Source: Team_Talk
McCarthy: Wolves survival bittersweet
Mick McCarthy says he has found it hard celebrating survival in the top flight, even though he feels it's a bigger achievement than promotion.[LNB] McCarthy steered Wolves into a final position of 15th - eight points clear of the bottom three - after being written off in pre-season as certainties for the drop.[LNB]But the former Republic of Ireland boss concedes it is "strange" trying to be euphoric about just ensuring a second season of top-flight football.[LNB]McCarthy said: "Staying up was a terrific achievement for the players. I have been delighted with the way they have gone about our business.[LNB]"Against the odds, we stayed up. We finished in 15th place in the end but it was never comfortable.[LNB]"I just found it strange celebrating - whether we finished in 14th, 15th or 16th spot. You celebrate coming first in the league and winning things - yet it is a better achievement than getting up 12 months ago.[LNB]"It is harder, the league is harder, getting points is tougher. It has been a better achievement. It just doesn't feel like it. It is not like winning the title.[LNB]"But I have had that nice glow of satisfaction from staying in the league."[LNB]McCarthy is a realist and knows Wolves will be playing for similar goals next season.[LNB]He said: "We will be playing for basically one of nine spots next season and I might even cut that to seven.[LNB]"We are never going to touch the top eight so let's clear that up. We don't want to be in the bottom three so I will take any of the other nine positions.[LNB]"If we finish below where we finished this season and don't go down, it will be an achievement and another step towards building the club."
