Huddersfield Town Manager Neil Warnock hold his final pre-match press conference
- Huddersfield Town vs Reading FC
- Neil Warnock speaks to press ahead of final fixture
- Watch full press conference via HTTV on YouTube below
Huddersfield Town Manager Neil Warnock was in fantastic form in his final pre-match press conference since returning to the Club ahead of the closing fixture of the 2022/23 season.
Discussing his time at the Club, securing safety against Sheffield United and the fixture against Reading on Monday 8 May at 3pm, the Manager said:
“It’s been a feeling of relief honestly, one more massive effort to get it over the line - I didn’t want it to go to the last day.
“I’ve got experience of getting relegated on the last day, and I’ll always remember that day - it gives the other team such an incentive, so it’s such a relief.
“What I’m going to do in the morning is breathalyse them all and then we’ll pick the best group from that!
“I think everybody has lifted their game, I can’t just pick one player - even look at the back, I don’t think there’s a better back three than Pearson, Lees and Helik.
“There’s not a lot to change with the squad if I’m honest, one or two new faces wouldn’t go amiss but I don’t think you need to make too many changes just for the sake of it.
“To be successful you’ve got to have a really good spirit in the dressing room, and we do here.
“To be honest, I haven’t thought about leaving much until I was planning on when I was heading back to Cornwall, and that’s when it hit home.
“I’m bound to miss it, because it’s been 24 hours a day for me and I’ve been very well looked after. The quietness of the place has helped, it’s just a lovely area.
“Obviously you’re bound to be tired at my age, but I’ve stayed fit with my workouts - the lads have loved laughing at me in my headband!
“I’ve stayed sharp, and you have to so that you can related and speak to these young athletes, and now a few of them are like my son.
“We’ve had a great run and we’d like to finish on a high, I think getting 53 points would be an achievement.
“The players deserve to be celebrated too, they’ve put a real shift in these past few weeks and the dressing room and really matured. It’s been superb really.
“I think we’ve played some good stuff, we have been nervous once or twice at the beginning of games with the pressure on, but we’ve been okay when we’ve got to half time!
“You can’t really put what we’ve been through in these games down in writing - we’ve all learned something.
“He’s a likeable rogue, Josh Koroma, I love him, me - but his music is a disgrace in the dressing room before the games!
“There’s something about him. I think I’ve got the best out of him but he’s worked his socks off, he’s been outstanding. He was the best player on the pitch the other night.
“It’s amazing what you can do when you want to do it. I haven’t asked them to do anything they can’t do, but maybe it’s just something they haven’t done before.
“Hopefully I’ve helped a few, even those who aren’t in the team.
“Reading will want to finish on a high. The caretaker in charge will want to do well. They’re a club I’ve always enjoyed battling with.
“I think the second half against Norwich was really important. We could have got turned over three or four but we came back and were disappointed not to win in the end.
“That have us the belief for Millwall, and then Middlesbrough and Watford.
“It was difficult when we first came in, it doesn’t happen overnight. We needed to make changes and make the game simple.
“The following has been fabulous, the away end at Millwall couldn’t believe it really! Everyone has mucked in across the Club.
“We’re delighted that the new owner Kevin can come in and be in charge of a Championship team, and I’m sure he’ll enjoy it.
“The only downside for me is that I haven’t been able to get on my bike! The roads are so narrow, Sharon has told me not to get on or else I’ll fall off!
“Obviously I’m better looking than Roy Hodgson and Sam Allardyce, you know that don’t you?
“Sometimes you need some experience. But sometimes you need that change, that new voice.
“After the game on Monday I can go back to giving my opinion on everyone as a pundit, so you’ll have to watch and see what I think!
“Ronnie Jepson has done a fantastic job for me, and speaking to him brings home how far we’ve come. We were seven points adrift with top teams to play.
“But that’s why I love the Championship, bottom can beat top every weekend. We’ve managed to get it right more often than not to get the points.”
Watch the full press conference via HTTV below!
Come and give Neil and Ronnie the send off they deserve on Monday afternoon at the John Smith’s Stadium! CLICK HERE to secure your seat!
