Can Middlesbrough rally from ‘Spygate’ saga for Championship play-off final against Hull at Wembley? | football news

‘Unprecedented’ is a word that can be thrown around quite easily in football.

But this championship will make the play-off final? There is no other way to express how insane it was.

Until two days before the start of the semi-final, it looked like Middlesbrough and Southampton would have a thrilling clash between the two attacking teams. Then, everything changed.

The home and away legs were played under the dark cloud of the ‘Spygate’ saga. And Boro’s players were stunned when, after 116 brutal minutes of their second leg, Shea Charles’ cross eluded everyone to find the back of the net, seemingly taking Southampton to Wembley with a 2-1 win.

A week later, however, Saints were relegated and Middlesbrough’s Premier League dreams returned. An appeal was then dismissed 24 hours later – the Championship play-off final was finally confirmed between Boro and Hull City.

From despair, to restlessness, and now just a few days to prepare for the biggest game of their lives.

Unprecedented.

Hellberg’s reset: ‘I went back to Sweden with my son, had a beer and shouted at the referee from the stands’

It has been a roller coaster for Middlesbrough boss Kim Helberg, to say the least.

Humiliation before the semi-final in the face of early complaints, sheer frustration after their early exit after the second leg.

Going back to Sweden with her son for the weekend must have helped her reset and gain a sense of perspective.

“I had to do something because we were waiting for (the verdict) and trying to instill faith in people,” he said at his pre-match press conference on Thursday. “You couldn’t go out trying to prepare for a game.

“I took my son to Sweden; it was great for me. Drinking beer, watching the game, shouting at the referee from the stands.

“It gives you perspective on it and thinking about some time with my son and something different. From that moment to coming home, there’s a lot of information about what could have happened, what could have happened.

“There were a lot of emotions. It was a crazy time, with a lot of emotions from losing the game to being involved, trying to keep my head in the game for what could happen. I’m very happy to be here.”

In terms of preparation, it was best limited to at least midweek.

“We haven’t trained (properly) since the last Southampton game,” Hellberg added on Thursday. “We were in one day, but if it was our training we would have big problems.

“But it was important to try and stand up for these things and try to make it possible, and everyone around the club has absolutely shone.

“It’s been a strange time. I’m doing everything I can to prepare my team for the game.”

Ayling: I was giving my son a bath when I found out we were back in the final

Luke Ayling is 34 years old and probably feels he’s been through it in football. At least until this week.

There is always time to explore new territory in your career.

“We were a bit in the dark as players,” said the Middlesbrough defender Sky Sports. “But the club was more enthusiastic about it because we didn’t know what was going on behind the scenes and what evidence they had about espionage.

“The club was very confident and tried to drill it into us that we might have a chance to play, so we had to be as focused as possible.

“It was tough because you lose a game and think the opportunity is gone, then suddenly you have to start again if you’re going to get another opportunity.

“Over the weekend it started to become a bit more clear that we might have a chance. We came on Monday and trained, then on Tuesday we got the good news.

“It just started to get real. It was all a bit of a shock at the time. I was having a bath with my little man on Tuesday night and then the message came that we were going to Wembley.”

Ayling also admits that having so little time to prepare was a challenge, but he also sympathizes with leaving Hull in the dark about who they will be facing.

“It was difficult because we are now building up to the biggest game of our lives with probably only three proper training days,” he added. “But we’ve had a few tough sessions over the last few days to get our legs going and the boys will be ready.

“I feel sorry for Hull too because they were preparing for Southampton, so you feel for them on that basis. But at the same time, at least they’re training knowing there’s a game on Saturday.

“It’s been tough, but we’re very grateful for the opportunity. We know it’s a huge opportunity that we’ve been given back, and we believe it’s right. We’re really happy and can’t wait to go.”

Can Boro rally mentally after a ‘freak week’?

Sky Sports News’ Keith Downey:

It’s been a weird week here in the Northeast, around these parts of the training ground where I’ve been stationed for the better part of the last two weeks.

When Middlesbrough returned from Southampton a day after their play-off semi-final defeat, it seemed that was it for them. The players looked drained mentally and physically.

The ‘Spygate’ scandal still hung over things, but you wondered if they’d have another game. At that stage, I thought it would be really tough for them if they were to play in the final.

They were able to train only once on Monday before the verdict was announced on Tuesday.

Helberg said that if the players perform at Wembley on Saturday the way they trained that day, when the whole club was still inactive, then they have no chance.

All they got since the semi-final loss was rest. Physically, they’ll be fresh, but it’s really about where they are mentally.

They thought they were out of the competition, then suddenly back into it and still aren’t sure where things go from here.

While Hull went to London on Thursday, Middlesbrough only go on Friday. They are not allowed to train on the pitch at Wembley, but Hellberg plans to take the players on a tour of the stadium the day before the game to let them get around.

I think it’s part of trying to get their heads around this incredible situation.