Cor blimey
CORBERAN HAS TAKEN TERRIERS FROM NO-HOPERS TO THE BRINK OF BIG TIME
TWELVE months ago, Huddersfield Town limped to a dismal 20th-placed finish in Carlos Corberan’s first season in charge.
Next Sunday at Wembley, the Terriers face Nottingham Forest in the Championship Play-off Final for a place in the Premier League.
From no-hopers to Wembley finalists, it has been a staggering turnaround at the John Smith’s Stadium under their ambitious young Spanish boss.
Corberan initially struggled to implement the high-energy, possession-based game he learnt during two years at Leeds as Marcelo Bielsa’s assistant.
But this season his methods have worked a treat and an astute recruitment strategy, which saw the likes of Tom Lees, Jordan Rhodes, Lee Nicholls, Matty Pearson, Ollie Turton and Josh Ruffels arrive last summer, has paid huge dividends.
Huddersfield’s success in finishing third – they have lost just three of their past 31 games – has been founded on a collective desire.
Captain
Jonathan Hogg said: “Getting to Wembley is no more than this team deserves.
“We’ve been written off since day one but we’ve dug in, ground out results and put ourselves in a fantastic position now.
“The dressing room is unbelievable – it’s second to none with the character and top-class personalities in there.
“Alongside that is the work-rate which makes it a special team.
“We can be proud of ourselves for getting this far, but the biggest prize is still ahead.”
Fellow midfielder Duane Holmes said: “This is the best group I’ve ever been involved in by a country mile. I love every single one of them and we’ve got one more huge game now.
“Having come through at this club and now getting the chance to play at Wembley, for a place in the Premier League, is a dream come true.”
Rhodes was the goal hero in Monday’s semi-final second-leg win over Luton, his late strike securing a 2-1 aggregate success.
The striker returned to the club in the summer after big-money moves to Blackburn Rovers, Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday, in fees totalling £27million.
As Gabrielle’s ‘Dreams’ was belted out in the victorious home dressing room on Monday night, 32-year-old Rhodes said: “You always dream of these kinds of moments when you’re doing all your running in pre-season.
“But when it becomes a reality, it takes your breath away.
“This group is made up of great players, but even better people, and it’s been a really collective effort this season.
“They’re just a really honest bunch and we go to Wembley with a chance. Who knows what the 90 minutes might bring?”
Corberan will be supported at Wembley by family members, including his wife and their young son, who was born earlier this year.
The Terriers boss, 39, said: “Some of the important people in my life are in Spain and I like that it is now approaching summer and people can travel and be with us and experience Wembley.
“Now is the moment to keep calm and help my wife with my baby because he has not been sleeping a lot in the night!”