Sheffield Wednesday: Collective composure is key in Play-Off Final, believes Pudil

Daniel Pudil has stressed the importance of the Owls keeping their cool when they tackle Hull City in the Championship Play-Off Final.
Daniel PudilDaniel Pudil
Daniel Pudil

There will be plenty at stake in the all-Yorkshire encounter, which will be staged at Wembley on Saturday, May 28, kick-off 5pm, with a lucrative place in the Premier League on the line.

Left-back Pudil, a member of the Watford team who lost to Crystal Palace in the Final three years ago, is under no illusions at the size of the task facing Carlos Carvalhal’s men as they look to end a positive year in style.

“There will be 85,000 to 90,000 people at Wembley so there will be big pressure on both teams,” he told The Star. “There’s a lot riding on it on the financial side.

“But we have to try and be calm, go there and enjoy the game and we will see what happens.”

The 30-year-old enjoyed the celebrations after Monday’s draw at Brighton and Hove Albion confirmed their involvement in the end-of-season showdown which is generally regarded as the world’s richest match.

But Pudil, on loan from Watford until the end of the campaign, stated: “It’s very nice to get to the Final but the most important step is the next one. That means winning the game and getting to the Premier League.

“We have one step more to take so we will take a rest, get back to work and be ready for the Final.”

Pudil was included in Czech Republic’s provisional squad for this summer’s European Championships yesterday. The defender was one of five English-based players to be selected in the Czech squad, including Arsenal duo Petr Cech and Tomas Rosicky.