Sunderland's Europa League run under scrutiny as Premier League form slumps
Sunderland sit bottom of the Premier League after nine games, with questions raised about how their Europa League campaign and a quieter transfer window have affected domestic form, though the club is understood to be backing manager Regis le Bris for now.
Sunderland's first European campaign in more than half a century was meant to be a celebration, with Dinamo Zagreb visiting the Stadium of Light before a December trip to AC Milan. Instead, the Europa League has become a talking point for the wrong reasons, with the club bottom of the Premier League after one win and six defeats from nine games. Last season's seventh-placed finish, achieved in their first campaign back after promotion, feels distant; a year ago they sat second at the same stage.
BBC Sport understands Le Bris' position is not in immediate danger and he will be given time to turn results around. The Frenchman, in charge since July 2024 and Sunderland's longest-serving manager since Steve Bruce, has credit for winning promotion and securing a European place, and he has also taken the side to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, where they will meet Crystal Palace. The club sits two points from safety.
Captain Granit Xhaka questioned the team's courage after the 3-1 defeat at Coventry, weeks after Nordi Mukiele described the side as arrogant. Former Sunderland loan signing Nedum Onuoha told BBC Sport that supporters who doubted Le Bris last season are unlikely to see him as a long-term manager, while French football expert Julien Laurens said he sees no signs of the manager finding solutions and that Xhaka and Mukiele are well below their previous levels.
The underlying numbers offer context for last season's success being hard to repeat: only Burnley and Wolves had a lower Expected Goals difference than Sunderland, and the current campaign has brought just seven league goals, two of them penalties. Sunderland have finished with 10 men in three defeats and failed to score a first-half goal in seven of nine league games. They invested £60m in five players last summer, compared with £161m on 15 the year before, and Brian Brobbey has yet to score since returning from a hamstring injury.
Europe is a commonly cited factor. Sunderland have started well in the league phase, winning two and drawing one of three, but have lost two and drawn one of their three Premier League games played after European fixtures. Laurens noted the Thursday-Sunday rhythm leaves less training time, particularly for players new to European football. Sunderland host Chelsea on Sunday after facing Dinamo Zagreb, with their fanbase watching closely for signs of a turnaround.
