Kieran McKenna is relishing the prospect of Ipswich City beginning life within the Premier League with matches in opposition to Liverpool and Manchester Metropolis.
Ipswich are again within the prime flight after a 22-year absence, having received consecutive promotions from League One and the Championship below McKenna.
The Premier League fixtures for 2024-25 have been introduced on Tuesday, with Ipswich discovering they may begin their marketing campaign at dwelling to Arne Slot’s Liverpool on Saturday August 17.
Ipswich then play away to champions Man Metropolis, the winners of 4 straight league titles, on Matchday 2.
Regardless of being handed a frightening begin on paper, McKenna can’t wait to get going.
“It’s a incredible begin,” he mentioned to Sky Sports activities. “Everybody goes to be so excited, two of the most important golf equipment in world soccer with a house begin in opposition to Liverpool – it brings all of it to life and it’s a tremendous begin for us.
“We’re delighted to have a house recreation first. We all know the ambiance that has been created over the previous couple of years at this stadium and we all know it would keep on, much more so this 12 months.
“It’s nice to have a house begin and to have among the finest groups within the league is for positive an enormous problem.
“After all, they’ve a brand new supervisor, however we aren’t going to underestimate the size of the challenges we’re going to have all season.
“Actually, Liverpool shall be [a big challenge] on the primary day however on the identical time the ambiance goes to be incredible. The gamers shall be as prepared as they presumably could be and it’s a recreation we’ll actually look ahead to.”
Let’s go. pic.twitter.com/uTxdYnsRvf
— IPSWICH TOWN (@IpswichTown) June 18, 2024
Ipswich’s success led to McKenna being linked with main jobs on the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United within the aftermath of his workforce’s promotion.
McKenna in the end signed a brand new four-year contract to stay with Ipswich and is now decided to look ahead.
“When you have got had the success we’ve got had during the last couple of years then there may be going to be curiosity,” mentioned McKenna, who was beforehand assistant supervisor at Man Utd.
“These are non-public choices. In everybody’s profession, it’s a must to weigh issues up and see what’s best for you and your loved ones, and issues like that. That’s a pure course of.
“There’s all the time an expert choice to make however there’s additionally all the time the non-public choice to make.
“I’m so, so blissful to have secured my future right here at Ipswich. It’s the primary 12 months in 22 years again within the Premier League. We’re one of many first groups to get a double promotion again to the Premier League in a really very long time and I needed to be a part of that.
“It’s going to be a tremendous season for the soccer membership and I’m simply so excited that I’m going to be the one main the workforce out by these fixtures, and we’ll work actually onerous to proceed the journey we’ve been on.
“After all these kinds of issues occur naturally every time golf equipment or gamers or workers members have success, however everyone seems to be now simply trying ahead to the season forward and the challenges we’ve got.
“The membership took an opportunity on me and gave me the chance at 35-years-old and we’ve had a incredible couple of years collectively. It’s a fantastic soccer membership that I’m so proud to handle.
“I do know we’re going to give a extremely good account of ourselves.”
