Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy is looking forward to competitive football starting again, as he begins to make his pre-season preparations.
McCarthy went on holiday soon after Ipswich lost to Norwich in last season’s Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs, but his mind is firmly on the task ahead now.The announcement of The Football League’s fixtures for the 2015/16 campaign has helped focus McCarthy, and he realises the difficulties that their opening day match against Brentford presents.
The Bees also made it into the Play-Offs last campaign but the 56-year-old boss is still optimistic about his side’s chances in the fixture and for the remainder of the season.
“It’s going to be a tough start but we had a good result the last time we went there,” McCarthy told Ipswich’s website.
“Both sides are coming into the season having lost in the Play-Offs and both will be wanting to push on again.
“It’s a competitive league, the Championship. You’ve got the teams that have come down with their parachute payments and you’ve still got the likes of Fulham and Cardiff who you’d expect to be stronger this time around.
“But I’m excited, definitely! I’ve had a lovely break but it’s back to reality now and when the fixtures come out, that’s when you want to get going again.
“We’re back in training in a couple of weeks and the fixtures coming out is a reminder of that. A reminder that there’s work to be done and I’ll be looking forward to getting back with the lads and the staff.”
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