Sheffield United v Sunderland playoff final: Latest ticket sales, odds, what both clubs have said

Ahead of the Sheffield United v Sunderland playoff final, we check out the latest ticket sales, odds, and what both clubs have said.

It’s often dubbed the ‘richest game in football’ (with the winners to receive a minimum of £220m in extra income) and it will take centre-stage this weekend, for a spot in next season’s Premier League.

Sheffield United, who finished third in the Championship, comfortably beat Bristol City 6-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals, showcasing their strong form and excellent away record (43 points).

Key player Gustavo Hamer (10 goals, 7 assists) will be crucial for the Blades. Sunderland, finishing fourth, narrowly defeated Coventry City in a dramatic semi-final, with a 122nd-minute winner from Dan Ballard.

Despite a poor end to the regular season (five straight losses), the Black Cats, led by manager Regis Le Bris and boosted by Wilson Isidor’s recent form, aim to return to the Premier League after an eight-year absence.

HOW MANY TICKETS HAVE BEEN SOLD?

Both teams have sold out their ticket allocation of 35,531 – Sheffield United in the east end and Sunderland in the west end.

Sunderland said they sold out all 35,531 supporters, and have since received an additional 1,000 tickets from the EFL and Wembley Stadium.

As of the 22nd of May, Sheffield United are said to have sold around 33,000, but 35,000 are expected to being inside the stadium by Saturday.

WHO ARE THE BOOKIES FAVOURITES?

Sky Bet – 22nd May
Sheffield Utd – 4/6
Sunderland – 11/10

BetVictor – 22nd May
Sheffield United – 13/10
Sunderland – 21/10

Paddy Power – 22nd May
Sheffield United – 13/10
Sunderland – 9/4

Bet365 – 22nd May
Sheffield United – 11/8
Sunderland – 23/10

Ladbrokes – 22nd May
Sheffield United – 11/8
Sunderland – 9/4

William Hill – 22nd May
Sheffield United – 11/8
Sunderland – 11/5

WHAT HAVE BOTH CLUBS SAID?

Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman said to BBC’s Look North: “The most satisfying thing would be achieving it, doing it the way we believe it should have been done.

“That is very important because then we’ve lived and breathed our culture.

“The journey over the last five years has been a difficult one.

“It hasn’t been linear in terms of how our progress has gone.

“We’ve lived and breathed what we feel our strategy should be and some of those really important principles.

“One of those is the integration of young players. So if we are able to win, it would be a spectacular moment.”

Sheffield United’s Chris Wilder told Sky Sports: “If I listen to all the narrative we might as well not turn up and might as well give myself a holiday.

“I’ve been to the majority of the [play-off defeats] and I was probably saying the same thing as what the majority of the punters are saying as well.

“We’re trying to write our own little bit in the chapter of this famous football club. There’s everything to gain from this group. You know, we’ve not been weighed down by any negativity at all.

“There’s been a real reset since we missed out on promotion. What we wanted to do after the Burnley game was to get ourselves back in form, get a couple of wins, and we managed that.

“We’re in great shape physically. The players are playing with a real light shirt and we’re really positive. The feel about the place has been completely different. And I know you can’t get away from the track record of the football club in the play-offs.

“But this club’s been here for over 135 years. And there is going to be a play-off campaign where we get it right in the next 135 years. I’m sure that supporters won’t want to wait that long.

“There’s been a real flow to our game, a positivity about our game, and from the stands and the supporters, a real freshness that this could be our year and we’ve got to go and make that happen.”

Sunderland’s Regis Le Bris said to Sky Sports: “The players needed a couple of days to recover after such an incredible moment.

“The end of the game was absolutely outstanding. The connection with our fans made it all the more special.

“Doubt is always something you have to manage. We know the opponent will be strong, and we know it will be a unique event.

“But we welcome that challenge. If you want to play at this level, you have to accept that you can win or lose. It will be tough. You have to be prepared for the unexpected. You’d like everything to be clear and predictable, but that’s rarely the case. Thankfully, this team has already shown its ability to handle the unpredictable. So we’ll go again.

