Leicester City may be revelling in the euphoria of reaching the Premier League but manager Nigel Pearson admits it has been a rollercoaster ride.
The City boss has an outstanding record with the club. In his four full seasons he has led them to two titles and two play-off semi-finals.
However, he admits those two play-off defeats, at Cardiff and Watford, were difficult to get over, but said they were all part of the journey and there is still a long way to go while he steers the City ship.
"It (his record) is pretty good but it doesn't make up for the heartache of the two play-off scenarios," said Pearson.
"But I have always said I am part of a team. It has been a very interesting journey.
"What you have to do is be able to reflect on the whole time. People want to talk about this season in isolation but we talk about the good times and bad times, and we try to be consistent with how we work.
"We all want to be successful but, sometimes, success is relative. Even though last year had ultimately a disappointing end to it, I have to look at it longer-term to realise that a lot of the groundwork that has allowed us to be successful this season has been done over a more extended period.
"That will be the case again moving forward. I don't know what people's expectations will be next season. I know what mine are.
"I think we can have a really good season and I am looking forward to it, and I know the players are."
Pearson said the way City finished the campaign, by clinching promotion and the celebrations that have followed lifting the Football League trophy, has given his players a taste of what it is like to be successful and he hopes it has driven them to achieve even more.
"We finished the season well and it has given the players a taste of what it is like to be successful, and that is also something you can reflect back on when you get older and stay with you," he said.
"But the players have to stay hungry and keep pushing forwards.
"We will enjoy this but now we start planning for the next step."
