Sunderland boss Gus Poyet has defended making six changes for Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final defeat by Hull. "If we were playing Real Madrid, maybe [critics of the team selection] would have a point," he told BBC Newcastle.
"But that team was good enough to win."
"People will criticise, but you cannot go back - some of them haven't got a clue what goes on behind the doors," Poyet continued.
"Wes Brown and Craig Gardner were injured, Jozy Altidore and Valentin Roberge ill, Emanuele Giaccherini started and he is one of our most expensive players, Steven Fletcher is coming back and Ignacio Scocco needs to play.
"There are no excuses from me, if someone wants to look for some, then fine. I'm man enough to say we played 11 first-team players that were certainly good enough to win the match."
