Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg has spoken for the first time since his side were reinstated to the Sky Bet Championship play-off final after the 'Spygate' scandal.
They were beaten 2-1 on aggregate by Southampton in the play-off semi-finals, but Saints were dramatically expelled by an independent commission on Tuesday night.
The south coast club - who also received a four-point deduction for 2026/27 - appealed the verdict, but on Wednesday night, it was confirmed that appeal had been dismissed.
The FA has subsequently announced it has launched an investigation into Southampton amid the 'Spygate' scandal.
Boro will now face Hull at Wembley on Saturday, live on Sky Sports, with a place in the Premier League on the line.
Unsurprisingly, the first half of Hellberg's press conference was dominated by questions on the subject.
"It's been a crazy time, back and forth with a lot of emotions from losing the game, to being involved and trying to keep your head in the game for what may happen. I'm very happy to be here," he said.
"The punishment is not for me to decide and I was never talking about punishment when I talked about it, either. I talked about my emotions.
"Since I arrived here, I've tried to be honest, tried to be open, not using 'no comment' or being like that. I've tried to be open with my emotions and it was never about anything other than that.
"I had nothing to do with the decision or punishment or what is right or wrong, I just talked about my emotions through the situation.
"Southampton is a big organisation. Of course, I have a lot of sympathy for supporters paying for tickets, thinking they were going to Wembley.
"There's a lot of sympathy for different things; for our fans and for Hull supporters.
"It's been weird for a lot of different teams and supporters. It's not fair to them, but it also comes from the decision they have made."
Hellberg admitted it had been hard to focus since the initial defeat to Southampton on Tuesday May 12.
"We tried to keep them [the players] here, but it's been impossible to train. We had a meeting with them here on Monday to try to see where we're at, but it's been very, very difficult," he said.
"I had to do something because we were waiting for things and trying to put belief into people. You couldn't go in to try to prepare for a game.
"I took my son to Sweden; that was very nice for me. Drinking beer, watching a game, shouting at the referee from the stands!
"It gives you perspective of it and some time with my son and thinking about something different. From that moment to coming home, it's been a lot of information about what may happen, what could happen. It's been some weird weeks.
Asked if privacy measures at Middlesbrough's training ground would need to be considered in future, Hellberg added: "The sad thing is you have to look at that.
"There should be respect around these things and it should not be something you have to do and try to hide and try to be secret with absolutely everything all the time.
"It's a lot about respect and that's why the rules are there. It should not be a question about if you can see in or not, it should be a question of what is right to do. Maybe we will have to look at that."
Jakirovic: No matter the opponent, this final has been our focus
Hull head coach Sergej Jakirovic:
"For sure it's a relief because since Tuesday evening we knew who we were playing against.
We prepared for at least seven days for Southampton because they won in the semi-finals and then, from Tuesday evening, we started to prepare for this game against Middlesbrough.
"Maybe it's a little bit short, but we already faced Southampton twice and Middlesbrough, so we know everything about them and they know everything about us, so we will see on Saturday.
"I'm optimistic because we had a few very good sessions. I can say it like this, our main focus when we reached the finals was this game.
"No matter who our opponent was, our focus and concentration is on our team, what we can do there, how we can use our advantages."
Was the correct decision made? "It's not on me. I can have my opinion, but it doesn't really matter because an independent panel brought this decision.
"My job is to prepare my team for the final and try to get to the Premier League."
Would it have been fairer to promote Hull automatically? "I think this is the best idea! We are in the final and they kicked out Southampton, so the best scenario for a movie.
"But we will see what will happen in the end.
"It's not a question for me, but if you're asking me, it's the best scenario for our club."
