Kieran McKenna reflects on Ipswich’s promotion to the Premier League
Kieran McKenna has admitted that this season’s promotion has been the toughest yet after Ipswich secured a return to the Premier League with a commanding 3-0 victory over QPR at Portman Road on Saturday, reports BritPanorama.
This win sees McKenna leading the club to three promotions in four years—twice to the Premier League and once to the Championship. The result spurred a jubilant atmosphere among supporters, who flooded the pitch to celebrate with players and coaching staff.
McKenna, a former Manchester United coach, expressed his delight post-match, acknowledging the hard work that went into achieving this milestone. “It’s probably been the hardest one if I’m honest. It’s brilliant,” he stated, highlighting the challenges faced in rebuilding the team after a significant drop from the top flight.
Reflecting on a slow start to the season, he noted that Ipswich has displayed considerable improvement as the campaign progressed. “We started slow, which can happen, but we have steadily improved over the course of the year,” he added.
George Hirst, who opened the scoring just three minutes into the match, shared his joy, emphasizing the significance of the promotion. “This year everyone wanted us to fail but we’ve done it. It’s been difficult, we’ve made it hard for ourselves, but who cares, we’re back in the Premier League and that’s all that matters,” he said.
Captain Dara O’Shea also captured the sentiment of the moment, stating, “It means everything. This is what we set out to do at the start of the season. Everyone had their say, but we have done it.” O’Shea underscored the challenging nature of the league, affirming the dedication required to achieve success.
As Ipswich prepares for its Premier League campaign, the focus now shifts to maintaining their status in the top flight. The celebrations signify not just a return to prominence but a renewed belief within the club, a reminder of the competitive spirit that underpins English football.
