Millwall manager Alex Neil has already made excuses ahead of this weekend’s clash with West Ham.
East and South London fans are looking forward to what should be a clash for the ages as the Hammers take on the Lions for the first time since 2012 at the Den on Saturday.
However, someone who might not be looking forward to it as much is Millwall manager Alex Neil. After their 2-2 draw away at Middlesbrough on Tuesday, the Scotsman said: “We’ve got West Ham at the weekend, and we’ve got a lot of lads running on empty.”
This sounds like the former Norwich and Stoke City manager is getting his excuses in early. To be fair to him, they have had their injury issues so far this campaign, and a lot of their players have played a lot of football.
Also, they are certainly not the favourites for this one, so to get your excuses in early for a game of this magnitude makes sense. If they lose, the more rested, more expensive team won, so it doesn’t look too bad. But if they win, he looks like a genius.
However followed that up with some words his players might find a bit more encouraging. He said: “Should be a brilliant atmosphere. It means a lot to our fans. For me and the players, it means everything. It’s an important game. We’re not in our best situation, but are capable of playing good teams. I don’t think the weekend’s going to be different.
It’ll be interesting to see how West Ham handle The Den and different things like that, and hopefully the atmosphere’s very good. What I will guarantee is our lads will leave absolutely everything on the pitch as they always do. We’ll be ready.”
With the form we’re in at the moment, the only way West Ham should lose this game is if the occasion gets to us, but we’ve had bigger games than this in recent years.
Their manager can give all the excuses he wants, but everyone knows we’re bigger and better; it’s up to Nuno and the players to show it on Saturday.
The players are in good form; there is a positive mindset around the club. We need to go there and show them who’s better on and off the pitch, because it is so clearly West Ham United. COYI!
