Gus Poyet has claimed that Sunderland's run to the Capital One Cup final has changed the mood around the Stadium of Light.
The Black Cats manager believes that victory over Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday would remain in the memory for longer than relegation from the Premier League this season.
"It's going to be special," Poyet told reporters. "This is my first season here and everything was very, very dark and sad when I arrived. Here and now we are 90 minutes, or 120, away from being the happiest people in England.
"The feeling of winning something is far beyond going down, spending two years in the Championship."
Sunderland are currently 18th in the Premier League.
