REGIS Le Bris sat down with Granit Xhaka this week to reflect on Sunderland's excellent start to the Premier League season - and both the head coach and the captain came to the same conclusion.
Xhaka told Le Bris that he has been hugely impressed by the manner in which the Black Cats have so quickly adjusted to life in the top flight but also, crucially, the desire to keep improving.
That was music to the ears of the head coach who had sensed the same from his squad.
"I had this conversation with our captain this week, about this topic," revealed Le Bris ahead of Saturday's game at Manchester United.
"And he told me, the team is really balanced, ambitious, but at the same time, aware of the different elements we have to develop to become a better team and alert, aware of our weaknesses, our strengths. So it's really balanced so far."
Le Bris added: "The most important thing is the points. If we win points, it means that we are competitive in the league and this is our objective.
"After that it's clear that we started with a specific identity. We want to defend well. We want to defend as a unit, ready to suffer together because this league is really demanding, even with new players and new culture. This is the key point for our squad.
"And if these foundations are strong, after that you can express yourself with the ball.
"That wasn't our best part at Nottingham, We definitely can improve this area of our game. But because we don't concede goals it's not easy to find a way to break this defence, we are still alive.
"And after that you can build confidence, you can build new patterns, you can help the players to get confidence across different games."
Asked what he believes has the most important factor behind Sunderland's impressive start - the best start of a promoted side in 13 years - Le Bris said: "The main point is probably the collective effort. We are really aligned and with this belief that if we work together, we can create something different. And really connected with our identity.
"This alignment is really powerful, you can feel the energy."
Sunderland's start can be deemed to have been kind, with the Black Cats having so far played the sides that are 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th in the standings. But they also drew 0-0 away to a Crystal Palace side that are third in the table and on a 19-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
Sunderland, say Le Bris, won't fear anyone this season.
"It's not our approach," he said.
"We want to express our ideas, our football, our identity as a unit, as a club and after that you have a a game and if the opponent is stronger than us, we'll respect that but without any regrets at the end."
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