Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has recently given an interview in French media, following his club’s strong start to the season.
Few would’ve expected Sunderland to start as well as they have done under Regis Le Bris, who arrived at the Stadium of Light this summer as a complete unknown.
Now 10 games into the season, and everyone involved in the Championship will have heard about Le Bris and his new-look Sunderland outfit.
The Black Cats currently sit in 1st place of the Championship table after a 1-0 win at Hull City last weekend, and go up against Luton Town on Wednesday night.
A win for Sunderland could open the gap to Leeds United in 2nd, on level points, to three points, and mark an eighth league win of the season.
Le Bris has quickly won over the hearts of Sunderland fans this season. But expectations for the season ahead remain cautious, from fans and indeed Kyril Louis-Dreyfus.
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus asked where he thinks Sunderland will finish this season
The Championship is arguably the most unpredictable league in European football, and perhaps one of the most unpredictable in world football.
There’s never a clear front-runner for the title or for relegation. And so Sunderland owner Louis-Dreyfus has refused to be drawn into making an optimistic prediction for this season.
Speaking to French outlet RMC Sport, the 27-year-old Sunderland owner said: “It’s really too early to say where the team will be at the end of the season.
“In the Championship seasons I’ve been involved in, I’ve seen a team that was last in November get promoted and I’ve seen teams that were 1st or 2nd in February finish in 17th place.
“It’s a Championship that’s so long that it’s hard to say.”
- READ MORE: Manager who Sunderland almost paid out this summer now in dire straits, he’s had one win all season
The last time Sunderland won Championship promotion, and where they were after 10 games
Sunderland are now in their third season back in the Championship following their promotion from League One in 2022.
The last time they were promoted from the Championship was in 2007 under Roy Keane, who sealed the title with a 5-0 win away at Luton Town on the final day of the season.
Sunderland pipped Birmingham City to the title by two points in the end, finishing the campaign on 88 points.
Staggeringly, the Black Cats lost their first four Championship games of that season. They won their next three, with Keane replacing Niall Quinn at the end of August that season, and after 10 games the Black Cats had 13 points on the board, sitting in 14th.
That’s compared to Sunderland today in 1st after 10 games, on 22 points. So like Louis-Dreyfus says, the Championship has always sprung up surprises, and it’s far too early to make predictions about Sunderland.