Alex Neil told Sunderland's players to seize their moment in the play-off final to become heroes - just as footballing greats such as Marco van Basten and Diego Maradona seized their moments on the biggest stage of all. Dutchman Van Basten is remembered for his stunning volley in the Euro 88 final against the Soviet Union, while Maradona's moment came in the 1986 World Cup with his brilliant individual goal in the semi-final against England - and his infamous 'hand of God' goal in the same game - en route to Argentina lifting the trophy.
The League One play-off final may seem a world away from those top-level international tournaments, but for the Sunderland players it was still a chance to write their name into the club's history. Neil revealed that his team-talk going into the game against Wycombe centred on telling his players that this was their moment, and they could become the side that draws a line under the club's history of failure in the play-offs, and gives fans a chance to celebrate in the stands at Wembley for the first time since their famous FA Cup triumph in 1973.
And the players delivered, securing a 2-0 win over the Chairboys to secure promotion to the Championship and end the club's four-year stay in League One. "The team talk was about moments," said Neil.
