Gary Neville speaks out ahead of Sunderland v Sheffield United in play-off final
Gary Neville has made a sarcastic comment ahead of the EFL Championship play-off final between Sunderland and Sheffield United.
Régis Le Bris still has a chance to guide Sunderland back to the Premier League after the Black Cats came out on top in a dramatic semi-final against Coventry City.
With Frank Lampard’s side leading 1-0 with seconds left to play in the second leg at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday (13 May), Dan Ballard scored an equalising goal to put Sunderland 3-2 ahead on aggregate and send them to Wembley.
Now, Sunderland fans will be counting down the days before a season-long dream has the chance to become reality with victory over Sheffield United on Saturday (24 May).
Neville makes £100million claim ahead of play-off final
Sunderland will battle Sheffield United for a place in next season’s Premier League.
Both teams will be desperate to join Leeds United and Burnley in the top tier of English football.
| Championship 2024/25 | Position | Points |
| Sheffield United | 3rd | 90 |
| Sunderland | 4th | 76 |
The play-off final is one of football’s most lucrative fixtures, with the winning team promised an eye-watering sum of cash as a result of gaining promotion to the Premier League.
Neville alluded to this while previewing the UEFA Europa League final. Speaking on the Gary Neville podcast (18 May), the former Manchester United defender said in a sarcastic tone, “A series of £100m football matches. What football was designed for”.
Le Bris needs to make sure Sunderland are prepared for Wembley
While it seems obvious to expect Le Bris to prepare his team for the final, you would have expected the same for the semi-finals as well.
However, Sunderland spent large parts of the tie against Coventry on the back foot, only just running away with it in the final seconds of the confrontation.
Meanwhile, their rivals, Sheffield United, breezed past Bristol City with a 6-0 aggregate win.
Sunderland supporters and spectators will probably be under no impression that the Black Cats are the favourites going into the game, given their fourth-place league finish, 14 points behind the Blades.
Despite this, it is a final, and if there is one moment in time to see the impossible take place, Saturday’s clash is it.