Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has sent a stirring message to Sunderland fans on the eve of the club's Championship play-off semi-final. The Black Cats secured a top six finish in their first season back in the second tier and will now face Luton Town in the play-off semi-final, with a sell-out crowd set to turn out for the first leg at the Stadium of Light tomorrow evening.
Owner and chairman Louis-Dreyfus has described the prospect of completing back-to-back promotions to return to the Premier League as 'unimaginable', but says Sunderland have shown time and again that it is anything but 'another football club'. "It has been another unforgettable season for all associated with our club," Louis-Dreyfus' message read.
"We understood the size of challenge upon returning to the Championship and from players and staff to supporters, we stepped up and competed until the final day. Together, we now have an opportunity to do something unimaginable, but whatever happens from this point, I hope you share my pride in what we have already achieved this season.
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"Only one newly-promoted club has registered a higher finish in the past decade and they are now an established Premier League outfit. That is our ambition and we have shown time and time again that this is anything but another football club.
"This is Sunderland AFC and we keep fighting #TILTHEEND"
Louis-Dreyfus took control of Sunderland in February 2021 and the club won promotion from League One in his first full season in charge, at the end of which he became the Black Cats' majority shareholder. Following tomorrow's first leg against Luton, the return fixture at Kenilworth Road takes place on Tuesday night.
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