The Tigers captain has been speaking about his emotions after Saturday’s historic final day
Lewie Coyle was full of praise for his Hull City side(Image: Freddie Yeo/MB Media/Getty Images)
Lewie Coyle says he always believed that he had what it takes to guide Hull City to the Championship play-offs, as the Tigers prepare for Friday night’s semi-final with Millwall.
The Hull-born defender also hailed the work the club did in the transfer market last summer following the arrival of Sergej Jakirovic, despite being hit by a ban on buying players.
Coyle skippered City to a huge win over Norwich City on Saturday, with his free-kick leading to Oli McBurnie’s well-taken second goal.
That win, coupled with Wrexham dropping two points at home to Middlesbrough, meant the Tigers claimed their highest league finish in a decade and set up a mouthwatering showdown with the Lions, before the return in South London on Monday night.
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“I always backed myself,” Coyle told Hull Live. “I always believed I could captain this side to the play-offs, especially this season. Even at the start of the season, I had a conversation with the gaffer and spoke about the embargo and stuff. I just said to him, ‘Gaffer, you’ve already got a good group of players in here with the right mentality.
“I know the club will work hard to do what they can, and by the way, the club assembled an incredible group of men, first and foremost. Some really, really talented players that they brought in the building, of course, but we gave ourselves a right chance from day one. We were right there all season.
“Not had the easiest times the last couple of months, if we’re being brutally honest. That’s for no lack of trying; it’s a tough league. I think when you’re in the play-offs, people expect you to turn up week in, week out, and steamroll teams, but it’s never been like that in this division, I don’t think it ever will be, so to clinch the last spot on the final day, I think, was really, really, really fitting.”
Coyle admits the moment Saturday’s final whistle was blown was a special one, as he went over to celebrate with his family in the lower tier of the West Stand.
“Absolutely delighted for the lads and the staff and everybody involved at the football club,” he continued. “My first thought was to go straight over to my family. It’s important you enjoy these moments and enjoy with the people that stick by you and the people that you spend most of your time with, for me, it’s all about family.
“I was just trying to head over and grab my little boy and share this moment with him, because it’ll be a day when this is all said and done, and it’s the little memories that you cling onto. I’m big on stuff like that, and that was my first thought when the final whistle went.
“I still had doubts whether it was done. You see people running on, and you don’t know if that’s premature. I didn’t fully know what was going on in terms of the other results. I think I said to my mum, ‘Is it definitely done? And she was like, yeah, it’s definitely, definitely done, so you can relax’. Just incredible for everybody involved, and again for all the families of the lads.”
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