Ipswich Town: Kieran McKenna on Premier League challenge

McKenna led the Blues to a remarkable second straight promotion on Saturday, a 2-0 win over Huddersfield sending them up into the best league on earth.

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Asked after the game about the task of preparing for the top tier, McKenna said: "It's a massive step up, there's no doubt about it.

"It's not something I want to think about too much today, but I know it's a humungous step up in every department of the football club.

"It's going to be a massive, massive challenge to even be competitive in the Premier League.

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"We know there are some big, big challenges ahead, but they are challenges to look forward to, challenges to embrace.

"No-one externally thought we could get to this point. Those are things to look forward to, but they're things to think about next week.

"This weekend is for revelling in what we've done so far."

Ipswich Town have won back-to-back promotions under McKenna (Image: PA Images)
McKenna is no stranger to the Premier League of course, having served as assistant boss at Manchester United.

And he's looking forward to getting back there as manager of the Blues.

He said: "I've coached in the Champions League when I was 31/32, I've coached in the Premier League, been involved in those big games and it's brilliant.

"You want to test yourself against the best clubs, the best teams, the best coaches. It's going to be a great challenge to go and do that again.

"For me, my value comes in how I help the people around me, how I represent the football club that I'm working for, how I try and improve the team, the players and the club.

"Of course it's going to be fantastic to have that challenge in the Premier League next year, but it's been fantastic to have it this year in the Championship and it was fantastic to do it last year in League One too."