The Sunderland defender has noticed the vast improvements in the squad compared to last season.
Sunderland have had a perfect start to the 2024/25 Championship season, with Regis Le Bris’ side sitting at the top of the table.
The Black Cats have managed four wins out of a possible four at this point, and it is clear that the French boss has managed to get the very best out of his side.
The likes of Eliezer Mayenda quintessentially proves Le Bris’ effect on the squad, and how he has been able to successfully turn a young players’ career around and have him performing at Championship level, when initially he was almost written off.
There is a clear direction within the squad, as shown by the results and the performances, and this is certainly something that hasn’t gone unnoticed amongst the players within the squad.
Dan Ballard hails ‘brilliant’ Regis Le Bris after ‘strange’ Sunderland situation
It is clear that, unlike the 2024/25 campaign under Le Bris, Sunderland were clearly lacking a direction and a sense of purpose in the 2023/24 season under both Michael Beale and Mike Dodds.
The Black Cats finished 16th last season, and Dan Ballard described the situation with the club as ‘strange’.
Per Sunderland Echo, Ballard said regarding managerial changes in the 2023/24 season: “It wasn’t ideal. It was strange because we have a similar squad now as we did last year.
“The lads have had a full pre-season together and we have made a few additions.
“There is just a feel-good factor around the club and a few players have got their chance and have really done well.
“The manager has been brilliant, we have a clear way of playing and we know it works now so it’s going to give us more confidence.”
Regis Le Bris has done brilliantly well to fix one key thing that Sunderland lacked last season
There are many things that Sunderland struggled with last season, from the lack of leadership on the pitch, to an ever-changing side that just struggled to gel.
However, above all, there was a real lack of togetherness in-and-around the squad at Sunderland, and it is evident that the former Lorient boss has succeeded in bringing this back into the squad.
The Sunderland manager, like Ballard said, has not sought to bring in widespread changes regarding personnel, but has alternatively set out to increase morale in the squad.
The pair have certainly gone hand-in-hand when you compare the mood amongst the players with the sheer improvement on the pitch, and ultimately Le Bris is at the centre of distilling that into the Sunderland ranks.