Post by Les on Mar 29, 2019 10:42:46 GMT
www.safc.com/news/team-news/2019/march/ross-preview-v-portsmouth
'Let's bring the trophy home'
Jack Ross isn’t content with just giving Sunderland’s fans a weekend at Wembley – he wants to deliver the first piece of cup silverware in almost half a century.
On Sunday, the Lads will be backed by more than 40,000 fans as they take on Portsmouth in the Checkatrade Trophy Final at a sold-out Wembley.
With both sides putting their Sky Bet League One promotion charges on hold for the day, Ross has no fears over his players’ ability to cope with the demands as he looks to guide the club to win their first piece of silverware in 46 years.
The Scot has also paid homage to the backing he’s received this season from supporters, admitting their loyalty deserves much more than just a day out at Wembley.
“There’s been a lot of loyalty and a lot of commitment shown by them this season, and a lot of that was shown before a ball was kicked when things were relatively unknown because of all the changes going on at the club,” he said.
“Hopefully at times in the league we’ve rewarded that. But this is a good chance to give them that obvious reward with the weekend away, and the next step for us is to deliver them that trophy.
“I know they will go and enjoy the occasion, but they’ll only really enjoy it if we win. The goal for us is that when the full-time whistle goes, they’re staying in the stadium because they’re celebrating us winning the trophy.
“If we can do that it’s a starting point. It by no means makes up completely for the disappointments of previous years, but it is a starting point.”
He continued: “When you get to the end of any competition and you’re still in it and with a chance to win silverware, then the realities of what that means becomes more apparent.
“There’s no point working as hard as we have to get to the final, with the knock-on affect of not having a league game this weekend and stuff, and then not going and winning it. That would hurt and it would be sore, and it would be wasteful.
“There’s so many motivating factors to win on Sunday, the obvious ones people will be aware of, but there’s so many more than just the obvious ones as well. With where the club’s been, it clearly means a lot.”