ROSS: FINAL WON’T BE A DISTRACTION
CATS BOSS KNOWS HOW MUCH WEMBLEY TRIP MEANS TO FANS
Jack Ross is confident the Checkatrade Trophy final won’t prove a distraction for his promotion-chasing Sunderland squad. The Black Cats reached the March 31 Wembley final after beating Bristol Rovers 2-0 in midweek but the focus quickly shifts back to the League One automatic promotion battle this weekend, with a trip to Wycombe Wanderers.
Ross spoke with the players at a weekly team meeting at the Academy of Light on Thursday and ‘re-emphasised the need to refocus on the job at end’ but admits the squad has been fully focused all season and he has no concerns on that front.
Sunderland are third, two points behind Barnsley who they face away on Tuesday night.
First up though is the trip to Wycombe, 12th in the table.
“The players have used the word satisfaction a lot to describe their feelings after matches,” said Ross.
“I think they’re satisfied that they’ve produced consistent performances and results throughout this competition in difficult circumstances at times.
“Every one of them deep down has pride knowing they’ve reached the cup final and have that to look forward to.
“But having spoken to them in the team meeting, I just re-emphasised the need to refocus on the job at end.
“But I can just tell by looking at them - looking into their eyes - that there’s a group there that are fully engaged and yeah, we’re satisfied we’ve got there, but we’ll put it to the side and then when it comes around we’ll enjoy it.
“For now though, it’s about continuing to bang out results in the league.”
Sunderland will be backed by almost 40,000 fans at Wembley when the Checkatrade Trophy final comes round later this month.
Ross added: “I’ve never really doubted how much it would mean. I think a proper fanbase acknowledges the significance of a cup final at Wembley.
“They obviously have very recent memory of being there which is positive to a degree, if you take away the result of the match.
“But it’s became a bit of folklore in the club and I think there’s people that maybe weren’t apart of it then that are desperate to be part of it this time and also people who want to revisit that also.”