Patrick Roberts lifts lid on 'great chats' with Regis Le Bris behind scenes insight

PATRICK Roberts has opened up on his "great relationship" with Regis Le Bris, praising Sunderland's head coach for his honesty and his role in creating such a positive mood behind the scenes.

Roberts has worked with plenty of different managers during his playing career but has been struck by Le Bris' desire to understand his players' wants and needs.

The winger says the Frenchman is "stern" when he needs to be but also has a "bubbly" side that the players see and enjoy on a daily basis.

The Black Cats endured a rotten second half to last season and morale was understandably on the slide before Le Bris' arrival. But the head coach made an instant impact with both his personality and tactical nous and Roberts - who rescued a point for Sunderland against Bristol City on Tuesday night - is loving life under the 49-year-old.

"I've had many managers, and you can have different relationships with certain ones and from day one, he's always had a conversation with me and asked what he wants for me as a manager and how he can do it differently or how he can improve, and it's nice to see," said the former Manchester City youngster.

"And he has honest conversations with me, and it's all I can ask for, really. Yeah, we have a good relationship and he's always there for a chat. He's always very bubbly as well, which is nice to see, and obviously, when things aren't going right, he will be stern, honest, and that's how it should be if you want to be a top team.

"I have a great relationship with him. I talk to him. He's always very honest with me. I'm very honest with him. We have great chats. I have a lot of respect for how he handles not just me, but the rest of the team.

"He's not just a great guy but he knows what he wants. You've got to perform every day.

"I have a good relationship and he expects a lot, not just from me, but from a lot of the players. He'll tell me honestly how things are going or if I need to do more. We'll have an honest conversation, which, for me, is all I want from a manager to be honest.

"He's a great guy and a great manager."

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Roberts says Le Bris has also set extremely high standards, and while the Black Cats were relieved to snatch a point against the Robins the head coach won't let the players rest on their laurels.

"He knows we can do much, much more, which I think is part of the disappointment, but you can be proud and take the positives," said Roberts, who told of his desperation to play a leading role for the Black Cats and build on his recent goal against Bristol City and assist against Stoke.

“Ever since I've come here, I've been trying to do my best for Sunderland and every time I'm proud to wear that shirt," he said.

"It’s nearly three years now, I know I could probably do a lot more. I know myself. I'm very hard on myself, at the same time, I'm trying to try my best.

“The first thing for me is Sunderland winning games, and I'll take that any day over a goal and assist, but I know you need those things to win games, so I understand that point as well and I'm hoping I can add more to my game. I should be. I do believe a lot of myself, and I want to reach levels I've never reached before."