Wagner walks the walk as tiny Terriers chew up critics
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Huddersfield Town celebrate with the trophy after winning the Sky Bet Championship playoff final and getting promoted to the Premier League at the Wembley Stadium, London, England, May 29, 2017. [Photo/Agencies] |
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Fittingly for a team that became the first in Football League history to be promoted with a negative goal difference, Huddersfield needed penalty heroics to advance.
It saw off Reading thanks to on-loan Liverpool goalkeeper Danny Ward's save from Jordan Obita and a cool winning spot-kick from Christopher Schindler.
"Before the shootout I said to the players, 'We worked 10 months and you have the chance to come to the Premier League. All you need to do is put the ball in the net from 12 yards,'" Wagner said.
When the Premier League schedule is released, Wagner will look for Huddersfield's dates with Liverpool - Reds manager Jurgen Klopp has been his close friend since they worked together at Dortmund.
Klopp, godfather to one of Wagner's daughters, was the boss back in Germany, but they will meet in England on equal terms.
"I will speak to Jurgen for sure, about everything that happened," Wagner said.
"It will be funny to meet him in the Premier League. He's a pal but it doesn't mean it won't be crazy on the touchline."
While the Terriers look forward to the big time, Reading manager Jaap Stam faces the difficult task of lifting his players' shattered morale.
"What we achieved this season is great, but in a final it doesn't matter how you play, the result is the most important thing," said the Dutchman.
"It's hard, but that's how it goes."
Agence France - Presse
