‘It is amazing’ – Mihailo Ivanovic exclusive interview as he talks about rapport with Millwall fans, idolising Mitrovic and why price tag is a ‘good pressure’

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Some players take time to build up a rapport with a club’s fanbase. But some have an instant connection – which was the case with Mihailo Ivanovic after his transfer to Millwall in August.

The striker had not even made his debut, which came as a 75th-minute substitute in the 1-1 draw at QPR in late September, before he had two chants.

“We’ve got a big f****** Serbian” and also another which ends with the warning he is “going to murder ya”.

Ivanovic reacts with a beaming smile when asked about both.

“It is amazing,” he told the South London Press.

“From the first game, I can only say thanks to them. They supported me and they didn’t know then how I was going to play and how I am as a person.”

Millwall director of football Steve Gallen pulled the trigger on a deal for Ivanovic at the end of the summer transfer window.

The 20-year-old has scored five goals for the South London club, four of those in the Championship, including back-to-back winners at Luton and Portsmouth at the end of last month which really kicked the Alex Neil reign into life.

Ivanovic had been the Lions’ club record transfer fee until they swooped for Sparta Rotterdam winger Camiel Neghli in January.

The Novi Sad-born forward did not feel the weight of expectation after his SE16 switch from Vojvodina.

“They paid that much – I need to prove myself for them,” said Ivanovic. “It is not bad pressure – it is good pressure. You need to have some pressure to play. It is not good when I play without it.

“I am a calm person. I’m not panicking. There is still pressure now.”

Ivanovic is hoping he can take the Championship by storm, just like compatriot Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Mitrovic scored 85 goals in 126 Championship matches and netted 111 times in 206 games for Fulham – twice winning promotion with them from the Championship – before a lucrative transfer to Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League in August 2023.

Ivanovic has adopted Mitrovic’s trademark hand-to-ear goal celebration every time he hits the back of the net in England.

“Him and [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic were my idols from a young age,” said Ivanovic.

“He (Mitrovic) has done a great job and inspired me. I love him. So when I came to England I started doing that celebration – it just feels right to do it, I don’t know why.

“He played here. I’m playing here now. I’m just trying to do the things he did. We speak when we are with the national team. He gives me tips, because he played in the Championship and also the Premier League.

“He was in London. He also gives me advice about the city – where to go and where not to go. He is a good person.”

Ivanovic had a season-long loan with Sampdoria. The deal, which started in August 2022, included an option to buy.

But he made only a solitary appearance for the Genoa-based outfit before returning to Vojvodina, signing a new three-year contract.

“I made one appearance, against Napoli away,” recalled Ivanovic. “I was playing for their youth team and I was on the bench against Inter as well.

“Then the club went into Serie B, it had some financial problems, and they let all the players go.

“I wanted to stay but it was not bad to come back to Vojvodina because I knew I would play and get some confidence for my future career.

“Italy and England were, for sure, two countries I wanted to play in. Italy because of the life and England because of the football.

“At 10 years old was when I first thought ‘I want to be a professional footballer – and I want to do this my whole life’.”

Ivanovic started as a right-winger at Vojvodina before moving up front around the age of 14.

He scored 10 goals in 48 first-team outings and that included a taste of European football – UEFA Conference League qualifiers against NK Maribor – shortly before his transfer to England.

“There were rumours but I couldn’t say when I was going to leave,” said Ivanovic. “They told me after we finished the European matches that we’d sit and talk about everything. I heard about Millwall and I didn’t think too much, to be honest, I just came.

“They told me that there are a lot of Millwall supporters in Belgrade and Novi Sad. I also went one time to a bar in Belgrade and there were Millwall scarves in there.

“I heard about the rivalry between Millwall and West Ham. I saw the movie (Green Street).

“I think I came for the medicals on the 29th of August and 31st we signed. The Den is an amazing stadium. There is a video from when I was getting shown around – it is crazy how good it looks.”

Ivanovic has shown composure when it comes to converting his chances – typified by his first goal in a Millwall shirt in a 1-1 home draw against Derby County.

He raced through from the halfway line, taking three touches with his right foot, going past goalkeeper Jacob Zetterstrom, before converting with his left.

“When I am running with the ball, I just know what I’m going to do,” he said.

“At Vojvodina, I made some mistakes. I’d be thinking ‘what shall I do?’ Now I have just one idea and I will do it. If I miss, I miss. But there are less chances of me missing if I think about one thing.

“My favourite so far was against Blackburn in the 96th minute – 1-0. The beauty one is against Luton, but the important one is against Blackburn.”

Ivanovic, who grew up supporting Manchester United like his father and brother, has targets for the season.

But he is tightlipped, at least for the moment.

“One person from the club knows,” he said. “We will see if I’m going to reach it this season. I will say when I reach it.”