Middlesbrough vs Norwich: Kim Hellberg Prepares for Riverside Atmosphere
Kim Hellberg can feel it already.
After five away trips in six games, including a draining Carabao Cup exit at Crystal Palace in midweek, the Middlesbrough head coach is counting down the hours to Saturday at the Riverside – and to the noise he believes can tilt a tight game against Norwich.
Back to the Riverside, back to the noise
Boro have been living out of a suitcase. Three games in a week, long miles, short turnarounds. Now comes a return to Teesside and a meeting with a Norwich side who have finally found their feet after a shaky start under Philippe Clement.
Hellberg’s mind goes straight back to the last time the Canaries came to town. Hayden Hackney’s winner, Boro going joint top of the Championship, and a finale that crackled.
“I remember that game last season, it was a brilliant atmosphere and I remember the last five minutes were absolutely crazy,” he told BBC Radio Tees. “Norwich are a very good side… It will be a very tough game but the atmosphere in all our home games has been very good.”
The Swede has leaned heavily on that bond since arriving. He talks about it like a foundation, not a bonus.
“After everything that happened last season, everyone has got stronger together. Everyone has raised their level – players, supporters, coaches – everyone together to go to a higher level.
“I think the atmosphere has been very good in every game we have played and I am looking forward to being back against a very good side.
“We need the supporters being on our side and doing everything they can to help get us over the line against a very good opposition.”
Respect for Clement’s Norwich
Hellberg is under no illusion about the test in front of his team. Clement walked into trouble at Carrow Road last season and dragged Norwich away from it. That sticks with him.
“Philippe Clement has done a brilliant job, he's a very good coach, builds a strong and well-coached team,” Hellberg said. “He turned the season around for Norwich last year - they were in danger when he arrived and have built through that.
“He's a top coach and will give us a lot of different and difficult challenges.
“I think it is going to be a very good football game, two good teams against each other, brilliant kick-off time on a Saturday and we are looking forward to it.”
Two sides with ambition, a Saturday slot, and a crowd that has already shown this season it can drag Boro through difficult spells. Hellberg wants that edge again.
Lankshear leads a new culture
If the collective has grown, one individual embodies it. Will Lankshear missed out on the Championship Player of the Month award on Friday, but his impact since arriving from Tottenham has been impossible to ignore: seven goals in eight games, and a work rate that has instantly made him a dressing-room reference point.
“I think he has done brilliantly, he's a good boy and has come into the team perfectly,” Hellberg said. “He works very hard on and off the pitch and that's the culture we are trying to create here.”
That word – culture – matters. Hellberg has seen the shift first-hand.
“I have seen a massive difference in the group, how they have progressed from the first day here to how we have gone forward and take care of each other in a very good way.
“I have so many good players here who compete in a brilliant way to try and help Middlesbrough win games and Will is one of them and it helps when you score a lot of goals.”
Goals, graft, and a fanbase ready to roar again. The away grind is over, at least for now. Norwich come next, and the Riverside will decide how loud a statement Middlesbrough can make.
