Sunderland's Relegation Fight: San Siro Trip Looms Amid Premier League Crisis

Sunderland bottom of Premier League with nine games gone, facing Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle before San Siro trip

Sunderland are rooted to the bottom of the Premier League after nine matches, with just one win all season. Their 3-1 defeat to Coventry City on Saturday leaves them staring at a relegation battle, yet they travel to face AC Milan at the San Siro in the Europa League on 10 December.

Competition: Premier League and Europa League
Current position: 20th in the Premier League after nine games
Last league win: 2-0 vs Fulham on 30 August
Key upcoming fixtures: Chelsea (H), Aston Villa (A), Tottenham (H), Liverpool (A), Newcastle (A)
Europa League: Ninth in the table, two wins and a draw from three games
Next match: Nottingham Forest (home) three days after AC Milan trip

What was said

"Very disappointed. We are not doing the things that we have been speaking about; we are not doing the things that we are doing in training. Again, so many mistakes. We have no chance to win any games like this."
— Granit Xhaka, Sunderland captain, after Coventry defeat

"Football isn't one day good, one day bad. We didn't have [European football] last season. When we lost once last season we came back, but we are doing so many simple mistakes, and if you do mistakes in this league you get punished. And we are getting punished every weekend. I don't know exactly what the problem is. Is it concentration, is it other things? Of course, we are now bottom of the league, but in football you need to think positive. You need to show courage even if you make mistakes when you play, but that's not the case at the moment."
— Granit Xhaka

"Bad result. Ups and downs, I think, is the summary of this game and the season so far. We can play good football, and create some good chances, but we also made many unforced errors. At this level, especially in the Premier League, the opponent can seize every single opportunity, and [Coventry] did that. It's not a question of luck, it's a question of us."
— Regis le Bris, Sunderland head coach

"It's a difficult position where we are, but a situation where we can show our character, show our desire together to come out from here. I believe that we can still do it, and let's focus on the next one now."
— Granit Xhaka

Xhaka's admission that the team are "not doing the things that we have been speaking about" points to a disconnect between training and matchday execution. Le Bris's reference to "unforced errors" underlines a defence that has conceded 17 goals in nine league games – only Ipswich Town and Crystal Palace have let in more.

The captain's rallying cry about showing "character" will need to be backed up on the pitch, starting with the visit of Nottingham Forest. With the San Siro trip on the horizon, Sunderland must quickly find a way to turn their European form into domestic points.

The numbers

Premier League position: 20th after nine games (W1 D2 L6)
Goals conceded: 17 in nine league games – only Ipswich and Crystal Palace have conceded more
Goals scored: 7 in nine – only Nottingham Forest (6) have scored fewer
Errors leading to goals: 7 this season
Last season after nine games: W5 D2 L2, 7 goals conceded
Europa League: 9th in table, 2 wins and 1 draw from 3 games, 2 goals conceded
Carabao Cup: 3-2 win over Brentford set up quarter-final vs Crystal Palace
Points from league games after European outings: 1 from 3

Injury and availability

Dan Ballard has been out with a hamstring injury since September's international break and is a key absentee at the back. No other injuries are mentioned in the source.

Why Sunderland's defensive record is the real problem

Regis le Bris built his side's success last season on a mean defence – only Arsenal, Manchester City and Brighton conceded fewer than Sunderland's fourth-meanest back line. This term, that solidity has evaporated. The loss of Dan Ballard to a hamstring injury has not helped, but individual errors have been costly: Luke O'Nien's misplaced pass led to Coventry's second goal, and a failure to deal with a cross resulted in their opener.

The numbers tell a stark story: Sunderland have already made seven errors leading to goals, and their expected goals (xG) difference was among the worst in the league last season. Their prolific winless run includes defeats to Ipswich, Coventry and others, and the upcoming fixtures against Chelsea, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Liverpool and Newcastle could see them cut adrift before the San Siro trip.

Le Bris must find a way to tighten the defence while maintaining the attacking threat that has produced only seven goals. The return of Ballard cannot come soon enough, but in the meantime, the likes of O'Nien and the rest of the back line must cut out the mistakes that have plagued their season.

Talking points

Should Sunderland prioritise the Premier League over the Europa League? The San Siro trip is glamorous, but the Forest game three days later could define their season.
Is Regis le Bris under pressure? His team have won just once in the league and the defensive record is alarming. A defeat to Forest could spell trouble.
Can Granit Xhaka inspire a turnaround? The captain's honest assessment shows leadership, but words must translate into actions on the pitch.
With Dan Ballard injured, do Sunderland have the defensive depth to survive? The errors leading to goals suggest not.

What happens next

Sunderland face a crucial Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest on 7 December, three days before their Europa League trip to AC Milan. Defeat against fellow strugglers Forest would leave them dangerously adrift and increase the pressure on Regis le Bris. The Black Cats then face a daunting run of fixtures against Chelsea, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Liverpool and Newcastle before the turn of the year.