‘I feel a little bit of an imposter’ – Dean Holden on leading Charlton out at Manchester United

Dean Holden admitted he feels like a “little bit of an imposter” taking Charlton Athletic to Old Trafford tonight to play Manchester United in the quarter-final of the EFL Cup, as he did not manage the side in any of the previous rounds.

The Addicks knocked out QPR on penalties, beat Walsall away 1-0 and eliminated Stevenage on penalties under Ben Garner to set up the round of 16 tie at home to Brighton.

Garner was sacked before the tie against Roberto De Zerbi’s Premier League side, with caretaker boss Anthony Hayes managing the side and Holden watching on from the stands.

Charlton beat Brighton on penalties, which set up tonight’s quarter-final tie away at Old Trafford.

There are set to be nearly 10,000 Charlton fans travelling to the home of the 13-time Premier League winners this evening.

“The work was done in the early rounds when it was maybe not as glamorous,” Holden said to TalkSport.

“I have to get credit to Anthony Hayes, my assistant, who was the caretaker in the last round against Brighton. 

“It was a brilliant gameplan that won the game on penalties. I swanned into the job the very next day and, on the very first day of the job, got Manchester United away in the next round of the cup.

“I feel a little bit of an imposter, really, to be honest, because I have done nothing to get us to this point, and I’ll be the one leading us out at Old Trafford.

“It’s a team effort. It sounds ridiculous, but the reason I say that is because it’s not just about the players on the pitch – it’s about the football club.

“10,000 fans are going there. If the guys at the ticket office at The Valley don’t get that right, then we don’t get the supporters behind us.

“Everything rolls into the lads, hopefully showing what Charlton Athletic is about as a football club.”

PICTURES: PAUL EDWARDS