Regis Le Bris kisses the trophy.
Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris has taken the Black Cats back to the Premier League.
Regis Le Bris has revisited a statement he said earlier in the season after Tommy Watson scored the all-important goal that sent Sunderland back to the Premier League.
The Black Cats youngster scored the winner, late into injury time, to finally end the club's eight year absence from the top-flight.
Watson, who came through the Academy of Light set-up, will join Brighton when the summer transfer window opens - after agreeing a deal with the Seagulls in the run-up to the end of the regular Championship campaign.
The 19-year-old would have been about to enter the final 12 months of his contract this summer, and Sunderland were able to bring in a reported £10million after agreeing a deal with the Seagulls.
His decision to turn down new terms at the Stadium of Light didn't sit too well with some Black Cats supporters, but Le Bris reiterated that Watson would be involved with the first-team until the end of the season. A call which now looks like a masterstroke after the youngster scored the winner at Wembley.
Goals from Eliezer Mayenda and Watson completed a dramatic comeback for the Black Cats, securing a return to the top-flight for the first time in eight years.
"It was a good statement!" Le Bris laughed in his post-match press conference at Wembley. "It was a tough decision for him, but it was clear in our mind and his mind that he was still a player of Sunderland.
"I think the group and squad accepted this decision, knowing that he's a good player and can help. We don't know what will happen and he had this opportunity this afternoon."
Le Bris is a calm presence at the head of the Black Cats, but burst into life when Watson found the back of the net late on.
"It wasn't the case today?" Le Bris joked when asked about his release of emotion after the full-time whistle. "It's a fantastic scenario again. The output was fantastic, but the scenario was like the semi-final, absolutely fantastic.
"Tough for the coaching staff and our fans probably, but we showed again a strong character, even when we were not dominant and struggled as a squad. We stayed connected and stuck to our plan.
"Maybe later in the game, we'll find an opportunity to change the momentum - and it was the case today."