Ask Kieran McKenna about Ipswich Town’s playing style for the season ahead, and his response might surprise you.
McKenna has crafted a high-pressing, goalscoring juggernaut, amassing 194 points and scoring 193 goals across two consecutive promotions, elevating a struggling League One side back to the Premier League in less than three years.
Many of the players who embarked on that journey remain at the club, with seven starting against Liverpool on opening day. But the team has reached a ceiling.
Their signature high-press, territorially dominant playstyle faces limits, especially with a squad that still features many League One-era players. Even using this approach in last season’s Championship campaign was bold, considering Ipswich’s goals conceded nearly doubled after stepping up to the second tier.
But McKenna stuck to his principles and was vindicated with an extraordinary 96-point haul and another promotion.
While McKenna’s name is synonymous with this relentless style, he’s aware it needs to evolve with Ipswich’s rapid rise. The Northern Irish manager is no stranger to pragmatism, having displayed it early in his Portman Road tenure.
When McKenna first took charge in late 2021, with Ipswich languishing in mid-table, his priority was to solidify the defense. The team recorded seven clean sheets in his first 10 games. Only then did the goals begin to flow.
Hard work and aggression have been non-negotiables under McKenna, but as Ipswich adapt to Premier League football—with £100 million worth of new signings—he remains flexible about how these qualities manifest.
“At this stage, it’s about adapting as a group to the level,” McKenna tells Sky Sports. “We’re trying to be competitive in each game, to develop our style and figure out what that looks like at this level, home and away, while trying to win every game along the way.”
He acknowledges the summer overhaul was significant, with many players lacking Premier League experience. The opening run of fixtures, against Liverpool and Manchester City, was a baptism of fire.
“We want to be brave, dominant, and aggressive with and without the ball,” McKenna continues, “but we also understand the demands of the league. It’s not going to be like that in every game.”
Ipswich’s rise has come full circle—from an attacking, high-octane approach to the defensive solidity that first sparked their journey to back-to-back promotions. McKenna insists the team won’t stubbornly adhere to a style that could backfire, as Burnley experienced last year.
They’ll press when possible, as demonstrated against Liverpool, but they’ll also grind out results, like their hard-earned draw against Brighton.
“When you step up a division, being hard to beat is crucial,” says McKenna. “It’s about assessing each game and deciding how aggressive we can be to stay competitive.”
McKenna also highlights Ipswich’s pragmatic, focused mindset. “We’ve never talked about promotions, points totals, or other teams. It’s always been about us and our development.”
While Ipswich are still seeking their first win of the season, McKenna isn’t overly concerned. He’d prefer three draws over a win and two defeats, a mindset that underscores the club’s focus on consistency and resilience.
Their next fixtures include games against fellow winless sides Everton and Leicester, offering an opportunity to build momentum. But McKenna remains unfazed by challenges from some of the Premier League’s top teams, even with Aston Villa up next on Super Sunday.
“The start of the season was always going to be an adaptation process,” McKenna smiles. “There’s no better way to adapt than playing the teams at the top.”
Catch Ipswich vs. Aston Villa live on Sky Sports Premier League from 1 p.m. on Sunday, kick-off at 2 p.m.