Norwich City

Neil leads Canaries to the Premier League

ALEX Neil heaped praise on his heroic players as Norwich City were promoted to the Premier League on a famous afternoon at Wembley Stadium.

First half goals from Cameron Jerome and Nathan Redmond fired the Canaries to a deserving 2-0 triumph over Middlesbrough in the Sky Bet Championship play-off final on Bank Holiday Monday.

City will now compete with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal once again, but Neil passed the credit on to his squad – despite the remarkable turnaround since the Scot was appointed manager in January.

“The players were determined, they were focused and they were ready,” he told reporters after memorable celebrations in front the close-to 40,000 travelling support.

“I told them that the worst thing that the worst that could possibly happen would be that you’re scared and you play with fear.

“I felt with the quality we’ve got, and if we made sure the occasion didn’t get to us, then we’d manage to do the job. Thankfully that was the case.

“I always believed if they done enough, then they would have been good enough.”
 



The Canaries have suffered just three defeats in the 25 matches with the 33-year-old as manager, and the Wembley win extended their unbeaten record away from Carrow Road in 2015.

Neil pointed to his support network at the Club, adding: “If I’m honest I’m more pleased for everybody else than I am for myself.

“The players; the fans and Delia, Michael & David, who appointed me and had the bravery to do that.

“One thing that drives me is making sure that I don’t let these kinds of people down. I’m more pleased for them than I am for myself. I had a job to do and I’m just pleased that I managed to do it.

“It was great, honestly absolutely unbelievable.”