‘The toughest two weeks I have been through’ – Hellberg on Middlesbrough’s Play-off heartbreak

Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg says the past two weeks have been emotionally draining for himself and the club after losing the Championship Play-off final to Hull City.

After being reinstated into the play-offs following Southampton’s expulsion for ‘spygate’, Middlesbrough suffered their second heartbreaking defeat in two weeks as Oliver McBurnie capitalised on a Sol Brynn error to score a 95th minute winner for Hull, who return to the Premier League for the first time in nine years.

Middlesbrough were the much more dominant team for large periods of the match, but failed to convert any of their chances. Hellberg, who replaced Rob Edwards in November 2025, says the emotional factors behind the repercussions of spygate and the past two weeks are no excuse.

“It was the toughest two weeks I have been through,” Hellberg said. “With the emotions and back and forth and handling those things. 

“From the game and the extra time and how that game ended. From the first game when we came to the stadium. The supporters were amazing and how we handled that first half and didn’t score.

“It’s been a back and forth with so many emotions. Seeing players and staff and supporters sad. Then back and forth and back and forth. It’s been tough. It’s been draining emotionally. But there is no excuse.

“Hull scored a goal today and you have to congratulate them. We were ready to play the game. It’s been a crazy season for everyone, with changing managers in the middle of the season, in comes a new one. Everything that has happened.

“For us it’s just to keep growing and improving.”