‘I love the Milllllllll chant – I can’t wait to hear their song for me’ – Michael Obafemi on Lions loan switch

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Michael Obafemi’s target at Millwall is a simple one – playing matches and scoring goals. Achieving those aims, especially the latter, will ensure all parties are happy with his loan stay in SE16.

The Lions signed the 23-year-old Burnley striker last week and he made his debut as a late substitute in Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Preston at The Den.

Obafemi sustained a hamstring injury playing for Republic of Ireland against Gibraltar in June that required surgery and ensured he missed the opening months of the Premier League season.

A three-inch scar below his right knee is a reminder of the setback.

“All I did was went to shoot and the defender blocked the shot,” Obafemi told the South London Press. “I felt a burning sensation down the side of my leg. I tried to carry on but I couldn’t.”

“The tendon was literally hanging on the bone by a thread. I had to get that repaired with screws. Thankfully the surgery went well.

“It’s been a difficult period. Leading into pre-season and the season I wanted to make sure I was 100 per cent fit – to show them (Burnley) that I want to be in the team.

“So that injury was a big knock that hindered things. I came back late October, or the beginning of November, and then got 13 minutes against Arsenal.

“It’s been tough to get minutes.

“I know what I have to do to prove I’m a Premier League player. If that means dropping down a league and playing football – which is what I need to do – then I’ve got to do it. It’s no problem, really.”

Ipswich Town were also interested in Obafemi, who was born in Dublin before his family relocated to Chingford and then Hornchurch.

Millwall head coach Joe Edwards has talked about the former Southampton and Swansea player adding explosiveness and running power to his frontline options.

Obafemi had a 13-minute cameo against North End and showed frustration when his electric pace only narrowly failed to make the most of a forward pass.

“If that ball was two yards further forward then it’s game over,” he said. “Coming on is different to playing a full match but I really enjoyed it.

“I love it when the fans go ‘MILLLLLLL’. I absolutely love it.

“Even when I have played against Millwall and I heard it I thought ‘what the hell is that?’ Fair play – because you can hear it on the pitch. It kind of puts you off a little bit. It helps with home advantage, for sure.

“What I’m waiting for is my goal chant when I score – I want to hear what that is going to be.”

Obafemi’s last Championship campaign ended in silverware as Vincent Kompany’s Clarets won the title – finishing on 101 points.

The former Manchester City defender wanted Obefami at the start of that season but terms could not be agreed with Swansea.

Instead the attacker joined on loan at the end of January – scoring twice in 12 substitute appearances – with a permanent transfer triggered on July 1.

“It’s my first promotion and it felt amazing – I had my family there on the day,” said Obafemi.

“He (Kompany) is an amazing manager. He’s got some ideas from Pep (Guardiola), who he was with at the end of his career at Manchester City. He is a fantastic coach. We’re going to see that at a bigger club one day, I believe that anyway.

“If I could be a manager I’d want to be like him.

“You’ve got to run your arse off if you want to play Premier League or under a manager like him. You have to train well every week. If you run for the team and show you’re committed then I feel like you will get a look in.”

There were claims by then Swansea boss Russell Martin that Obafemi had lacked focus after Burnley were unsuccessful in their initial attempts to acquire him.

He scored 15 goals in 51 matches for the Welsh outfit, 32 of those starts.

Obafemi has a different take.

He responded: “I feel like things were taken out of proportion. He (Martin) said my head was turned – but I was still committed to Swansea. I didn’t say that I didn’t want to play for the club or say: ‘If I don’t go there then X is going to happen’.

“I was content where I was. I was happy – if it happened then it happened, if it didn’t then it didn’t.

“It didn’t happen. I then went a few games without scoring and the fans turned on me a little bit. I expected it to happen when all that situation was going on.

“It’s football, I guess. Things get misinterpreted. I love Russell. I have a great relationship with him and the other Swansea staff, who are at Southampton with him now. I wish them all the best and hope they feel the same way about me.”

Obafemi played for East London club Ryan FC as a kid before he was picked up by Watford.

“I was there for three years and then I got released,” he said. “I don’t actually know why. They spoke to either my mum or my dad on the phone. They then told me. I was a bit taken aback. Because I was young I didn’t understand everything.

“I was so upset – I was distraught. I don’t think I even told anyone for ages, that’s how bad I felt about it.”

It was Obafemi’s brother Afolabi, 29, who had also been on the Hornets’ books and then earned a professional deal at Leyton Orient, who helped him progress.

“My brother got me a trial at Orient and luckily I got in,” said Obafemi. “I did well at Orient and Southampton came in and bought me.”

Obafemi became the Saints’ second-youngest debutant after Luke Shaw when he came on in the 82nd minute of a 1-1 draw against Tottenham in January 2018 – aged 17 years and 199 days.

“Harry Kane, Heung-min Son and Dele Alli were all playing,” said Obafemi.

“I remember coming on to the pitch and it seemed like a video game and those adverts you used to get back in the day, when the camera was following you.

“I’ve played against some exceptional people and I’ve got a few shirts that I’ve swapped. My collection isn’t like Declan Rice’s – he is very on it, which is good for the memories.

“I played against France for Ireland and I got [Eduardo] Camavinga’s shirt. He played unbelievably. He didn’t give the ball away once, he was that good in the game.

“I wasn’t even thinking about (Kylian) Mbappe’s one because I already knew our centre-backs would be tapping into him!”

Millwall at least partially have Danny McNamara to thank for Obafemi’s arrival.

He sought out the advice of the Lions’ full-back, who has been away on training camps with the senior Ireland squad without yet gaining a senior call-up.

Obefami said: “Danny loves it here. He told me that the boys are class and the new manager, Joe, is changing the way we’re playing – it will suit you well.

“I really took that on board and now I’m here.”

Millwall’s immediate targets are conservative compared to the big-spending Burnley side he joined a year ago that were looking for an instant top-flight return.

Consolidation will do the Lions as they also look to move to a more progressive style of play under Edwards, who has previously coached at both Chelsea and Everton.

Every player wants glory. But Obafemi is only concerned at this point with the football fundamentals.

“The main thing is getting a smile back on my face – which is happening already,” he said.

“I haven’t played football for so long that I wanted to get back my match sharpness and fitness – more showing myself I can really do this.”

“It’s about playing football and scoring goals, which is inevitable.”