Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg didn't hold back after his team's playoff heartbreak, labeling Southampton's alleged spying as "disgraceful" behavior that robbed his side of a fair shot at Premier League promotion.

Boro fell 2-1 at St Mary's following an extra-time winner from Shea Charles, but the result was overshadowed by accusations that Southampton had watched Middlesbrough's training session before the first leg. The EFL has since charged Southampton with breaching its rules, though the punishment remains undecided.

Speaking after the defeat, an emotional Hellberg congratulated Southampton but made it clear he felt cheated out of the tactical edge that smaller clubs rely on. "There are teams that had bigger squads than us, teams that have more money to spend," he said. "What you have as a coach and as a group is the tactical element of the game, where we can beat the opponent. That's what I think everyone loves about football."

Hellberg, who moved to England inspired by its reputation as "the home of football," explained the uphill battle his team faces against wealthier rivals. "When you battle with teams who have more money and a bigger squad, you try to find a way through tactics to get an advantage. That is what you always try to do because we can be better in that element. When that is taken away from you, I think it's no longer fair."

He stressed the emotional toll of the situation, saying it had nothing to do with what Southampton might have seen—whether free kicks, goal kicks, or anything else. "This is our football, and I think you should fight quite hard for it," he said, referencing Millwall manager Alex Neil's comments about letting people down after a loss. "That's often the feeling a coach goes home with, because you think what I could control was the tactical aspect of the game. What I could control was helping my players more."

Hellberg revealed he had sacrificed time with his family to watch every Southampton game for two weeks, all to find that crucial advantage. For a manager so dedicated to the craft, the alleged breach cut deep—and left Boro's playoff dreams ending in bitter controversy.