Sergej Jakirovic says taking Hull to the Sky Bet Championship play-off final is “maybe the best thing that happened in football in my life” and that leading the Tigers out at Wembley will be “a dream come true”.
After a goalless semi-final first leg against Millwall at the MKM Stadium on May 8, the 49-year-old masterminded a 2-0 win on the night at The Den, courtesy of goals from Mohamed Belloumi and Joe Gelhardt.
On Saturday May 23, live on Sky Sports Football, Hull will face either Southampton or Middlesbrough, with a place in the Premier League on the line.
Highlights of the Championship play-off semi-final, second leg match between Millwall and Hull City
It marks a stunning turnaround for the Tigers, who survived relegation on goal difference alone just over a year ago and have been under a transfer embargo for the past two windows.
Speaking on Sky Sports Football after the final whistle, Jakirovic said: “Since day one, they have been a very nice group. Togetherness is very high. This embargo maybe even stuck us together even more.
“Also, (there is) chemistry between the players. Nobody is angry when he doesn’t play so he must be ready.
Sergej Jakirovic has guided Hull to the Championship play-off final
“I am very proud of this group of players because they achieved something that was, at the beginning of this season, just a dream.
“I was thinking, ‘OK top 10 is our target’, but when we started the season I was, in the first months, a little bit worried how we would look, but every game we were better and better, so this is great award for them to go to Wembley. I never been to Wembley so this is also my dream come true.
“I had great success until now as a coach; won the championship [with Zrinjski Mostar and Dinamo Zagreb] and everything, but with the problems we had through all the season, with a lot of injuries, with this embargo this is maybe the best thing that happened in football in my life.
“It’s a great feeling, an amazing feeling. We were fantastic today. All the players did a great job. It was very difficult, demanding because we knew they would start very strong, but we responded very well and we are going to Wembley!”
Coyle: That was everything I know this team is about
Hull captain Lewie Coyle on Sky Sports Football:
“Incredible. It’s something we all believed we could do when we finalised that play-off spot on the last day in such dramatic fashion. We said why shouldn’t it be us?
Mohamed Belloumi’s classy strike finds the back of the net and gives Hull City the lead against Millwall in the Championship semi-final
“We’ve grafted all year to put ourselves in this position and it wasn’t a case of us just making up the play-offs; we fully believed going into the two legs against a very good Millwall side that we could come out on top.
“The game at home was a little bit cagey and then we’ve come here today and what a fantastic performance from the lads. So professional and just everything I know this team is about.
“It sums it up perfectly that we’ve put that performance in to cap off an unbelievable season. But we’ve got one more special game to go to achieve what everybody in that dressing room and at the club believes we can do.”
Hinchcliffe: ‘Magnificent’ Hull deserve their day at Wembley
Andy Hinchcliffe on Sky Sports Football:
“A lot of observers would have thought, i’t’s Millwall at home, it’s obvious they are going to win and get to Wembley’.
Joe Gelhardt comes off the bench and scores almost immediately to give Hull City a 2-0 lead against Millwall in the play-off semi-final
“But with the way Hull play, it’s not about dominating the ball, it’s about individuals who can change the course of matches.
“They’ve done it all season long, that’s why they got into the play-offs and that’s why they’ve got through this second leg. They were magnificent tonight.
“They had a bit of a sticky patch in the first half but I just think they controlled the midfield, they were devastating when the subs came on and they thoroughly deserve their day at Wembley.
“Southampton and Middlesbrough will do their homework on Hull, but you’ve got to be so wary of them. They have shown all season, if you underestimate them or don’t plan for the way they play, you will come unstuck.”
