Japhet Tanganga Lays Down Sheffield United Challenge: “The Main Target is Promotion” 

The FIFA World Cup may still be taking centre stage, but preparations for the new domestic season are already well underway as clubs across England return for pre-season.

For Sheffield United, the focus is firmly on ensuring last season becomes nothing more than a painful memory.

After suffering heartbreak with a 2-1 defeat to Sunderland in the Championship play-off final at Wembley, the Blades failed to recover the following campaign, slumping to a disappointing 13th-place finish.

Much of that decline followed a turbulent managerial change. Popular boss Chris Wilder departed after the Wembley defeat, with former Reading and Hull City manager Ruben Selles brought in as his successor. 

However, Selles endured a nightmare start, losing his opening six matches before the club's American ownership turned back to Wilder in an attempt to steady the ship.

While Wilder guided United away from any danger, there wasn't enough time to mount a serious late push for the play-offs.

Ahead of the 2026/27 campaign, SportsBoom caught up exclusively with Sheffield United captain Japhet Tanganga to reflect on a frustrating first season at Bramall Lane, his unexpected appointment as skipper and why promotion is the only acceptable target this year.

Tanganga admits both he and the team fell below expectations but insists the experience can become an important turning point.

“It was a mixed season. It was an honour to come to this club and for the gaffer to name me captain. It’s a privilege to play for such a big club, but obviously it was disappointing because of how it went; we didn’t achieve what we wanted,” Tanganga told SportsBoom.co.uk in an exclusive interview. 

“We pretty much underperformed as a team, and individually, myself as well. The consistency I had at Millwall, I didn't really have much of that in the past season.”

“But it’s a learning curve; we take that not every season’s going to be the best. Obviously, we always aim for that, but that’s not always going to be the case. We just need to learn from it, keep improving and take it into the new season.”

Unexpected captaincy

Tanganga's first few weeks at Sheffield United brought a surprise few players could have predicted.

Following Jack Robinson's departure to Birmingham City, United needed a new captain. 

Despite only recently arriving from Millwall, Tanganga was handed the armband and remained captain whenever available throughout the campaign.

Although honoured by the decision, the defender admits it came as a shock.

“Being captain, it's a completely different role for me compared to the other places I've been in. It's something I've had to learn quite quickly and adapt to things,” Tanganga continued. 

“It’s definitely something I wasn't expecting, coming in as a new signing.”

“It's quite surprising, but it shows the trust that the gaffer has in me. For me as well, growing up and learning a new role in football, taking it on and trying to do the best I possibly can.”

“It's also just an honour, to be honest, with the manager to show that he trusts me, and he thinks that I’m the right fit to be able to basically be an example for him on the football pitch. To reflect his ideas and his philosophy with the team, it’s a real honour to be a captain of such a big football club.”

Leading by example

While some captains lead through speeches, Tanganga believes his influence comes through communication and performances.

The centre-back says he naturally becomes more vocal once he crosses the white line.

“I don't always need the armband; I’m someone who, when I’m on the football pitch, I am quite vocal, and when in training.”

“When I'm off the pitch, I'm more of a calm person, more relaxed, more chill, but on the pitch that kind of just switches. I try and lead by my performances as well, try to lead by example.”

“But then also being a defender, you can see everything, so I try to be more vocal.”

Settling into life in Sheffield

Having spent virtually his entire footballing life in London through Tottenham Hotspur's academy before joining Millwall, moving to South Yorkshire represented a significant change.

However, Tanganga says his football-focused lifestyle has made the transition remarkably straightforward.

“It's good. London, obviously, is a lot busier, but where I was, it's kind of still like a quiet area, so it's pretty similar.”

“My kind of focus is always like when the season starts, it's always just football and then recovery. So, after finishing training, I just go home, kind of just relax, chill, recover, and then get ready for the next working day. So, it's not much different from when I was in London to now.”

One aspect of Sheffield that has stood out is the close connection between the football club and its supporters.

Unlike London, where numerous clubs compete for attention, Tanganga has enjoyed becoming part of a city united behind its team.

“I like how the community is compared to London, obviously, there is a wide range of football clubs around there, whereas up in Sheffield, you've got two teams, and obviously being at Sheffield United, I like the community around here.”

“You see so many supporters, so many people recognise you, and so many people speak to you and stuff. Like I said, like the community is like really tight-knit compared to how it is in London where there's so many teams and there's so many fan bases that are around.”

Only one target: Promotion

There is no uncertainty over Sheffield United's ambitions heading into the new campaign.

For Tanganga, anything less than a serious push for Premier League football would fall short of expectations.

“The main thing is promotion. This club deserves to be back in the Premier League. Obviously, we didn't achieve that last season.”

“It's small steps; we take it step by step, but I think the overall aim and the main target is promotion.”

“Definitely to do better than what we did last season, but I think the aim and the goal is to go for promotion. How we'll get there, that's for us to work together, with the coach and for us players.”

Pride in DR Congo's World Cup journey

Tanganga also spoke passionately about DR Congo's impressive run at the ongoing FIFA World Cup.

Although the African nation exited in the last 32 following a narrow 2-1 defeat to England, simply reaching the knockout stages represented a landmark achievement after returning to the tournament for the first time in 52 years.

With both of his parents born in DR Congo, Tanganga says the team's performances have filled him with immense pride and inspired the next generation.

“Oh, it's amazing. It’s really good because obviously that's where I'm from, that's where my mum and dad were born, Tanganga added. 

“It's amazing after 52 years to be back in the World Cup and perform the way some of those players have; it's amazing.”

“They've done everyone in Congo proud, and everyone who is Congolese proud. I know some of the players there, and it's really good to see how they are together.”

“They've done everyone proud in Congo and Africa as well. I think it's a good motivation for a lot of probably Congolese and African kids out there who are expected to be football players and, you know, they're showing that it can be done,” he concluded. 

Japhet was speaking to SportsBoom on behalf of Midnite, which will be Sheffield United's principal partner and front-of-shirt sponsor for a second successive season. As part of the renewed partnership, Midnite is introducing '2UP' - an initiative that will give fans the chance to win big money if the Blades take a two-goal lead in a home league match during the 2026/27 campaign.