Sunderland face Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final at Wembley today, with a place in the Premier League at stake.
There have been 48 matches in the Championship season for each but Sheffield United and Sunderland will go to battle at Wembley for a place in the Premier League at 3.01pm today.
They will also secure a reported £240 million play-off prize fund if they claim victory. It’s bound to be nervy and there will be at least one dramatic moment guaranteed this afternoon.
Pundits have warned Sheffield United ahead of Sunderland facing them at Wembley, but tactics perhaps matter less than the mental side of the game today and which team can hold their nerve.
Photo by Ibrahim Ezzat/Anadolu via Getty Images
Photo by Ibrahim Ezzat/Anadolu via Getty Images
Ousmane Dembele sends Sunderland message ahead of play-off final vs Sheffield United
For Regis Le Bris to execute his game plan and overcome the Yorkshire giants, pace is required in wide areas, but Sunderland’s mindset may be the key above all else. How do they handle the nerves and the occasion?
Romaine Mundle could be the difference, be that from the bench or as a starting player. However, Sunderland have plenty of quality in attacking areas, particularly the pace in transition.
Gary Neville has had his say on the play-off final and Ali Maxwell of NTT20 is backing Sunderland. They are just two who have had their say so far.
Roy Keane is just one of the famous Sunderland faces to wish them luck, but other global superstars have also had their say on the matter, with Ballon d’Or contender Ousmane Dembele of PSG backing the Black Cats via Instagram.
The 2025 Champions League finalist will be watching today, he said: “Good luck today! 🔴⚪️ Great job this season, now time to take the final step. All the best at Wembley 👍🏿”.
Should PSG win the Champions League final against Inter Milan next weekend, Dembele will undoubtedly be one of the favourites to win the most prestigious individual award in the sport.
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Lynden Gooch joins Dembele in Sunderland good luck message
Both sides will be desperate to avoid an unwanted play-off record today, as well as to win the glory of promotion. For many fans and neutrals, this is the best way to gain promotion to the Premier League in the most dramatic of fashions.
Dembele is a global superstar, with the French international enjoying the best season of his career to date. However, other players who helped get Sunderland back to the Championship have also wished them luck.
Stoke City utility man Lynden Gooch was among those to gain promotion during Sunderland’s last play-off triumph. The academy graduate said: “Ha’Way the Lads 🐈⬛”.
He may not be of the calibre of Dembele, but his contribution to Sunderland was massive. Gooch and Dembele will both be hoping for the right outcome this afternoon to return Sunderland to the top flight for the first time since 2017.