Why is it going so wrong for Le Bris at Sunderland?

Dinamo Zagreb under the lights at the Stadium of Light on Bonfire Night.

These should be exciting times for Sunderland and their fans, who before this season had been starved of European football for more than half a century.

Instead there is a concern the club's Europa League campaign, which includes a trip to AC Milan in December, has become a hindrance after the team's poor domestic start to the season.

Last season's surprise Premier League package are rooted to the bottom of the table, with just one win and six defeats from nine games.

Will a game against the champions of Croatia on Thursday (20:00 GMT) serve as a welcome distraction before Sunday's visit of Chelsea?

When Sunderland won at Stamford Bridge last season in their ninth game back after promotion, the Black Cats sat second in the table after an electrifying start.

After nine games this season, it is a very different story.

Questions are being asked about the long-term future of manager Regis le Bris - the man who masterminded Sunderland's return to Europe for the first time in 53 years.

So after last season's impressive seventh-placed finish, why are Sunderland struggling this time round?

Following last Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Coventry City, captain Granit Xhaka questioned the team's "courage", weeks after France defender Nordi Mukiele claimed the side had become "arrogant".

BBC Sport understands Le Bris' job is not in immediate danger and he will be given more time to turn things around.

The Frenchman, in charge since July 2024, is Sunderland's longest-serving manager since Steve Bruce, who was in charge between June 2009 and November 2011.

Le Bris has credit in the bank for winning promotion and then claiming a European spot.

This season he has managed to propel the Black Cats into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, where they face fellow Premier League strugglers Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

But how long will Sunderland's hierarchy remain patient if the club, two points from safety, stay anchored in the bottom three?

"They ended last season quite well to get into Europe and that felt really historic," former Sunderland loan signing Nedum Onuoha told BBC Sport.

"But there was talk then that maybe he [Le Bris] wasn't quite the guy.

"Sunderland fans who probably had their doubts last season, I really doubt that they will be thinking he is the manager long term."

French football expert Julien Laurens added about former Lorient boss Le Bris: "This is not looking good.

"I look at Sunderland and I'm not seeing him find the solutions to turn things around. For me that is really worrying."

Sunderland spent £161m on 15 new players after winning promotion to the Premier League in the summer of 2025.

This time round, just £60m was invested on five players.

Most fans, however, will have been delighted to keep hold of experienced captain Xhaka and forward Brian Brobbey, who scored seven league goals last season before going on to score three for the Netherlands at the World Cup.

Brobbey, who has signed a new contract until 2031, has yet to score since returning from a hamstring injury, while former Arsenal midfielder Xhaka was downbeat after last weekend's defeat at newly promoted Coventry.

"I don't know exactly what the problem is," said the Switzerland midfielder.

"Is it concentration? Is it other things? We are bottom of the league but in football you need to think positive and to show courage as well.

"This is not the case at the moment."

Carl Jenkinson, who was at Arsenal with Xhaka, told BBC Sport his former team-mate's remarks were "concerning".

"He seemed really deflated and that is very unlike Granit," added the former full-back, who made 41 Premier League appearances for the Gunners between 2011 and 2019.

Laurens said the form of Xhaka and Mukiele, who helped Sunderland towards 11 clean sheets in the top flight last season, had dipped significantly this season.

"They are the leaders and they are way below the levels they had," he added. "The first one to pay the price [for the team's poor form] is usually the manager."