with Wilson and Elisa,
03:18who had been with you at the championship last season, because obviously you had Marc, he's gone, you've got Brian as well.
03:22But did you think that those two were always going to be enough for the most part?
03:27We'll see.
03:28At the minute, I'm very confident.
03:30And I repeat, this part of the pitch is the most difficult because you have to create, you have to defend,
03:36and then you have to create the danger.
03:38Sometimes you don't have enough support, so you have to do it alone, against really strong defenders.
03:49So at the minute, I'm really happy with their behavior.
03:53The output has to be improved, but it's the case for everything in our squad.
03:59And the most difficult part in football is to score.
04:03So support and development.
04:06What is clearly helpful for Regis Labrisse and Sunderland is that his defenders are not only putting in solid defensive performances,
04:13but they are also very keen to join the attack and feel confident enough to do so at present.
04:19Against Chelsea this weekend, they will likely be tested more than they were against Wolves,
04:24but they do go into the match at Stamford Bridge as equals with their London opponents in terms of current Premier League points.
04:31Deliveries will hope that lessons will have been learned from the loss away at Old Trafford though,
04:37and that Sunderland's defenders can come out on top at both ends of the pitch on this occasion.
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