'We are still on our way': David Wagner turned down chance to leave Huddersfield as he feels he can still take the Terriers further

  • David Wagner turned down the opportunity to leave Huddersfield this summerĀ 
  • West Ham and Leicester among the clubs that considered approach for WagnerĀ 
  • The 46-year-old believes that he is capable of taking Huddersfield even furtherĀ 
  • Wagner chose to sign a Ā£2.5million-a-year contract extension lasting until 2021

David Wagner rejected the opportunity to leave Huddersfield Town during the summer because he felt he could still take them further.

Wagner was widely expected to move on at the end of last season, his stock at astronomical levels after he defied the odds by first taking Huddersfield into the Premier League, and then kept them there with the divisionā€™s lowest wage bill.

West Ham and Leicester were among the clubs who considered an approach for the German, who instead chose to sign a Ā£2.5million-a-year contract extension to commit him to staying in West Yorkshire until 2021.

Huddersfield boss David Wagner rejected the opportunity to leave the club this summer

Huddersfield boss David Wagner rejected the opportunity to leave the club this summer

Since arriving in November 2015, Wagner has lifted Huddersfield from the lower reaches of the Championship, and believes that they can become an established top-flight club, even though they have only a fraction of the budget of todayā€™s opponents Manchester City.


Wagner said: ā€˜I really like the people at this club, and thatā€™s one of the reasons Iā€™ve stayed here.

ā€˜But there is the feeling as well that we are not ready. We are still on our way and thereā€™s a feeling that this club is still in progression.

ā€˜Maybe there are bigger clubs and bigger names out there and other exciting situations which could be in front of you. But I still have the feeling that Iā€™m here at the right place.

ā€œEverybody has given me that welcoming feeling in the last three years ā€“ and they are convinced we are on the right path.

Wagner believes that Huddersfield can still improve further under his guidance

Wagner believes that Huddersfield can still improve further under his guidance

ā€˜There is a togetherness and a great atmosphere at this football club whereby I donā€™t have the feeling itā€™s time to leave.

ā€˜Even if there had been some other opportunities in the past to move on, then my answer is always easy.

ā€˜I decided it wasnā€™t the case to move on this summer and I decided to focus on another year in the Premier League and to try and push this club forward.

DAVID WAGNER'S HUDDERSFIELD RECORDĀ 

Played 131

Won 49

Drawn 28

Lost 54

Win ratio 37.4 per centĀ 

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ā€˜I want to help establish this club in the Premier League and build on what we have had so far.ā€™

It is a sign of the gulf between the two clubs meeting at the Etihad Stadium that Amazon Prime were prepared to pay more than Ā£10million for the right to make All Or Nothing, an in-depth documentary about Manchester City released this week to a global audience.

Wagner does not see Huddersfield attracting such deals, despite the romance of their rise to the top flight in 2017 after a 45-year absence.

Asked if there might be a Huddersfield documentary, Wagner laughed: ā€˜Maybe for Yorkshire TV!

ā€˜I wonā€™t watch the Manchester City documentary; I donā€™t even know whether I have Amazon Prime.

Wagner revealed that he won't be watching Manchester City's 'All Or Nothing' documentary

Wagner revealed that he won't be watching Manchester City's 'All Or Nothing' documentary

ā€˜Iā€™m not a TV junkie. Iā€™m not being disrespectful to Manchester City, but I just donā€™t watch documentaries.

ā€˜If there was really insightful information that I wouldnā€™t normally get, then that is very interesting. Maybe then I would watch it.

ā€˜But usually with these types of documentary you donā€™t get a good idea of whatā€™s going on.ā€™

He instead opted to sign a Ā£2.5million-a-year contract extension. Ahead of Sunday's trip to Manchester City, Wagner said: ā€˜I really like the people at this club, and thatā€™s one of the reasons Iā€™ve stayed.

ā€˜But there is the feeling as well that we are not ready. We are still on our way and thereā€™s a feeling that this club is still in progression.ā€™