The Sunderland head coach has been recognised for his work steering the club to safety this season

Régis Le Bris says he is proud to be nominated for the Premier League manager of the season award, but that he doesn't think he deserves to win.

Le Bris was nominated for his sterling work leading Sunderland to safety in their first top-tier campaign for eight years and is up for the award alongside Mikel Arteta, Pep Guardiola, Andoni Iraola, Keith Andrews and Michael Carrick. Le Bris hinted that he thinks Mikel Arteta should take the award if Arsenal get over the line between now and the end of the campaign.

"I don't think so [I should win]," Le Bris said.

"It's going to be hard because if you look at the other managers, the final position of your team, if you win the Champions League and league then you deserve recognition! It's good to be recognised like this but we have to stay humble. I'm really pleased to be in that bracket but in the end I think others will have the final reward."

Le Bris said the nomination was a reflection of how well the club has done collectively this season.

"For me, for the club, the staff, and the players, obviously, because it's a collective achievement," Le Bris said.

"No matter the result at the end, it highlights, once again, the quality of the group and the season overall. Yes, the Premier League is a roller coaster, with highs and lows, but at the end of the season, I think this kind of recognition is really important for us."

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RLB: I’m determined to keep improving after stellar season

Le Bris’s attentions are already turning to the next phase of Sunderland’s development and the head coach says he will work to keep improving.

“I like the work” Le Bris said.

“It's a passion before everything, so for me, it's not difficult to talk about football and projects and Sunderland now, because it's a passion and it's not really a job. It's demanding, but it's a pleasure before everything.

“I think every year is totally different so you can't replicate the previous year to be successful in in real time. So I keep evolving, I keep learning, staying curious I think is the probably the main point. And after that, the evolution of of the season, the evolution of the project, people around me are always evolving, so it's probably the main point.”

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