Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg has spoken publicly for the first time since his side were dramatically reinstated to the Sky Bet Championship play-off final following the expulsion of Southampton amid the 'Spygate' scandal.

Boro had lost 2-1 on aggregate to Southampton in the semi-finals, only for an independent commission to expel the south coast club on Tuesday night. Southampton launched an immediate appeal, but that was dismissed on Wednesday, confirming Middlesbrough's place at Wembley. The FA has since announced a formal investigation into Southampton over the affair.

A fortnight of chaos

Hellberg described the past two weeks as a whirlwind of uncertainty and emotion, admitting it had been nearly impossible to maintain any semblance of normal preparation.