Régis Le Bris praises Mayenda after Sunderland draw with Man City

Régis Le Bris praised Eliezer Mayenda for seizing his opportunity after the forward returned to Sunderland’s starting XI for the first time since August during Thursday night’s 0-0 draw with Manchester City.

With several senior players absent due to the Africa Cup of Nations, Le Bris handed Mayenda a chance in a hybrid role, and the 19-year-old responded with a disciplined and tactically intelligent performance against one of Europe’s elite sides.

Mayenda was a key part of Sunderland’s game plan, operating as a second striker while also providing defensive support on the right side of a flexible system. His work rate and positional awareness helped Sunderland frustrate City and maintain structure throughout the contest.

Le Bris revealed that Mayenda’s performance was a direct example of the message he regularly delivers to players who find minutes hard to come by.

“I’m really happy for Eli, for example, because he started the season, then struggled a bit for different reasons, and he stayed connected with the squad,” Le Bris said.

“I told the lads in the dressing room that even if you don't play, it shows that when you have your opportunity, if you train properly, if you stay positive, you will have this opportunity and it will be good when you start.”

Le Bris highlighted how Mayenda’s role differed significantly from earlier in the season, underlining the player’s growing versatility.

“He showed today that he can be at the level in another position,” the head coach explained. “It was totally different from the start of the season when he played as a striker. Here he played in a hybrid role with important defensive tasks in the deep block.”

That adaptability was central to Sunderland’s approach, with Le Bris opting against a flat back five in order to cope with City’s sustained pressure and technical quality.

“It was like a hybrid system. We used this system at Liverpool once,” he said. “If you drop too early, you can’t face, over the full game, their ability to manage the ball and create chances. I think it went well.”

Le Bris was also pleased with Sunderland’s collective defending and bravery without the ball, describing the point as another step forward in the team’s development.

“One more good point against one of the best teams in Europe,” he said. “They can score from everywhere, from different phases. I think we defended well. We were bold to press high, more consistent in the midblock, and in the defensive third we were solid.”

He added that Sunderland improved significantly on their previous meeting with City, particularly in their ability to manage possession and escape pressure.

“Our low build-up was good, especially during the first half,” Le Bris noted. “This point helped us to breathe because it’s important to have the ball.”

Sunderland will look to carry confidence from the City result into their upcoming fixtures, with Le Bris expected to continue rotating while key players remain away. Performances like Mayenda’s could influence selection decisions as competition for places increases in the second half of the season.

Has Eliezer Mayenda done enough to force his way back into Sunderland’s regular starting plans after impressing against Manchester City?