‘We can’t get complacent despite cup win’, says Hull boss Mike Phelan

Hull City may have made history in reaching the semi-finals of the EFL Cup this week, but manager Mike Phelan is urging his players not to get ahead of themselves with important Premier League fixtures looming.

Eldin Jakupovic’s penalty-saving heroics saw the Tigers past Newcastle United in the quarter-finals, with the Swiss keeper keeping out spot-kicks from Jonjo Shelvey and Yoan Gouffran.

That put Hull into a semi-final clash with Phelan’s former side Manchester United, the first time the club has ever reached that stage of the competition.

But with seven Premier League matches still to come before their trip to Old Trafford during the packed Christmas schedule, including clashes with relegation rivals Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace in the next fortnight, Phelan wants his charges to focus on the here and now.

Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images

“We were always going to land a big team, but it’s a great draw and we’ll be excited for those games when they come around next month,” said Phelan.

“It’s a special draw. We’ve managed to get to the semi-final of this competition and this club has never achieved that before, so that is a step in the right direction.

“It’s something the players can be proud of and now we have to face one of the big boys in Manchester United.

“For me personally, it’s also something special because I spent most of my career at Old Trafford as a player and as a coach. Because we have a league fixture against them early next year as well, we’ll be going there twice in a short space of time.

“However, all of that might as well be a million miles away because we have a lot of important fixtures before we get to the first leg.”