Wayne Rooney savoured a “crazy” final day escape at Derby and then set his sights on the Premier League.
The Rams avoided the drop with a 3-3 draw at Pride Park against Sheffield Wednesday, who were relegated instead.
Martyn Waghorn's penalty 12 minutes from time was enough to earn a vital draw.
Boss Rooney, in charge since November, said: “This season on the pitch, off the pitch has been crazy.
“It is impossible for this club to allow ourselves to be in this position.
“I am very confident in my ability and I can help get this club back to where it belongs.
“I am loving it. I remember when I took the job, I had a few friends call me up saying: 'are you sure?'
“They said: 'do you know what you are getting yourself into', especially the position we were in.
“But I believed in myself and had a lot of confidence.
“I like challenges and it was and still is a challenge.”
Derby's players were greeted at the stadium by some loyal fans braving the rain with a banner reading: 'Leave everything on the pitch, it is all we ask'.
Rooney added: “I used the fans outside the stadium as part of the team talk, which I thought was brilliant.
“I didn't have much more to add to that.
“This is it – you have to do it for this football club, for the staff who work here, the fans and everyone connected.”
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