Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic isn't mincing words—if you'd predicted the Tigers would be just two wins away from the Premier League last summer, you'd have been called "crazy." Yet here they are, living the dream, with a shot at football's biggest stage still very much alive.

City travel to Millwall on Monday night for the second leg of their Championship play-off semi-final, needing a third straight win at The Den to punch their ticket to the 23 May final. After Friday's tense stalemate at the MKM Stadium, everything is on the line.

"This is the dream, especially when we started with the [transfer] embargo and everything," Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside. "It's been an amazing season for us. We are two games from the Premier League, and we will do everything we can to get there. I'd say you were crazy if you offered me this at the start of the season—nobody would have bet on this scenario."

The 49-year-old coach is brimming with pride for his squad: "I am very proud. You cannot take anything away from the players this season—but the job is not finished yet."

Fatigue is a growing concern after Friday's grueling 0-0 draw, with the quick turnaround between legs taking its toll. Darko Gyabi is a doubt for the trip to south London, and Jakirovic admits they'll "be short" in some areas. "We gave everything [on Friday]. We could play better, in some situations make better decisions. We have shown some video clips of what we need to improve, where we need to handle some situations, especially when [Barry] Bannan comes. I hope we will fix these things and have an even better performance in terms of possession."

The Tigers' depth will be tested, with several players returning from injury and now asked to dig deep. "We have some positions we are short—no injuries, there is fatigue. A lot of players have come back from injuries and now must give everything. We are trying to find the best of what we have right now. It's very important who might come on after 60 or 70 minutes, as you might need them to play 120. We will 100% have some chances—we have to use them."

Jakirovic, who missed the final-day clash with Norwich due to a touchline ban, is vowing to keep his cool in what promises to be an electric atmosphere at The Den. His time coaching in Turkey, he says, has prepared him for the intensity. For Hull City, this is more than a game—it's a chance to turn a dream into reality.