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As the half-time whistle was blown in the Championship play-off final, Sunderland were left reeling as Sheffield United took advantage of a good start and led 1-0 into the break.
It could have so easily been 2-0, but the intervention of VAR denied Harrison Burrows yet another Wembley goal, as Chris Wilder looked to end the Blades’ play-off hoodoo.
However, the Black Cats came out of the break much the better side, and they found the equaliser through a stunning Eliezer Mayenda strike in the 76th minute and confidence grew in the final 15 minutes.
Tommy Watson secured promotion in injury time with a spectacular strike from distance, with his last touch for Sunderland sending his boyhood club up to the Premier League for the first time in eight years. But it all could have been so different had Regis Le Bris not inspired his team at half-time.
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Eliezer Mayenda reveals what Regis Le Bris said to the Sunderland players at half-time
Mayenda was a huge threat across all three play-off games, and he also found the back of the net in the semi-finals against Coventry City – a tie that will always be remembered for Dan Ballard’s incredible header.
However, Saturday was not going Sunderland’s way until he fired in the equaliser and the forward has now revealed what his manager said in the changing room after the first-half had concluded.
He said (via: sofoot.com): “”It was a roller coaster! There was pressure for everyone, especially at the beginning. Sheffield scored very early in the match, we had Luke O’Nien, our central defender, who dislocated his shoulder in the second minute.
“Mentally, we were affected, because he is our leader, who has experienced the most finals at Wembley, especially since it is a young team at Sunderland. We took time to get into the game, there was that second goal disallowed. Fortunately, because honestly, we were dead otherwise.”
Mayenda continued: “But at half-time, Regis Le Bris was calm, he’s a coach who never shouts, he transmits confidence, and we came back with better intentions.
“My goal came at an important moment in the match, we went forward again, and then it was crazy when Tommy [Watson] scored in added time. It was incredible, it was the most beautiful moment of my career!”
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Eliezer Mayenda will be hoping to prove himself in the Premier League
This season was a breakout year for Mayenda, and after a difficult period with the Black Cats prior to the 2024/25 campaign, he has shown his quality under Le Bris.
The Spain U21 international now has the opportunity to feature in the Premier League for the first time in his career, and Sunderland supporters should be excited to have such a talented youngster playing for them as they prepare for a new era in their club’s history.
Mayenda should not expect everything to go his own way next season, but the learning curve that he will go on will be vital to his development and the Wearsiders will know that without him, they would be playing Championship football in August.