Loovens: We are ready to do business
GLENN LOOVENS believes Sheffield Wednesday are now ready to make the step up to the Premier League as they prepare for their Sky Bet Championship play-off semifinal clash at Huddersfield.
The Owls suffered play-off final heartache last season after they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Hull, courtesy of a stunning long-range strike from Mohamed Diame to earn the Tigers a place in England’s top-flight.
Wednesday responded to the extra expectation on their shoulders this season to finish in fourth place and secure another play-off berth, where they take on their Yorkshire rivals over two legs for the Wembley final on May 29.
And Loovens, who has two caps for Holland and also played in the Old Firm derby and played against Manchester United in the Champions League during his spell at Celtic – believes playing in last season’s final was the biggest match of his career.
He said: “We all know Sheffield Wednesday is a big club and has a massive support so there is only one place where everyone involved with Wednesday wants to go and that is the Premier League.
“Everyone knows it is probably one of the biggest games you can play and is one of the biggest I have played in.
“The chairman invested heavily in the squad and I think the squad has improved a lot. And if you see what the chairman is doing with the training ground, he is improving everything he can.”
They take on a Terriers side who they have not lost to in their last seven league encounters, which includes Carlos Carvalhal’s side winning the last four, but captain Loovens believes it will be a tougher test this time around.
“They have done superbly this season,” he said. “But I think the momentum is with us because we have done so well lately, although we have to be focused and treat it like another game and everyone should be confident going into this game.
“Everyone was really disappointed last year and we just want to make sure it doesn’t happen again. We have to go all the way now.”