“Our focus remains on maintaining the same process, staying connected to our game plan, being ready for the intensity Sheffield United will bring, and managing the challenges they pose. At the same time, we believe in our own strengths.

“Each match presents a new scenario. It might not be a new opponent, but the circumstances always change. We can draw on past experiences to prepare for the game, but ultimately, we’ll have to navigate a different event with different opportunities and challenges. And in the end, we’ll see whether we’re strong enough.”

Sheffield United’s Callum O’Hare: They are why you play football really, they are the best days and if it goes our way it will be something you remember for the rest of your life. All the boys are ready and hopefully we can go there and put a performance on.

“A few of us have played at Wembley before so there have been a few words in the dressing room, but it is just another match, obviously it is on the big stage, but we’ve got to go out there and play our game.

“That game (Coventry v Manchester United) was so tough, we’d thought we’d won, we weren’t used to VAR so when they ruled the goal out and we lost on penalties in the end it was heartbreaking, but it gives me that extra edge for my third time going there in the last three years.

“It has been such a long wait for everyone, but once the game starts it is just another game of football, and we have to treat it like that. It would be nice to score in the final on the back of goals in the semis but the main thing is winning, we’ve worked so hard, and we just want to do it for ourselves, the club and the fans.

“The previous losses are just one of those things, none of us have been part of the past and if we play well, I feel we’ve got a good chance of winning so hopefully we can break that curse. I came here to play football and be promoted, and we are one game away, it would be an unbelievable feeling if it happened.

“This season has been a big achievement, but it means nothing if we don’t win at Wembley. We’ve worked so hard to be in this position, we fell short towards the end of the season (of going up automatically), but we are still determined to make sure we are the ones to go up.

“Everyone wants to play, and we’ve been doing well, so whatever the manager wants to do, it is up to him. I just want to do the best I can and affect the game, but all the matters is winning because whoever does will be in the Premier League next season.”

Sheffield United’s Michael Cooper: “It has been a brilliant season since coming in last August, I don’t know what I really expected but some of the performances and results have been brilliant and there is now one final hurdle to overcome.

“I was honestly surprised to be named the club’s Player of the Year, the backing we’ve had has been tremendous, both home and away, so I’m just grateful for their support.

“Our success so far this season has been earnt, it has come through lots of hard work, lots of planning and small details and most importantly working as a team. We laid a good foundation at the front of the season and from there we’ve built and carried on with trying to achieve our goal.

Speaking of the semi-final victory over Bristol City and what the weekend holds for him: “Our mindset and gameplan was spot on, the feel throughout the week was positive and although some might have thought our first leg lead could have been dangerous, we relished the opportunity and after 20 minutes or so of the second leg, we scored and put the tie to bed.

“When I’ve watched the finals in previous seasons, I’ve always thought about playing there one day and I honestly can’t wait to step out at Wembley, it is a massive occasion for everyone.

“To be at Wembley in a Championship play-off final is so special, potential is one thing, doing it is another, I’m not one to look too far ahead.”

Sunderland’s Chris Rigg: “Sheffield United are a strong team, who were in the Premier League last season and are one game away from returning.

“It’s going to be a great challenge because we have already had two good games against them this season.

“Our preparations for the final are already under way and we’re looking forward to the challenge because these are the moments that matter.”

“We felt their [the fans] support from the moment we left the Academy of Light.

“To go away and do what we did at Coventry – it felt like there was this surge of momentum, a real wave of togetherness. And we made them proud.

“I was buzzing for the game all day on Tuesday. With it being a later kick-off, the excitement just built up, and when we got into the ground, the warm-up – it was bouncing. I was so ready to play.

“Now it’s Wembley. I’m 17 years old – it doesn’t get much bigger than that. To walk out on a stage like that, in front of 90,000 people… it’s the kind of game you dream of being involved in.”