City return to action on Friday, the first of nine games remaining in the season.
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Liam Rosenior has advised his players to seize the opportunity front of them, while urging supporters to create an environment worthy of the excitement around a potential drive for a Wembley play-off final. City has nine games till they can compete in the play-offs for a chance to return to the Premier League.
City have returned to England following a week-long training camp to Antalya, and they are already well into their preparations for the visit of Stoke City on Friday afternoon, followed by a game against Leeds United at Elland Road on Easter Monday. From there, City will play Cardiff, QPR, Middlesbrough, Watford, Coventry City, Ipswich Town, and Plymouth Argyle on the last day of a nine-game mini-league including at least five clubs vying for a play-off spot.
It is the first time since City’s elevation from the Championship in 2015/16 that the Tigers are entering the closing parts of the season with a possibility of promotion to the Premier League.
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“It’s been nice and refocused and reenergized (during the break), and I’m really excited now, this is the exciting part of the season,” Rosenior said in an interview with Hull Live. “We’re in a terrific situation; we got our international players back today, which was amazing to see, and we’re back to work and doing what we enjoy. It was just what we desired. The players enjoyed some great times together. We had some very great open chats, and not just about football.
“The training (in Antalya) was excellent, and the facilities are world-class.” The weather was fantastic, and it felt like a shift. I believe the timing of our visit was ideal. Five days was more than enough, and I believe we were eager to return and begin what will be a very thrilling finale to the season.”
City’s most recent excursion was a frantic 2-2 draw with Leicester, a game Rosenior’s side should have won, and his squad will face a sold-out crowd on Friday afternoon against a Potters team fighting for survival.
“It feels like three years, let’s get back to it,” he told me. “It’s difficult when you’re a manager; sometimes you have three-week holidays. Yes, it’s a mix of getting the players in the correct spot in terms of training, and it’s wonderful to have a break, but you may overanalyze everything because you lack focus. I can’t wait for the games to start again.
“I’m definitely looking forward to Friday; packed crowd, excellent atmosphere, and two teams competing for different reasons. Let’s get things going and see where we can get to.
“These situations are why you play football. I’ve been in a lot of relegation battles, and they’re incredibly difficult. I’ve had a handful of seasons where we knew we were secure, either as players or as the previous season. We knew we couldn’t exactly get where we wanted to go, or where we all wanted to be. This year is entirely different. It’s exciting. I’m excited.
“I have no idea what’s going to happen; no one does. That’s why we’re playing football. That is why we love football, and all I want is for the players and everyone affiliated with the club to have a good time, and I will say this: don’t go too high or too low. It is the foundation upon which we have constructed everything.
“If we win against Stoke, we won’t necessarily make the playoffs. If we lose against Stoke, it does not mean we will not make the playoffs; it is simply another stage.
“It is actually a nine-game league.” If we win our game in hand, we’ll be level on points with the play-offs, and there will be plenty of football to play. Let’s just enjoy the moment and give it our all, and that’s all you can ask for.”
