We take a look at what the managers have said ahead of the 24/25 Championship playoff semi final 2nd legs taking place this week.
Sheffield United and Sunderland go into the 2nd leg with a win, the Blades winning 3-0 last week, while the Black Cats won 2-1.
But as we all know with the playoffs, anything can happen. Whatever the lead, you’re still not safe as seen in previous years. Still have a job to do to book a place at Wembley.
SCHEDULE:
Semi-final first legs
Thursday May 8: Bristol City 0-3 Sheffield United – Ashton Gate, kick-off 8pm
Friday May 9: Coventry 1-2 Sunderland – CBS Arena, kick-off 8pm
Semi-final second legs
Monday May 12: Sheffield United vs Bristol City – Bramall Lane, kick-off 8pm
Tuesday May 13: Sunderland vs Coventry City – Stadium of Light, kick-off 8pm
Final
Saturday May 24: TBC vs TBC – Wembley, kick-off TBC
SKY BET ODDS:
Sky Bet – 12th May
Sheffield Utd – 4/6 (was 13/8)
Sunderland – 13/8 (was 11/4)
Coventry – 8/1 (was 11/4)
Bristol City – 66/1 (was 5/1)
COVENTRY’S FRANK LAMPARD:
“The players have to understand how we’ve got to where we have,” Lampard said to BBC CWR.
“From being around 17th at Christmas, looking a long way from the play-offs, the reason we’ve got to where we are is because of the way we play, because of what they do individually within that collective.
“You saw the way we want to play. Sunderland came and respected us and got their result. They need to keep doing what they are doing and trust themselves.
“It is a game of football, forget the talk and environment. It is a game to play without the errors, and with more intent.
“Only the goals [were negative]. The rest of the game was ours to a big degree, we played pretty well. We had a lot of the ball, created chances.
“They defended well, but the responsibility is on us to have a little bit more intent, more at the top end of the pitch.”
SUNDERLAND’S REGIS LE BRIS:
On the tactical approach, he said, per Sunderland Echo: The second goal changes nothing. We have to win this game, this is in my mind. We have to have the same mindset. Games are unpredictable so you have to be proactive.
On pride in the season: It’s important to be proud because after the last period, it’s always easy to have a different view of the season. This game was important to say, ‘this is Sunderland’. They earned fourth early. The last part was difficult but we knew why. When you lose, you take criticism. This game at Coventry was like a symbol about our season, ‘this is Sunderland’. But now we reset, another game, we know it’s not finished.
Playoff research: It highlighted the idea that the small details will make the difference. So it’s important to be strong out of possession, organised, no complacency. It’s more about mistakes maybe, maybe one creative player can make the difference. It reinforced my idea. These games are different, they are very tight. The players were ready. They are a good team. No doubt about this. It is a good challenge, we want to be proactive rather than trying to protect something.
On being accused by Coventry of over celebrating: It wasn’t the case. It was really clear and I was really proud of this reaction because as the staff, we didn’t need to do anything. The players knew it was just a start. We need to finish the two legs and at the end, we’ll see who is the winner.
On Rigg and Mepham’s reaction to missing out: Disappointed, sure. But positive as team mates, which I expected. In this group it has always been the case. These two players are so well connected with our squad and our ambition as a club and a team. We know we can’t play with 11 players. We need five subs, six if we go to extra time. It’s important to have this full squad connected, even if you’re disappointed not to be in the XI.
After the Coventry game: It was the case immediately after the game. They were really grounded, aware that it is just half time. We knew that this is two legs, and nothing would be done after one. We’ve trained really well for these games. The players switched on. We secured so early our position, after that because it was impossible to chase automatic promotion, it becomes difficult. If you are not 100%, you don’t sort the little details on the pitch. We showed at Coventry we are in a different place. We felt about three weeks ago that it had changed in training.
On injuries: Romaine will be available. Aji will have to wait a little bit, probably next week.
SHEFFIELD UNITED’S CHRIS WILDER:
Asked what coming through the tie would mean to him, Wilder said, per Yorkshire Post: “More than anything I’ve ever wanted in my life professionally.
“The determination and desire from everybody at this football club is to go to Wembley and give yourself that opportunity.
“The first thing we wanted to do was to gain (automatic) promotion and unfortunately we fell a little bit short on that but the opportunity now is to go to Wembley and put ourselves in the annals of famous Sheffield United teams. But there’s still a lot of work to be done.
“The attitude coming off the pitch on Thursday, that wasn’t for show. That was to know this is how it is. We’ve still got a job to do.
“The club have given me some incredible moments and I’d like to think we’ve played our part – myself and the staff – in trying to get the club back to where it wants to be – an established, respected, proper football club. I think we’re there now. We want to go and make that next step.”
“The atmosphere on Thursday was electric from our support, it was a great environment to play football in. We want to be involved in big games – next season and at the end of the month.
“I felt a little bit for them a bit at the end, because I grabbed our players and took them off. They wanted to have that connection we’ve had all season but deep down I think they understand the reason why and it’s up to us to produce those performances to get them on board.
“A lot of people were on that journey in 2016 and it grows and it grows. It’s like me talking about my experience at Leicester and older supporters talking about Darlington.
“Were you there the night United got to Wembley and we played well and got the result we all want?
“I know financially it’s a really tough environment, I’m not taking that for granted. The punters have sold out away from home and that’s not easy – travel, food, ticket prices and a couple of beers along the way.
“We do very well to keep our prices down and we’re a people’s football club because we don’t overprice, we want it to be accessible and we want that ground to be full.
“They’ve got a huge part to play and I’d like them to be involved on that journey as well.”
BRISTOL CITY’S LIAM MANNING:
“We’re definitely not down and out; that has to be the mindset of everybody,” Manning said, per Bristol Post. “It’s funny, naturally you tend to look at comebacks and the history of comebacks, and I’ve gone back through loads and spoke the other night about the League One play-off a few years ago.
“You go back to the Champions League final, which we were laughing about this morning, 2005, the Milan-Liverpool one. We were chatting to a few of the lads about that, which was quite funny because there were quite a few of the lads who were born after 2000, so there were a few who were either not born or still in nappies when that game happened. That’s the beauty of it; if you throw the towel in now, that speaks volumes about you as a person and a professional.
“I’ve said it from day one coming in here. I’ve had to fight to get into the position that I’m in, having had numerous setbacks, not making it as a player etc. So for me, I’ll be fighting until the final whistle tomorrow night and I’ll be expecting the same of the lads, and that has to be underpinned by a huge amount of belief.
“There’s no expectation or pressure on us. Nobody expects us to get anything from tomorrow night, so for me, it’s, can you look yourself in the mirror and know that you gave everything?
“I think that’s the biggest bit of your behaviours, how you go about it, the fight you show, the passion, that has to be built into you and knowing this group, they’ve shown it. How long ago was Preston? However long ago that was, we’re 2-0 down with so much to play for, and we got it back to 2-2. We have to use those experiences and that belief.
“It’s half-time, they scored three in a leg, why can’t we?”
