Millwall forward is no stranger to big games – and the Lions need to win at Blackpool to keep play-off chase alive

Oliver Burke is no stranger to a big-game occasion.

The forward has turned out against Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich during his journey around Europe’s top leagues.

And the Scottish 26-year-old is hoping to bring some of that experience of facing up against Champions League winning sides into Millwall’s final two games of this season’s Championship campaign.

“I would like to think with my experience and with the teams I have played against, I can take that into these games and help the team as much as possible,” Burke said to the South London Press.

“The most important thing is that you have to be a team when you go into these fixtures. That’s what we have at Millwall – we’re a close-knit group.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead. Hopefully, we will get there. It’s an amazing opportunity. Teams dream of it, and for Millwall to be there, it would be a massive opportunity and occasion.

“We have to fight and do everything we can in these upcoming games. We have to believe and play with the confidence that we have been playing with all season.”

Millwall slipped out of the play-off places following a 2-1 defeat at bottom-of-the-table Wigan Athletic on Saturday, with Sunderland’s 2-1 win at West Brom the day after seeing the Black Cats leapfrog the Lions on goal difference.

Gary Rowett’s side head to Championship strugglers Blackpool today and host play-off pushing Blackburn Rovers on the final day of the season, knowing they need to win both games in order to give themselves the best chance of finishing in the top six for the first time since the 2001/02 season.

“It was a very disappointing result. We expected a lot more from the game and from ourselves,” admitted Burke, reflecting on the loss at the DW Stadium last weekend.

“Everybody was really disappointed. Myself included – I thought I could have done a lot better.

“But unfortunately, these things happen in this league – there are many ups and downs.

“We have to keep positive. It’s been a fantastic season, so we can’t be too downbeat about it – and we’re still in with a chance.

“We’re still in good spirits and playing some really good football. Even in previous games we have lost, we were by far the better team.

“The gaffer will say it’s about the end product and putting our chances away. We’re creating a lot of chances and dominating at times, but we’re just not putting our chances away at a clinical and important time.”

Burke was a Millwall player last season, joining on loan from Sheffield United for the second half of the 2021/22 season.

The former Deportivo Alaves and RB Leipzig forward impressed during his first Den spell, with Millwall looking to land his signature permanently in the summer window.

Burke would end up joining German side Werder Bremen. But just six months into his first season at the Weserstadion, Burke would return to South London again, agreeing to a six-month loan deal with Gary Rowett’s side in the January transfer window.

“It’s been very positive for me,” Burke, who played 17 times for Bremen in all competitions, said of his winter move back to Millwall.

“I love playing under Gary. He believes in me and gives me that freedom and that enjoyment of being on a football field.

“At the end of the day, when the manager believes and has the trust in you, you’re always going to enjoy and play with confidence.

“I’m just happy to be gaining that confidence. Hopefully, I start putting those chances that I’m getting away more often. With more games, that will come, and it will really go well.”

Burke has made 15 appearances this season for the Lions since returning, scoring the second goal in the 2-1 win at QPR in February.

“I have been enjoying my football again and I feel as though I’m gaining that bit of confidence – it takes time,” he added.

“It’s all about playing games of football. I wasn’t really getting enough game time when I was at Werder – I felt at times that I deserved a lot more than what I was getting while I was there.

“But unfortunately, it’s a manager’s decision, and you have to take these decisions on yourself during your career.

“Going back to Millwall was a massive opportunity. I could see how well we were doing – it was a no-brainer.

“I knew the surroundings and the place, so I was more than comfortable with coming back and getting stuck in with the boys.”

So if the opportunity arose to become a permeant Millwall player in the summer, would Burke be interested?

“I’m still a Werder Bremen player at this moment in time,” he admitted.

“I still have two years on my contract. I can’t comment on that any further, but who knows what could happen.

“At the moment, I’m just focusing on each day, training session and game. I’m trying to put in the performances I can and give 100 per cent for Millwall right now, because that’s who I’m playing for.”