The versatile forward has discussed his team’s prospects in the top tier next season.
Ipswich Town forward Conor Chaplin has shared his thoughts on his team’s potential performance in the Premier League next season, following their remarkable achievement of securing back-to-back promotions.
Achieving consecutive promotions from the third tier of English football to the Premier League is an extraordinary feat. Fans of such teams have every reason to aim high, especially considering the challenges newly promoted teams face in one of the toughest leagues. The 2023/24 season saw all three newly promoted teams relegated, serving as a cautionary tale for Ipswich, Leicester City, and the winner of the Leeds United vs. Southampton playoff.
Chaplin, 27, has expressed his views on how the Tractor Boys might fare next season. He acknowledges the difficulty of the task but understands the optimism surrounding Ipswich’s capabilities.
In an interview with EADT, Chaplin stated,
“I don’t know. I think we’ve probably got to be realistic. But I know off the back of this season, people will probably be like, ‘What are you on about?! You might as well dream big!’ We’ll probably assess that with the coaching staff and the boss in the coming weeks when we come back into pre-season, but the main aim will be to be competitive. We have to just get better. We know the club is going to recruit to try to help us. To stay in the division is going to take an incredible effort from everyone, and we’re going to need improvements to do that on and off the pitch. It’s up to the lads that are here to prove they should be part of the team.”
Reflecting on his personal ambitions, Chaplin added,
“I know for a fact that in a couple of weeks, when the dust has settled, I’ll want to be a good player in the Premier League. I really wanted to come into this season and be a good Championship player, and I felt like I’ve done that. To get over 20 goal contributions was a big aim of mine. I was really happy about that. I wanted to be consistent at this level and I feel I found my consistency quite early in the season. Now it feels like a dream, but I want to do that again in the Premier League. I want to be fitter than I’ve ever been before. I want to be a better person and a better player than I’ve ever been before. That’s something that I’m so excited for.”
Ipswich should approach their Premier League campaign with the same confidence as previously promoted sides.
The 2023/24 season has been challenging for teams trying to make a mark, with all three newcomers relegated. However, Ipswich’s ability to adapt quickly to new levels, as demonstrated by their success in the Championship, will be crucial.
Burnley, Sheffield United, and Luton Town struggled to make an impact this season, but Ipswich’s proven resilience and adaptability give them a solid foundation to believe they can succeed in the Premier League, despite the tougher challenges ahead.