Huddersfield Town head coach André Breitenreiter says there will be changes to his all-but-relegated Terriers side when they visit Portman Road on Saturday for a final-day game that should see the Blues promoted back to the Premier League, but not too many as he knows his team need to remain professional during such a big match.

The second-bottom West Yorkshire side can still finish level on points with Plymouth in 21st but would require an unlikely turnaround in goal difference to remain a Championship club next season.

“We were all sad because it’s over now,” the German, who took charge in February following Darren Moore’s sacking, said reflecting back to last Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with third-bottom Birmingham City.

“Fifteen goals to score, it’s not really realistic. Most of the people were really sad but we arrived [back at training] on Monday and experienced a good atmosphere.

“It goes on and now we have the last game and we have to present ourselves as good possible.

“It’s a massive game, especially for Ipswich. They need one more point and we want to end the season as good as possible, maybe with a very good performance and if it’s possible, also with a win.”

Asked whether it’s important for him that Huddersfield’s intentions going into the match aren’t questioned, Breitenreiter said: “It’s the last week now, so we concentrated in the first half of the week on recovery and on trying some exercises, then Wednesday we were off and today we prepared the match plan.

“Ipswich is a team with good play in ball possession, they play well, they’ve scored a lot of goals, 90, I think, they won on Tuesday at Coventry 2-1 and it’s a massive game because it’s sold out, it’s a good atmosphere and it should be special, also for our players to give their best and to show everyone a good performance.

“So we prepared the plan and now the players know about everything, will train on Friday and then we leave to go to Ipswich to give our best.”

Terriers fans appear ambivalent at best regarding the final day, knowing the Blues claiming a point would deny their West Yorkshire rivals Leeds United an automatic promotion place.

“I understand our supporters, they don’t like their neighbour club,” the Huddersfield boss laughed. “In Germany, it’s not allowed to speak the name of the neighbours.

“When we have the derby, I understand this, but we are all professionals and it’s our task and our job to do the best every time and many players maybe want to show their best performance to show they are the right person for next season or maybe they want to shine for a new task at another club.

“I’m sure that everyone will try to give his best and when it means that we also finish the season with a good result, then the fans also deserve that we give our best, and we’ll try to give our best.”

Breitenreiter was very critical of his players following the draw at Birmingham, questioning the commitment and work ethic shown by some in his dressing room, feeling there were those more disappointed than others regarding the club’s relegation, some leaving early, as he says they did every day.

He was also damning regarding the pre-season programme during Neil Warnock’s time in charge - Moore took charge in September - in which he had been told “the team trained once per day and the focus was on playing golf and maybe staying in the pub”.

He says conversations regarding the future of his squad - and also whether he remains in charge - will take place next week, believing the Terriers “need a reset” and that “many things need to change”.

“You can be sure that we take just the players to travel with us to Ipswich who we think are right because some players are on loan or some players are thinking maybe in their heads that they’ve left the club,” he said regarding Saturday's match.

“We also want to give players a chance who every time give their best in training sessions, maybe it’s time for them to get a chance, but not so many changes because we have to be professional because of the massive game. We can speak about the whole thing later.”

Despite his critical comments regarding his players, Breitenreiter wasn’t particularly unhappy with last week’s display and confirmed one of the changes he’ll make on Saturday with keeper Chris Maxwell, sent off at Portman Road while playing for Preston in Paul Lambert’s first game in charge, coming into the XI for the first time since December.

“I spoke directly in the press conference after [last week’s] game, the performance last week was absolutely OK, the players gave their best, many players blew up after a few minutes, after 60. But that we have to accept because they tried their best,” he said.

“For Saturday, one change I can tell you, we change the goalkeeper because Chris Maxwell deserves to start one game when I’m in charge because he was professional the whole time, he is absolutely clear and he had with Lee [Nicholls] the whole season, so he deserves to play in the last game.

“We spoke today to Lee and to Max and both are fine. This is one change that’s nothing to do the behaviour because Lee is absolutely a good character.”

