Lewie Coyle 'always believed' he could captain Hull City to play-offs as Sergej Jakirovic talk detailed
Lewie Coyle reflects on Hull City’s surge into Championship play-offs and looks ahead to Millwall battles
Belief in Hull City may well have wavered throughout a tricky April - but captain Lewie Coyle has been resolute in his faith.
The Tigers failed to win any of their six games in a relentless month of Championship action, dropping out of the play-off places. Hull went into their regular season finale against Norwich City as the seventh-placed side, knowing their fate was not in their own hands.
A 2-1 win over the Canaries - and Wrexham’s failure to beat Middlesbrough - booked the Tigers a play-off spot in dramatic fashion.
Lewie Coyle’s belief
“I always backed myself,” said Coyle. “I always believed I could captain this side to the play-offs, especially this season.
“[We have] not had the easiest times the last couple of months, if we're being brutally honest. That's not for a lack of trying. Our dip in form came at the vital time and the wrong time. It's hard to put your finger on as to why but [after] the defeat at Charlton, we never lost belief.
“I think when you're in the play-offs, people expect you to turn up week-in, week-out, and steamroller teams. But it's never been like that in this division. I don't think it ever will be. To clinch the last spot on the final day, I think was really, really fitting.”
Talk with Sergej Jakirović
The significance of Hull’s achievement has been heightened by the constraints under which they have been operating. A transfer embargo has prevented the club paying fees for players, yet they have managed to box clever in the free transfer and loan markets.
“Even at the start of the season, I had a conversation with the gaffer [Sergej Jakirović] and spoke about the embargo,” said Coyle. “I just said to him ‘gaffer, you've already got a good group of players in here with the right mentality’.
“I said ‘I know the club will work hard to do what they can’. By the way, the club assembled an incredible group of men. First and foremost, some really, really talented players they brought in the building, of course. But we gave ourselves the right chance from day one and we’ve been right there all season.”
Hull City not ‘dining out’ on achievement
There were jubilant scenes when the final whistle blew at the weekend, as fans raced on to the pitch and made their joy clear. After they cleared, Hull’s players paraded the pitch with their families in tow to thank supporters.
It was a high point in an eventful season that has had peaks and troughs, but 31-year-old Coyle has stressed the Tigers cannot “dine out” on their achievement.
“You have to calm everybody down, come back down to level ground and realise what's at stake,” he said. “We can't dine out on the fact that we've made the play-offs.
“Of course, enjoy the moment, but it'll be full focus going into Friday's game and then the following leg. All this team needs is a chance and we've shown that.”
Hull will host Millwall at the MKM Stadium on Friday (May 8) before visiting London for the second leg on Monday (May 11).