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Champions LeagueAugust 22, 2026

Acun Ilicali: Hull City owner criticized for Pundits

Hull City owner Acun Ilicali defends his club against criticism from pundits and highlights his team's motivation and resilience in the Premier League.

Acun Ilicali: Hull City owner criticized for Pundits

Acun Ilicali: Hull City owner criticizes Pundits for

According to Bbc.

Background

Acun Ilicali, as owner of Hull City, has made a name for himself in the Premier League by guiding the club back to the top flight. Under his leadership, Hull City has the opportunity to overcome the prejudices of former players like Joe Cole and have a strong season.

Why this is important

Joe Cole and Carlton Cole's criticism of Hull City reflects the challenges faced by newly promoted teams in the Premier League. Acun Ilicali, the club's owner, highlights the resilience of his team and emphasizes that they remain motivated despite external skepticism. This dispute shows how important it is for Premier League clubs to stand up to negative perceptions.

Key findings

  • Acun Ilicali: Hull City owner criticized for Pundits.
  • Hull City owner Acun Ilicali defends his club against criticism from pundits and highlights his team's motivation and resilience in the Premier League.
  • Acun Ilicali: Hull owner hits out at pundits over 'laughable' criticism - BBC Sport.
Hull City owner Acun Ilicali has made a strong defense against criticism from pundits Joe Cole and Carlton Cole, who mocked his team's Premier League survival chances in a podcast. Former England international and Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole spoke out on 'The Dressing Room' podcast, explaining that he had turned down the opportunity to be a pundit for the opening game, adding that he would be 'stunned' if Hull City managed to stay in the league. He joked: "They came here through the back door. They snuck in." Hull City secured promotion to the Premier League in May with a last-minute win against Middlesbrough in the play-off final at Wembley. This season marks Hull's return to the Premier League after they were relegated in 2017. Last season they avoided relegation from the Championship to League One solely on goal difference. Image Taking to social media, Ilicali expressed his disappointment at the comments: "It's disappointing to see my beautiful city being criticized by people who should know better. As a club we're used to being underestimated and we enjoy it. We were even happier when we got promoted last season. To me it's more ridiculous to see two former players making fun of a club that deserved to be promoted than the things they were laughing about." On Thursday, Hull coach Sergej Jakirovic also spoke on the subject. He said: "It's a great motivation to prove them wrong if that's possible. It won't be easy but at least we can fight. We have nothing to lose. You play for yourself and show your potential on the pitch." Carlton Cole, who has played for Chelsea and West Ham and has seven caps for England, later released a video defending the comments on the podcast. He described this as "banter" and stressed that he "loves Hull City". Hull City, who have invested £70m in new players this summer, face Manchester United in their first Premier League game on Saturday.

What happens next

After Acun Ilicali's public defense, Hull City are expected to try to prove their critics wrong in the coming games. Coach Sergej Jakirovic will prepare the team to prove themselves in the Premier League and justify promotion. The reaction to the team's performance could further fuel the discussion about their chances of survival in the league.

Frequently asked questions

What did Acun Ilicali say about the criticism?

Acun Ilicali has described the criticism from Joe Cole and Carlton Cole as ridiculous and expressed his disappointment with the comments.

Who expressed the criticism of Hull City?

The criticism was voiced by Pundits Joe Cole and Carlton Cole in a podcast.

Why did Acun Ilicali react now?

Ilicali responded to the criticism because he was disappointed that his city and club were being ridiculed by former players.

What is Hull City's current situation in the Premier League?

Hull City returned to the Premier League this season after being relegated in 2017.

What role does Sergej Jakirovic play in this matter?

Sergej Jakirovic, the Hull City coach, also spoke about the criticism, describing it as motivation for the team.

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Häufig gestellte Fragen

What did Acun Ilicali say about the criticism?
Acun Ilicali has called Joe Cole and Carlton Cole's criticism ridiculous and expressed his disappointment over the comments.
Who voiced the criticism of Hull City?
The criticism was voiced by pundits Joe Cole and Carlton Cole in a podcast.
Why did Acun Ilicali react now?
Ilicali responded to the criticism because he was disappointed that his city and club were being ridiculed by former players.
What is Hull City's current situation in the Premier League?
Hull City returned to the Premier League this season after being relegated in 2017.
What role does Sergej Jakirovic play in this matter?
Hull City coach Sergej Jakirovic also spoke about the criticism, describing it as motivation for the team.
What happened in this story?
Acun Ilicali: Hull City owner criticizes Pundits for summarizing the main development covered in this report.
Who confirmed this news?
See the source attribution in the article for where this report was first published or corroborated.