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That’s all from the boss! An extended press conference ahead of a huge game. Plenty to recap and discuss, with quotes from KM coming up on the site shortly. We’ll also be talking to Wes Burns soon.
After that, onto the real stuff. Liverpool at home! See you at Portman Road tomorrow.
No changes in terms of fitness and injuries.
Steven Alzate trained with Ipswich until yesterday but has gone to explore other options. The right thing for him. Did well in his week with the squad.
KM says the mindset is this: any newly-promoted side will want to maintain their position. For Ipswich to do that would be an incredible achievement and that’s the reality. Everything else, and what they talk to the players about, is improvement. If they did that last season in the Championship, the optimistic players would’ve said sixth. They don’t want to put a ceiling on what they can do.
Survival is clearly key but that won’t define their campaign.
A bit more on Phillips – KM says he’s still getting to know him but admires his career path, stepping up from the Championship with Leeds, earning a big move, playing for England. Calls him a ‘very good person, a humble man and a good team-mate’. Very few players in the game have won what he’s won and the aim will be to get him back to the level he’s hit before. Ipswich are about always about improving, whether that’s Morsy / Luongo in their 30’s, Phillips in his late 20’s or Hutchinson at 20.
KM says it’s been a challenging window because it’s been busy. Need to improve the depth, first and foremost, as well as different qualities in the coming weeks. That’ll have to run into the start of the season, which is natural. Very happy with the business so far.
KM says Town will have to find a balance of playing attacking football and being more solid. They could be dominant in League One and found a way to be brave and bold in the Championship. This, again, will be another challenge, but they can’t lose their core principles.
KM stresses that the step-ups from League Two to League One and League one to Championship are incremental in terms of difficulty. This is totally different. Town will need to add more bodies to compete at this level. Hopes that his own experience will help but he won’t rest on that. Same for the players who’ve played in the Premier League before because it changes a lot.
He believes that the team will improve as the season goes on – that’s part of the culture and new signings will need time to settle in.
KM says he felt more pressure in L1 because it wasn’t a ‘natural habitat’ for the club and it’s a really tough league, a lot of top teams. The biggest challenge was that first promotion, getting out of the third tier.
On interest from elsewhere and his new deal – KM says it’s natural that there will be interest in him and his players given how well they’ve done. It’s better to have that than people talking about them negatively, but proud to be here, having arrived as the youngest manager in the EFL. They’ve supported and backed him, and he’s proud to lead them into the Premier League. Anything else wouldn’t have felt right.
KM says that this game means a lot for the town and the county. A generation who though they’d never see Premier League football again and another who’ve never seen it here before. A special occasion but Ipswich need to focus on the performance.
KM is aware that the three sides who were promoted in 22/23 were relegated straight back down the following season, but that’s not common. The challenge is clearly big and even bigger when Town came up from League One the previous campaign. Won’t compare them to other teams.
KM doesn’t believe that Liverpool will be an easier opponent due to their new manager, but says that the club wanted a home game against one of the best teams in the league. Says the Reds are a fantastic team who appointed a ‘top, top manager’ and had a great pre-season. Under no illusions as to how difficult it’ll be.
KM admits Town didn’t have the vision that they’d jump from League One to the Premier League in three years. Knew that, particularly with the ownership, that would be the longer-term ambition, but doing it so quickly is the product of hard work.
KM says Phillips brings experience and quality. Major international experience and has won numerous trophies at one of the top clubs in the world.
He’s come through at Leeds, progressed from playing in the Championship to attacking the Premier League under Bielsa. He’s had the experience that a lot of Town’s current group will face.
He knows what it means to fight and work in the toughest league in the world.
BREAKING NEWS: Kalvin Phillips has joined Ipswich Town on a season-long loan
KM expects Szmodics to be in tomorrow’s squad. Adds that the game is primarily about the players who’ve been here for the last season or two, deserve to go out feeling 10ft tall. A lot of players making their Premier League debuts tomorrow – maybe up to 12 who might including subs. Szmodics might be in that.
KM says new arrival Szmodics has impressed everyone. Last season was a standout due to his goalscoring record, especially for a bottom half time, but the boss is particularly impressed by the way he’s constantly improved. He deserves his shot at the Premier League after working up from League Two, like a lot of the players at the club. A fantastic fit and a very good player.
On Ed Sheeran buying a stake in the club – it’s very nice to have his support. He’s a lifelong fan who loves his team and his county. Great to have a global superstar supporting and sponsoring the club.
KM says they’ve had a long pre-season with the early Championship finish and avoiding the play-offs. Good, competitive games with a few challenges – a slightly smaller group – but it’s been a busy summer and everyone’s been working hard. Expects the stadium to look fantastic and he’s very excited for the game.
McKenna is here!
The boss says that the fans have waited a long time for this moment and the players have worked hard. They know the scale of the challenge and the task of the head but they’re excited.
Hello from Playford Road!
We. Are. Back.
Ipswich Town are preparing for life in the Premier League. Tomorrow, they host giants Liverpool at Portman Road in their oepner. Manager Kieran McKenna will be in shortly to preview the action.
Should be a busy one following the announcement of Sammie Szmodics, the Championship top scorer. More to come? Let’s wait and see!
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