Enzo Le Fée delivers startling Sunderland dressing-room reality check and warning after Chelsea triumph
Enzo Le Fée has delivered a stark Sunderland survival warning despite Sunday's crucial victory over Chelsea
Sunderland midfielder Enzo Le Fée has admitted the Black Cats still need approximately 32 points to secure Premier League survival this season, despite Sunday's morale-boosting victory over Chelsea at the Stadium of Light.
The Frenchman scored the decisive penalty as Régis Le Bris' side secured a desperately needed 1-0 victory, ending a difficult run of Premier League results and easing some of the mounting pressure on the Sunderland head coach. The result lifted Sunderland onto eight points from their opening ten league matches, but Le Fée is under no illusions about the challenge that remains.
Despite finishing seventh and qualifying for Europe last season, Sunderland's immediate priority is now ensuring they retain their Premier League status. Speaking after the Chelsea victory, Le Fée revealed that the players are targeting approximately 40 points, a traditional benchmark for top-flight survival. He said: "Even after the game, we said we have to keep going. Of course, it's not easy, but the season is long. We still need around 32 points if we want to be safe. Yeah, we have to fight."
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The 40-point figure is obviously not an official safety threshold, and teams have survived with considerably fewer points in recent seasons. However, Le Fée's comments underline the importance Sunderland are placing on accumulating points following their difficult opening months. The midfielder believes Sunday's performance represented an important step towards rediscovering the qualities that made Sunderland so successful under Le Bris last season.
"Like I said before the game, it was really important for us to get back to our principles. I think the way we fought, the way we were together, not only the players, even with the fans, was just amazing. We felt like the game looked more like last year. We can see this afternoon that we were a team, a family, and this is the most important, I think."
Sunderland had entered the Chelsea fixture following disappointing defeats against Coventry City and Dinamo Zagreb, with questions growing over the team's confidence, defensive organisation and ability to respond to adversity.
However, Le Fée insists the players had worked hard to address those problems and must now demonstrate greater consistency. "I think it wasn't the best game we had in terms of football. But we came back to our principles, like I said. This is the most important,” he added. "Now we have to repeat. This is not easy. We've got a few days where we can rest, and then we have to go again."
The international break provides Sunderland with an opportunity to recover after a demanding schedule involving Premier League, Europa League and Carabao Cup commitments. Le Fée admitted that the difficult run of results had taken its toll on the players, both physically and mentally. "When you're in a tough moment like this, you get tired more quickly. You have the feeling that everything is against you. So, yeah, of course, the three points before the international break is good."
Sunderland return to Premier League action against Aston Villa on November 21, with Le Fée determined to ensure the Chelsea victory becomes the starting point for a sustained improvement. "We know that after it will be a big month to come. Of course, we have to be together. We need everyone. I think even the guys who came on today just showed that we are together. This is the most important thing."