Sunderland manager Régis Le Bris has explained why Granit Xhaka was only introduced late in the club’s FA Cup defeat to Port Vale, insisting protecting the midfielder’s fitness remains the priority for the remainder of the Premier League season.
Sunderland suffered a surprise cup exit on Sunday afternoon after Ben Waine’s first half header secured a memorable victory for Port Vale at Vale Park. The League One side, currently bottom of the table and ten points from safety, held on to eliminate their Premier League opponents despite late pressure from the visitors.
Xhaka was brought on during the closing stages as Sunderland chased the game, but his late cameo was not enough to prevent the upset.
Sunderland managing Granit Xhaka fitness after injury
Le Bris confirmed the decision to limit Xhaka’s involvement was deliberate as the midfielder continues his return from a recent ankle injury.
The Sunderland captain had only recently resumed playing time and the coaching staff opted to manage his minutes carefully during a busy week of fixtures.
“We need to manage his load. The Premier League is our first objective, one hundred per cent.” — Régis Le Bris, via club media
Sunderland had already played multiple matches in a short period, including a Premier League win away at Leeds earlier in the week. With nine league games still remaining, Le Bris made it clear that maintaining Xhaka’s fitness is central to the club’s objectives.
“It’s important. I think the team is better with him but we had three games in a week. It was really important to manage his load.” — Régis Le Bris
The manager also pointed to the difficult playing surface at Vale Park as another factor behind the cautious approach.
Late introduction could not prevent FA Cup exit
Sunderland turned to Xhaka in the final ten minutes hoping the experienced midfielder could shift the momentum.
Le Bris acknowledged that the Swiss international has the ability to influence games but explained the club did not want to take unnecessary risks earlier in the match.
“We didn’t take the risk until the end because we know he can change the dynamic. But for the future of Sunderland, we need Granit in good shape.” — Régis Le Bris
Despite the late push, Sunderland were unable to break down a determined Port Vale defence, resulting in one of the biggest FA Cup shocks of the round.
Focus shifts back to Premier League campaign
Le Bris insisted that the defeat was not the result of complacency but rather the challenge of quickly resetting after a demanding schedule.
Sunderland had secured an important away victory at Leeds just three days earlier, making the quick turnaround another challenge for the squad.
“I don’t think we were complacent. It’s more about the ability to reset. At the highest level in England you have to show it every time.” — Régis Le Bris
The manager emphasised that the team must now refocus on their league campaign, where maintaining Premier League status remains the club’s primary objective.
Key Insights
- Sunderland suffered a shock FA Cup defeat to League One side Port Vale.
- Granit Xhaka was introduced late as he continues recovering from an ankle injury.
- Régis Le Bris prioritised protecting the midfielder’s fitness for the Premier League run in.
- Sunderland had played three matches within a week before the cup tie.
- The club now shifts focus to the remaining nine league fixtures.
What’s Next
Sunderland return to Premier League action this weekend as the club attempts to recover quickly from the FA Cup disappointment. The focus will be on maintaining momentum in the league following their recent win at Leeds.
Granit Xhaka is expected to play a key role during the final stretch of the campaign if his fitness continues to improve. Sunderland’s coaching staff will likely continue managing his minutes carefully as the team approaches the decisive closing weeks of the season.
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