--- source: thedugout.football generated: 2026-06-09T17:20:49.990Z data_provider: API-Football canonical: https://thedugout.football/clubs/hull-city/news/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaHVsbGRhaWx5bWFpbC5jby51ay9zcG9ydC9mb290YmFsbC9mb290YmFsbC1uZXdzL2h1bGwtY2l0eS13ZW1ibGV5LXByZXNzLWNvbmZlcmVuY2UtMTA5NzcwNDM --- # Hull City pre-Wembley play-off final vs Middlesbrough press conference - **Source:** - **Club:** Hull City - **Original URL:** https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/hull-city-wembley-press-conference-10977043 After what has been a dramatic period since beating Millwall in the semi-final, the Tigers can now look forward to take on Boro after their place in the final was confirmed on a dramatic Wednesday evening. The whole build-up has been dominated by Southampton's spying charge, but attention can now turn to the game at Wembley on Saturday afternoon. We're live at City's training ground in Cottingham to get all the latest from inside the Tigers' camp, so stay tuned for updates on Thursday afternoon. As always at Hull Live, we want your involvement. Join us below by commenting below, on Twitter @HDMHull City or on Facebook where you can interact with our Facebook Live broadcasts, and you can now enjoy our latest podcast episode right here. You can also join our City WhatsApp community and get the latest news from the MKM Stadium straight to your mobile device. Click here to sign up. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. New Updates21st May13:27 BSTThat's allThat wraps up the manager's press conference here at the club training ground. We'll of course have much more from the manager over the next couple of days. And while we have you, we've an eight-page pullout and plenty of coverage in tomorrow's HDM as well as on Hull Live, plus much more to come this afternoon. Thanks for being with us. CommentsJames Smailes21st May13:25 BSTSergej on the matchIt is important we have a strong start, keep calm and be happy with the ball, then we will try to use our advantages.CommentsJames Smailes21st May13:22 BSTPreparationsSergej says he has watched 7 Middlesbrough games in the last two days to get ready for the match at Wembley. CommentsJames Smailes21st May13:20 BSTToby CollyerSergej confirms he has returned to Manchester United and is done for the season at Hull City. He add he thinks Collyer will still be at Wembley to support the team. CommentsJames Smailes21st May13:19 BSTKyle JosephHe had surgey on Monday and he is good. It's the other ankle to last time, but last time he never had surgety and had problems, so he decided this time. We hope he's ready for the start of next season.CommentsJames Smailes21st May13:18 BSTFamilyI have bought 70 tickets. I am very rich (he jokes).I am very proud to have all my family and friends coming over. I am very proud of this group and they deserve everything.CommentsJames Smailes21st May13:17 BSTExperienceWe have seven international players and they know how to play in a big game, which is very good.CommentsJames Smailes21st May13:17 BSTScheduleWe travel today and have a session down there and then that is it.It is important for us to arrange a walk around Wembley Friday night, to see the pitch. It is good for us to feel the stadium.CommentsJames Smailes21st May13:15 BSTHow hard for Boro playersIt is hard because you switch off and then you must switch on. It is not easy to prepare like that for this type of game.CommentsJames Smailes21st May13:12 BSTPreparationI'm very happy game is Saturday. My first question was will they postpone, because 12 days until the final is already too long. They have to change this. Two times play in three days and then 12 days off, they can change this.For two days we had celebrations as a team, then we trained, had a weekend off and since monday it has been a normal week.We will see Saturday about how well be have prepared. We want to show the football we have played this season.CommentsJames Smailes21st May13:10 BSTHow tight a game?It will be a tight game, one or two goals.CommentsJames Smailes21st May13:09 BSTSpygateIt's not up to me what happens. The best idea is to automatically promote Hull (he says joking).It is not a questiomn for me, but would be the best scenario.Our focus was on Southampton, so from Tuesday it changed and that means it;s been short. But we had omne good session tactically and tomorrow we will decide who is in the first XI and hopefully we have a good performance.The players are full focussed on the final. It is a 50/50 game no matter who is the opponent.CommentsJames Smailes21st May13:08 BSTSergej on the matchThe players have trained well and we have prepared like every game this season.CommentsJames Smailes21st May13:07 BSTSergej on the last few days and SpygateFor sure it is a relief because since Tuesday we now know who we are playing. We prepared for seven fays to play Southampton because they won the final. Maybe it is a bit short (the build-up for Boro), but we have played them twice and we know them and they know us.CommentsJames Smailes21st May13:05 BSTSergej is hereThe manager is here, here we go. CommentsJames Smailes21st May13:04 BSTWhile we wait Hull City Wembley hero Craig Fagan has urged Sergej Jakirovic's players to make the most of their walk around at Wembley Stadium on Friday night, before the best part of 85,000 pack in on Saturday afternoon. Here's some of what he had to say to our 1904 Club podcast. CommentsJames Smailes21st May13:03 BSTWho did you want City to play against?CommentsJames Smailes21st May13:02 BST5 minute warningSergej is running 5 minutes late, for which we can all happily blame Mike White of the BBC. The City boss is finishing up with Mike and then will be with us. CommentsJames Smailes21st May12:52 BSTTalking pointsThere's lots to go at with the manager today from the fact it is now Boro and not Southampton City are playing, but beyond Spygate and everything else there's an injury report to get, team news, preparations for Wembley and much more. It should be a lively one. We're hoping the manager will be with us shortly. CommentsJames Smailes21st May12:44 BSTGreat atmosphereThere's a great atmosphere down at the training ground this lunchtime. The owner Acun Ilicali is here and has been on good form, while the staff are all mingling about as training gets ready to start. CommentsJames Smailes21st May12:40 BSTGoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood afternoonWe're in Cottingham this afternoon at City's training ground ahead of the Tigers' big trip to Wembley this weekend, and we'll be speaking to Sergej Jakirovic and Lewie Coyle, so stay tuned for updates.