Poyet Wants Wembley Return - Unfinished Business

Last updated : 08 March 2014 By Tott Dixon - Seaham

Despite losing 3-1 to Manchester City, Sunderland impressed and Poyet believes the whole occasion will have left his playing squad hungry for more.

A victory at Hull tomorrow would seal a return to Wembley for a FA Cup semi-final, while they remain in desperate need of results in the Premier League to preserve top-flight status.

Poyet said: “If you ask the players if they want to go to Wembley, I will tell you they will do everything possible to go back there because of the feelings they had at the end of the game. The horrible walk up they had to get the medal that you don’t know what to do with. It’s not nice.

“Everyone wants to get rid of that by having the feeling of going there and winning and to do that they need to win on Sunday. I suppose it has whetted everyone’s appetite.

“I think it’s incredible what people felt. I have been before but for the new boys, the Argentinians, to have that feeling that you lost but people are so proud I think it’s a new feeling for them.

“It doesn’t happen in other parts of the world - it’s unique. It shows you how important it is to give something to the fans, the opportunity to go to Wembley again.”

Poyet, who enjoyed success with Real Zaragoza, Chelsea and Tottenham, shared similar feelings too in his first cup final as a manager and with Sunderland.

He said: “I tell you what, Sunday was incredible. I hate losing but it was incredible. Sometimes I need to step back from myself, disappear and think of what the fans did on Sunday.

“How they handled themselves, what they did in Covent Garden and when we got to the stadium. It was incredible and spectacular.

“The problem is you’re there and it’s so close. We were half an hour away. Even at 2-1 we’re so close. I lost count of how many people called me and asked why Steven Fletcher didn’t hit out. I don’t know, who knows - even Fletcher doesn’t why. We move on though.”