Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris credited the return of captain Granit Xhaka for halting the team's three-match losing streak. Xhaka, back from an ankle injury, was instrumental in Sunderland's 1-1 Premier League draw at Bournemouth.
"He sets the tone. He's a good player... when you have a player of this quality, it helps definitely," Le Bris stated. Xhaka's presence bolstered the midfield and instilled confidence in younger players.
Despite a challenge from Tyler Adams in the 76th minute, which earned Adams a yellow card and saw Xhaka substituted, Sunderland secured a crucial point. Defender Dan Ballard emphasized Xhaka's role as a natural leader, stating, "We've missed him of late and we've had our toughest run of the season."