Norwich City Boss David Wagner finally decided ahead of  Leeds United playoff Clash…

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Norwich City boss David Wagner admits he takes plenty of confidence from the history he has with the Championship play-offs. Wagner is busy preparing his Norwich side to take on Leeds United at Carrow Road this Sunday afternoon before the Canaries travel to West Yorkshire next Thursday night in the return leg of the semi-final.

A date at Wembley Stadium awaits the winner with Southampton and West Bromwich Albion gunning for the other spot in the play-off final, with a place in next season’s Premier League on the line. The play-offs can be a daunting prospect for those who have not experienced them before given the pressure and expectation that comes with them.

Wagner, though, has been there and done it all before with Huddersfield Town, who he took to the Premier League through the play-offs route back in 2017. The Terriers finished fifth that season and were far from the favourites to win promotion, but they overcame Sheffield Wednesday over two legs before holding their nerve against Reading at the national stadium.

Huddersfield drew the final 0-0 but edged out Jaap Stam’s side on penalties to step back into the top flight for the first time since 1972. The German knows how to achieve play-off success then and he’ll be doing all he can to replicate everything he did seven years ago to make his first full season with the Canaries a success.

“If you’ve done it before, then it gives you confidence because you know how to approach it. I will give my players all the information that they need to be successful,” the Norwich boss said, as per the Pink Un.

“Momentum doesn’t count, I think we lost the last two games before we went into the play-offs [with Huddersfield], didn’t score and only won two of the last eight. Being favourite or not doesn’t count. I know what counts, and I will let the players know. They are the ones who have to know.

I’m absolutely happy and satisfied with what the players achieved. Maybe we don’t have the best squad in terms of individuals, but I know we have the best team. This is the card that we will bring into the play-offs.”

Southampton manager Russell Martin has experience of winning the Championship play-offs, too, but as a player. Martin skippered Norwich in 2015 as they won promotion back to the top flight at Wembley and while his role is different now, he’ll know what it takes. West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan also has play-off experience, missing out on promotion with Huddersfield as Nottingham Forest edged them out in 2022.

Daniel Farke may have more promotions on his managerial resume than his competition combined, but he is the most inexperienced of the bunch when it comes to the play-offs.

 

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