TIGERS ARE REAL FAMILY
SERI HAPPY TO BE BACK TO HELP CITY’S PLAY-OFF PUSH
Michael Seri feels Hull City are a family he’s proud to be a part of after being given a welcome fit for a king when he returned to the Cottingham training ground after his Africa Cup of Nations winning exploits with Ivory Coast.
Seri was greeted with a ticker tape reception, a cake and hugs aplenty as head coach Liam Rosenior, the players and club staff welcomed back the popular 32-year-old, having guided the host nation to their final win against Nigeria.
From training on Monday, Seri was thrust straight back into the action on Tuesday, playing just over an hour in the 2-1 win at Southampton.
He delivered one of his best displays in a City shirt on a night where Rosenior’s men showed their promotion credentials.
“I said to myself, I’m proud to be a part of this team,” Seri tells the Mail.
“It’s not only a team, it is a family. The way they build the team is so great. Why? Because they look at first of all the person and after the footballer.
“That’s why we are a family, so I wasn’t surprised because I knew they were going to give me this kind of reception, but I was proud, proud to be part of this family.”
Seri’s absence was keenly felt both on and off the pitch in the six weeks he was away making memories that will last a lifetime, but naturally, the understated star is keen to downplay his importance.
“I know people say that to me, even the gaffer, your influence in this team is big and so important,” he said. “When you are here, it’s different. I said yes, but I’m not looking at what people think about me when I’m in a team.
“No, I just want people around me to be happy and express their self even without me, with me.
“I’m not thinking that there is a huge difference because when I wasn’t there, they won games, so I’m just happy to be back and happy to help my teammates to get where we deserve to be.”
A near-full house will greet the
Ivorian when he lines up against West Brom today in a crunch battle at the top of the Championship.
For Seri there will be no sign of taking adulation until after the game and when the job in hand is done.
“I will thank them after the game, not for me being back from AFCON, no, I thank them for travelling (to the game). I thank them for their support. We’re going to see what they’re going to reserve for me on Saturday, but I’m not the kind of guy who is waiting for something special, I don’t like that.
“AFCON is done now. We have to think about Hull now. I’m happy to be back, I’m happy to play in front of our fans on Saturday and I know it’s going to be a great day for us. It’s time now to win four games in a row.
“It’s time, as before we would win two and lose the next one or two, but now we win three games in a row.”