Town manager Gary O’Neil says he’s really enjoyed the club’s very busy transfer window in which around £170 million has been spent and 13 players have been brought in, the most recent, Exequiel Palacios, perhaps the highest profile signing in the Blues’ history.

O’Neil, who was appointed on June 23rd following Kieran McKenna’s departure, says he came in knowing how the club planned to attack the summer and prepare for their return to the Premier League.

“I knew the plan,” he recalled. “So I knew we were planning to do a lot of business and that we were working hard to recruit some high-quality players. So I knew that it was possible.

“Whether it's the best transfer window of my life is a fairly easy question. I don't think I've ever had one where we signed so many players before, so the answer to that is yes.

“And I've really enjoyed it. It's been everything really, to have to commit and convince players that this is the place for them, to still get the team ready to perform each week, to be working closely with a recruitment team.

“It's been a real big effort from everybody and I'm really appreciative that I get to sit here and answer the questions. But honestly, behind this is just an unbelievable team that has put so much work into getting us to this moment.

“It doesn't guarantee your success, but it does guarantee that you're going to have a right go, and that's what we're trying to do, that’s what we're trying to push.

“Each week, each training session, just trying to improve upon what we do, improve upon ourselves and see what we can achieve.

“As I’ve said, we're not putting a ceiling on it. There's no sort of points target. The target is to be the best version of us every time we step out, whether that be on the training ground with no one watching or whether that be at Old Trafford with tens of thousands of people. 

“We just aim to give the best version of ourselves and we back ourselves that that will put us in a good place come May.

“So, yes, great summer. Feels like the summer might be over. I had to wear a drill top out today at training, but it was a good summer. Fantastic summer for the club.

“I want the fans to remain excited. I want them to carry that excitement with them for as long as they can because there has been a lot of work that's gone in and they should be excited.

“And now it's over to me and the players to make sure that we perform and keep pushing as hard as we can.”

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