Ipswich Town manager emphasizes that he and his players won’t expend any emotional energy concerning the performance of key Championship…
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna emphasizes that he and his players won’t expend any emotional energy concerning the performance of key Championship rivals Leicester, Leeds, and Southampton.
Southampton secured a 2-0 victory at West Brom, while Leeds also won by the same scoreline against Plymouth. Despite these results extending their lead over Ipswich Town in the tight race for automatic promotion, the Blues responded with a hard-fought 2-1 win at Swansea, putting them within a point of third-place Southampton (whom they face on Easter Monday) and three points of second-place Leeds (with a game in hand).
When asked about the form of the teams Ipswich Town is trying to chase, McKenna stated, “I know it has zero impact on me, and I actually don’t think it does on the players either. Sometimes you worry with things like that, that it will infiltrate the group, and they’ll worry about other teams’ results, but I honestly don’t get any sense of that whatsoever.”
He continued, “Our position is a little bit different to the other teams we’re competing with this year. Last year, as much as we never mentioned it, I was more conscious of Plymouth’s results or Sheffield Wednesday’s results. I had more glances at the table.”
McKenna emphasized the team’s focus on their own performance goals and cultural development rather than fixating on points totals or rivals’ outcomes. Despite acknowledging the strength of the competition from Leicester, Leeds, and Southampton, he stressed the importance of not wasting emotional energy on comparing themselves to these formidable teams.
When asked if he preferred being the underdog in the promotion fight, McKenna responded candidly, stating that the team would have preferred financial advantages such as parachute payments and additional flexibility under Financial Fair Play regulations. However, he highlighted the team’s humility, spirit, and consistency as crucial factors in making the best of their current situation. Acknowledging the desire for a more robust squad, McKenna expressed the team’s focus on maximizing their potential within their current circumstances.
