Kieran McKenna understands that the move to the Premier League would be a huge challenge for Ipswich Town, but feels that the club’s ‘fundamental identity’ will put them in a strong position to remain competitive. The Blues achieved back-to-back promotions to return to the top level after 22 years away, having previously played in League One just 13 months ago.
Now they’ll be prepared to face some of the world’s largest and finest teams, which will undoubtedly be a significant task for the entire squad.
Nonetheless, McKenna is thrilled about what’s to come, emphasizing that the team must focus on the ‘togetherness’ that has propelled them to this point in such a short period of time.
“It’s a significant improvement, without a doubt,” he told TownTV.
“If I may put it clearly, going from the Championship to the Premier League is a bigger step up than going from League One to the Championship, so it’s a huge jump.
“With the quality of players and managers, it is the best league in the world. It has the best players, the best managers, and the most attention.
“We know going into it that there’s going to be challenges, we’re not going to win as many games, we’re not going to be as dominant as we have been in the last couple of seasons, that’s for sure.”But what a challenge to face! A generation of fans will witness the best players and managers in the world come to Portman Road week after week.
“Another generation may have seen it before and assumed it would never happen again. The Club and the
“Town is back on the global map, and it will be fantastic.”We will cling to the identity that we have created, the team that we are, and the principles that we uphold as a team and a football club. We’ll need to learn to adapt and find new ways to win games and get points.
“The fundamental culture that we’ve established, the core identity that we’ve built, the unity, the spirit that we’ve built – not just in the playing group, but among the players, staff, supporters, and board – that’s what we need to lean into.
“That’s the bit that needs to stay rock-solid, that’s the bit that will make this season even more enjoyable and that’s the bit that I believe will ultimately give us a fantastic chance of having a good impact and staying in the division.”That is what we must adhere to, and that is exactly what we will do. Doing so, I believe we have a tremendous year ahead of us.
“We’ll meet the challenges head on, we’ll meet them as a club, and I think we’ll have some great days and enjoy it along the way.”
The Premier League matches will be released next week on Tuesday, June 18th, at 9 a.m. BST.
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