The Premier League often boasts about its superiority, with pundits dismissing other leagues as inferior. However, recent seasons have exposed the fallacy of the Premier League’s supposed competitiveness. Teams like Luton Town, Burnley, and Sheffield United in the 2023/24 season, and Leicester City, Ipswich Town, and Southampton in 2024/25, were considered easy opponents, collectively winning only a handful of matches.
These underperforming teams managed a meager 11.4% win rate over two seasons, with a staggering goal difference of -294. In contrast, the newly promoted teams in the 2025/26 season have shown remarkable improvement, winning 40.7% of their matches with a much more respectable goal difference.
Sunderland and coach Régis Le Bris have been standout performers among the promoted teams, defying expectations with their positive start. Le Bris’s strategic recruitment, including the acquisition of experienced players like Granit Xhaka and promising talents like Habib Diarra, Noah Sadiki, and Chemsdine Talbi, has been pivotal to Sunderland’s success.
The fans’ enthusiastic support and Le Bris’s astute leadership have fueled Sunderland’s resurgence in the Premier League. Despite setting a modest target of reaching 40 points, Le Bris’s impact on the team and the league as a whole is undeniable, showcasing the potential for success even among newly promoted sides.
