MICHAEL Appleton rarely gives the impression of being anything other than in complete control, whatever the situation.

So when he talks about finding a quiet corner of Kenilworth Road to pinch himself about reaching a Wembley final for the second time in 12 months, you know it is something out of the ordinary.

But as the 41-year-old never gets tired of telling his players, or journalists, the summer is the time for taking satisfaction in your achievements.

It means the brief period of reflection after the semi-final at Luton Town was swiftly followed by the only thing which matters – going one better than last season’s final defeat to Barnsley.

“It was a great achievement last year for everyone involved with the club, including myself,” the head coach said.

“But I never really thought about that until once it was gone.

“I was just going there trying to win a game I knew was going to be difficult against a top side.

“I keep telling myself to try to take it in a little bit more this time.

“But part of me thinks it’ll be worse, because I’ll probably put more pressure on myself to win the game than I did last year.”

There are two very clear reasons why the focus this time around is far more on the result.

A year ago United were the undisputed underdogs as a League Two team against a Barnsley side on the march to the Championship.

But there was also the sense that whatever happened in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, it was not the main show in town.

United headed to Wembley second in the table and knowing their season would stand or fall on whether they could secure promotion in the half-dozen league games after the final.

Fast forward 12 months and Appleton’s side have successfully established themselves in League One, but reaching the play-offs are a long shot.

It all boils down to the fact leaving without the trophy on Sunday would hurt far more.

He said: “It would because it’s already happened and you don’t want it to happen again.

“It’s not because Coventry are a lesser team than Barnsley, it’s just you don’t want to go to Wembley twice and end up as a loser.

“I’ve been in squads and did not even get changed when I was at Manchester United, but before last year I’d not gone there and done it properly.

“It wasn’t a great experience for me, so I want to have that feeling of being part of a winning side at Wembley.

“This year I think the fact there’s a potential within the group to come away with a trophy on the biggest stage, that’s as exciting as it gets.”

If all goes to plan, it will be another highlight in a two-season spell which could hardly have gone better.

The seeds sown in a testing first season have borne fruit spectacularly, to the point where it has become very easy to become blasé about another big day out.

The stock of everyone involved has soared to one degree or another, but no-one more than the man in charge.

It is less than three years since Appleton arrived at Oxford, readily admitting he had to be successful or hopes of a career as a head coach could be over for good.

No longer is he best known for brief, troubled spells in charge of Portsmouth, Blackpool and Blackburn Rovers.

Instead, thanks in part to a succession of high-profile cup scalps, Appleton has gained a reputation with the wider footballing public as an adventurous coach whose young, ambitious team are worth watching.

“I had a difficult time personally with my three previous clubs, for various reasons,” he said.

“One day I’ll sit down and write a book about it and explain exactly what happened.

“But for the first time I have had the opportunity to lay down the foundations and the culture I want to bring to a club.

“I’d like to think from a performance point of view they see the style we like to play and think it looks like a club going in the right direction.

“In terms of the way we try to play, I get a lot of plaudits from friends and coaches saying ‘keep it going, you’re doing the right thing’.

“I’ve done it with the help of an incredible backroom staff and a lot of people in the club who do support me “It’s been pretty special to do it in such a short space of time.”