Photo: Nurphoto

TresBonne added 15:33 - May 2 Just play the kids mate...please?
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PortmanTerrorist added 15:48 - May 2 Sounds liked a complete muppet. Am sure whatever 11 he puts out they will give it a go, but if I compare his words with what we are used to at Town, then hardly surprising he could not inspire better out of Huddersfield, who gave us a real game in misearble weather up at their place under Darren Moore. COYB, 1 more point !
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tractorboybig added 15:56 - May 2 beware remember maidstone
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OliveR16 added 16:08 - May 2 EFL Rule states “For any league match played on or after the fourth Thursday in March, any team sheet for a league game should include at least 10 outfield players who featured on the team sheet for the league match before.” But he could put 9 of the 10 on the bench!
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Crawfordsboot added 16:11 - May 2 PortmanTerrorist - come on we are better than that unnecessary snipe. Where is he behaving like a complete muppet. A bit clumsy in use of language perhaps but nothing more.
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Northstandveteran added 16:18 - May 2 Especially as he is not speaking in his native tongue.
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USA added 16:22 - May 2 Can you imagine KMc being interviewed and say we tried some exercises and then had a day off. Then on Thursday we prepared the match plan. I’d be appalled.
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Blue56 added 16:28 - May 2 Crikey, they are a club with problems!
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barrystedmunds added 16:28 - May 2 Given our habitual failings of allowing the away team to score first at PR it could make for a nervy afternoon!!!! They certainly made life difficult for us at their place and despite their predicament, we have to treat them with respect. I’m equally sure that KMcK will have us prepared and up for the challenge.
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TractorfactorSteve added 16:36 - May 2 What a mess they do seem to be in.
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ArnieM added 16:46 - May 2 Playing young players with a point to prove much harder to play against than seasoned pros who have thrown the towel in. This game is definitely no dead cert for Town. We need to approach this with total focus snd professionalism. Anything less and it’s egg on face time.
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Spamfortea added 16:49 - May 2 We HAVE to respect Huddersfield Town. The away game up there was tough and we were lucky to snatch a point. Huddersfield have lost fewer games than any team in bottom half of the table (other than Watford). It has been the number if draws that relegated them (they have the most in division). There is now now pressure on them and they might be quite dangerous if taken for granted.

17

oldblue added 17:02 - May 2 Don't believe a word of it... they'll be trying...on our game we will be ok
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SickParrot added 17:24 - May 2 It's live on Sky, so their regular players should want to show that their better than their league position suggests and the players given a rare start will want to show what they can do. Also, they are under no pressure to get a result so they can play with freedom. They could therefore be a tricky opponent but Keiran won't underestimate them. Hopefully rather than park the bus a liberated Huddersfield will come to attack, which should give us space to play in. At the end of the day though, however they set up, our quality and extra motivation should enable us to get the result we need. Let's hope we can do it with style and avoid any nail biting.

10

62WasBest added 17:40 - May 2 The whole season boils down to this one match. Everyone at the club knows that and all the supporters too. That is is the foremost thought to bear in mind. Without concentration all that previous good work is wasted and no game is a given. So, it us that need to give the professional display, as I am sure we will, not Huddersfield. After all, McKenna is never anything less than professional and meticulous.

7

FromIpswichToPhoenix added 17:42 - May 2 I have no doubt that McKenna will take this as serious as he has for any of the previous 45 games. He knows we have a fight on our hands regardless of 3rd place or 23rd place.
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ITFCSG added 18:10 - May 2 My Huddersfield colleague says that Breitenreiter is a decent manager and tactician but apparently some players doesn't really like him for being too straight talking and blunt. There is already talk of an exodus, it will be interesting to see which players will leave in the summer. Underestimate them at your peril.
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Stato added 18:51 - May 2 Both Leeds and us probably home and hosed but half time and Portman Road will be a festival of singing all our favourite players songs in the 2nd half. Buzzing that Blue Action are going to coach welcome again. Hopefully some of the US owners will be in attendance and join the players and staff on the pitch at the endf
0

BlueWax added 18:56 - May 2 Tractor boy big I get it, really...but we had over 30 shots v Maidstone and they were backed by many fans, also they were playing for a piece of cup history. I really think it will be 5 nil and 3 by half time. What a season it's been We will miss the championship and it will miss us. Dreading VAR
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BlueWax added 18:56 - May 2 Tractor boy big I get it, really...but we had over 30 shots v Maidstone and they were backed by many fans, also they were playing for a piece of cup history. I really think it will be 5 nil and 3 by half time. What a season it's been We will miss the championship and it will miss us. Dreading VAR
2

Gforce added 18:58 - May 2 100% focus required for 90 + minutes. They will inevitably be difficult to break down, but i really hope we can score early and relieve the tension. Fingers crossed.
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Linkboy13 added 19:02 - May 2 Because of the occasion and knowing what we have to do these matches tend to be twice as hard . So it's very important we don't over think things. I believe Huddersfield will start quickly but once we get the first goal preferably early it should be ok. It's important the crowd don't show signs of frustration if we find it hard to get that opening goal as this tends to lift the away team. I think we will win it 3 . 1 but like all games in the championship you have to work hard for it. COYB.

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 19:14 - May 2 We're not on the beach yet, but I trust K McK to keep us at the necessary level of performance.
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SpiritOfJohn added 19:17 - May 2 Interesting interview. The Huddersfield coach is clearly unimpressed with the effort and fitness of some of his players, but very unusual for a man in his position to air his views so publicly. Could be a trick to motivate a team that will have their relegation confirmed on Saturday. If we stick to our principles we should prevail.
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Gforce added 19:49 - May 2 Regardless of the scoreline, I've a feeling the Huddersfield fans will be singing Leeds are falling apart again ! On quite a regular basis!
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