David Moyes accepts that "big changes" will be needed at Sunderland as they prepare for life in the Sky Bet Championship.
Sunderland fell 2-0 at home to Swansea on Saturday, who boosted their own chances of Premier League survival with a third win in four games.
But for bottom club Sunderland, a miserable home campaign ends having picked up just three wins in 19 at the Stadium of Light.
Moyes is likely to lose key players such as Jordan Pickford and Jermain Defoe this summer, and the Sunderland boss acknowledges that an overhaul is essential.
"Everybody who was watching the game today will tell you that there needs to be big changes. There needs to be big improvements with what we've got on the field," Moyes told Sky Sports after the match.
"That's what I see. And I don't think anybody would be in disagreement with that.
"[The last two games] are important for the players. They have to show pride. Today we didn't reach the standards we've reached in recent games.
"I couldn't say we played well, even though the first goal was the turning point."
Moyes was in fact critical of Pickford for Swansea's first goal, claiming his goalkeeper needlessly came out for the cross - which ultimately saw him lose out to Fernando Llorente who headed in his 14th league goal of the season.
Kyle Naughton then struck home in the third minute of first-half stoppage time to leave Sunderland with a mountain to climb after the break.
"The first goal completely changed the game," Moyes added. "Unfortunately for Jordan, who has not made a mistake since he came into the team against Southampton, it was his first mistake.
"I thought the free-kick was far out and there was no need for him to get involved. But that changed it because we started with a couple opportunities ourselves.
"Losing the second goal just before half-time summed it up really. If we'd have gone in at 1-0 we could have altered things, which we did do in the second half.
"Ultimately, I keep going back to the first goal because it was so important for us."