Hull relaxed ahead of Man Utd game

21 May 2009
The boss has actually given us a couple of days off this week. I think the idea is to be as relaxed as possible in the build-up to the Manchester United game. We can´t afford to freeze on a big day like Sunday. The manager knows how to get the best out of us and I´m sure we´ll be raring to go.

Our point against Bolton last weekend was a massive result for us. We deserved to win but Jussi Jaaskelainen had a brilliant game and kept us from going on to take all three points. He did the same against us at the KC Stadium earlier in the season. I think he´s saved his best games of the season for Hull! Even though we didn´t get the win it was important to show we can make chances. That gives us more confidence going into the match against Manchester United.

Newcastle losing was a bonus. After their win against Middlesbrough we thought they would push on and get points against Fulham. The fact they didn´t meant our point was enough to take us out of the bottom three, which is hugely important. Now we have survival in our own hands again.

Everyone was pretty down in the dumps after the Stoke defeat the week before. We´d played well against Aston Villa in the previous game. But against Stoke, in what was a massive match, we didn´t perform well.

The manager then told us we were all heading off to the Lake District and I don´t think the boys were all that pleased. But when we got there it was really good. We did different team exercises like building rafts, canoeing, archery and clay pigeon shooting. It seemed to bring us all closer together. The performance against Bolton was certainly much better.

I don´t think we should be worrying about what team Manchester United put out against us on Sunday. You have to be a good player to play for Manchester United so whatever team they put out will be a strong one. The one thing in our favour is the fact the game is at the KC. The fans have been fantastic all season and they´ll have a big part to play in keeping us in the Premier league on Sunday. They´ll be behind us 100 per cent and it could give us the extra boost we need.

On Monday it was the supporters´ club awards ceremony and I won their Player of the Year award, then the following night I won the club´s Player of the Year, Players´ Player of the Year and CITY magazine Player of the Year awards. It´s a real honour. I´m not sure where I´ll put them all at the moment! It´s the third year I´ve won the supporters´ award. That has never happened before so that makes it even more special.

If I play the entire game on Sunday I will have played every minute of Hull´s league season, which is something I´ve never managed before. You don´t have as many games in the Premier League as in the lower divisions so I suppose that´s helped, but it will be a good achievement to last the whole season. I can´t say it´s something I´ll be thinking about though, all my concentration will be on keeping Hull in the Premier League.