As Sunderland slipped up again during Tuesday’s Bristol City draw, the last thing on the minds of any supporter was to draw connections between the wasteful Black Cats and Paris Saint-Germain.
Especially considering that, while Sunderland needed Patrick Roberts to salvage a point in stoppage time against Liam Manning’s Robins, PSG were cruising to a 3-0 Champions League victory away from home at Red Bull Salzburg.
Yet, Sunderland’s French head coach Regis Le Bris feels that his goal-shy team can learn a few lessons from Luis Enrique’s star-studded side.
PSG, after all, headed to Austria on the back of a hugely frustrating run of results. A run which left former Spain and Barcelona coach Enrique facing serious questions regarding his position in the Parc des Princes dugout.
Les Parisiens had not won any of their previous three matches. Losing 1-0 at Bayern Munich before being held by Nantes and Auxerre, PSG also only found the net once across those 270-plus minutes of action.
Regis Le Bris explains what Paris Saint-Germain can teach Sunderland
In that Auxerre stalemate, the French champions mustered 24 shots on goal but could not find a way past an inspired Donovan Leon in the home net.
Sunderland, when Bristol City arrived at the Stadium of Light, took their own shot count beyond the 20 mark with only Roberts’ 93rd minute equaliser finding the net. And, ahead of Saturday’s trip to South Wales, can Sunderland take out all that frustration on an unwitting Swansea City, like a youthful, transitional PSG did to Salzburg?
“Young teams are always like that,” Le Bris says during his Thursday press conference, attempting to explain his side’s inconsistencies in the attacking areas. “We need time to have a constant work-rate in the final third. For example, [look at] PSG.
“PSG were playing really well but, in the Champions League, they had a really big lack of efficiency. They were not clinical. And, on the right day, they score and now it is 3-0!
“With young teams and a young squad, I think this part of the pitch is the most difficult. They need to experience many different contacts [with other teammates] in the part of the pitch where the defence is so close and the goal is so small. [Where] accuracy and efficiency are the key.
“Every team is searching for these kinds of [matchwinnig] players. So, we have to build this new skill and it takes time.”
Goncalo Ramos [23] and Bradley Barcola [22] hit the target as PSG finally cut loose at the Red Bull Arena in midweek. How Regis Le Bris could do with Wilson Isidor and co doing the same at Swansea.
Isidor came under fire from the Sunderland fans for the first time really against Bristol City. The Frenchman has not scored since his stunning volley against Coventry City over a month ago.
Le Bris says Sunderland must keep plugging away ahead of Swansea City trip
“It is part of the process. The more you play games, the more you can gain experiences,” Le Bris adds. “When you train, it is a little bit different. But we use a lot of video analysis and its really important as well to reinforce what we are doing well.
“We did well to unbalance the opposition team [against Bristol City]. Now, its a question of connections with the player who can cross and the players who can receive these crosses. The final skill is to shoot or to make a header, I don’t know.
“We have many opportunities. Now, we have to adjust these final connections. The best way to improve that part is to play again, to create more chances.
“Maybe you can be frustrated again. But at the end I am sure, with the quality we have, we will change the dynamic.”