Sunderland headed away for a short training camp after Saturday’s defeat at Oxford.
While they were in Portugal, there was a major power outage but Le Bris says it “didn’t disturb the process”, and Sunderland’s head coach was encouraged by what he saw on the training pitches.
“It was good, I think – a really good training camp,” said the head coach after Sunderland’s return on Thursday.
“Three sessions, intense, players connected, now ready to go.
“I think it was positive, because during the season we stayed here and it’s like a routine.
“We don’t have a choice, because it is a routine of training, recovery, games and so on.
“I think it was really important to change the environment and create something new. Even for the players, they spend time together, talking about the games, the previous one and the future. When you’re away you get chance just to get to know each other a little bit more in a different environment, so it will be positive.”
RECOMMENDED READING:
Sunderland host QPR today looking to go into the play-offs on the back of a much-needed boost following a run of four straight defeats. The Black Cats have struggled in attack over the course of the last couple of months, scoring just three goals in their last eight outings.
But Le Bris isn’t concerned by results or a lack of goals and is backing his side to get back to their best when it matters.
“It’s a question of form,” he said.
“When we were at our best, we created many chances. It’s just a question of, because this league is like a marathon, you can hit the wall. It’s possible.
“For us, for some players, I think it was the case to just recover. It’s human nature [to tire], nothing else. And after that, if you recover and you accept that it’s possible to have a lower point in your curve, it’s possible, it’s acceptable.
“So our focus was to recover, refresh, train properly and we’ll be stronger later. And the right window is the semi-final. Not before, not after because then it’s too late, but now.
“What we felt in training was really positive but of course it is just training so we will see in the games. But the energy was good.”
