Lebrides: The more challenges you face, the greater the progress you can make.

The second round of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League season will kick off, with Sunderland traveling to face Portuguese second-division club Toulon. Lebrides stated that his team must be fully prepared for the competition and believes that the more challenges they face, the greater their progress will be.

Sunderland defeated AZ Alkmaar 1-0 in the first round of the Europa League thanks to a penalty from Enzo Lefèvre.

Sunderland manager Lebrides said, "We have great respect for our opponents. José Fonte is part of our coaching staff, and he has reminded us that this is a very strong team. They earned their place in this competition through their own performance, so we know we must be fully prepared."

"Earlier this season, Durinz only lost 0-1 to Porto, which is enough to prove that they have considerable strength. We must focus on the game at hand and make sure we are ready to meet the challenge."

Lebrides pointed out, "It is always important to manage the schedule well and make full use of the squad depth. We need to rotate players, but at the same time, we must ensure that the overall strength of the team is not affected."

“We prepared for this match just like we would for the Premier League, and we did a detailed pre-match analysis to understand how to break down the opponent’s defense and create opportunities. The competition in both the Premier League and the Europa League is very fierce, so we must always maintain a consistent level of performance.”

In addition, Lebrides said, "This will be a fantastic experience, and it's truly delightful to have such an opportunity. It will also be an unforgettable experience for our fans."

"This schedule is indeed challenging, but our squad depth is constantly improving. The more challenges we face, the more progress the team can make."