Gus Poyet keen to repay Ellis Short's faith

Gus Poyet has said that he would like to repay Sunderland chairman Ellis Short's faith in him with success in the League Cup final later today.

The Uruguayan took over at the club earlier in the season, taking charge of a Premier League side for the first time in his managerial career.

The 46-year-old told Sky Sports News: "I want to be respectful and not talk too much about him, just give him the credit he deserves. It would be nice to do it for him. He will be allowed in the changing room at Wembley if we win. To be honest, I'm not going to tell the chairman he's not allowed in!

"But I'd like to say a few things about him. I think it was very brave of him to give me the job. I imagine, at the time, most people were thinking of an experienced, older manager. But he took a risk in certain ways.

"I'm not going to go against myself, but he took a risk in terms of the type of person needed and the character to do certain things because of the players here and because of what had been happening. I have to thank him for that. I'd love to be the first Sunderland manager to win the League Cup. That would be special."

Sunderland face Manchester City at Wembley this afternoon.