Millwall target Premier League or European opposition as friendly options during break for World Cup
Millwall are looking at lining up friendlies against either Premier League or European teams to help keep up fitness levels and match sharpness during the extended shutdown of the Championship during the World Cup.
The Championship will stop playing fixtures between November 13 and December 9.
The Lions will not have any players at the World Cup, which takes place in Qatar from November 20 until December 18.
“We almost had a dress rehearsal in Covid when we came back after four weeks,” Millwall boss Gary Rowett told the South London Press. “We’d only have five-and-a-half weeks for pre-season.
“There’s a chance that some teams may be able to play a game earlier – there is a possibility. Clubs are looking into the opportunity to play a league game a week earlier. But we’re working off the back of four weeks [without a match].
“We’ll probably give the players a week off to let them recharge and refresh mentally. Then we will almost have a three-week mini pre-season.
“We’re already looking at a couple of friendlies against either Premier League teams or European opposition. Ideally at The Den, but we haven’t quite confirmed that yet.
“It’s going to be a little bit different and quite strange. Some teams will go away for a week and almost have warm weather training. I’m not a massive fan of that. I’ve done that before twice and I found it hasn’t quite worked how I’ve wanted it to work.”
Millwall are about to resume league action this weekend at Blackburn after the latest international break.
“The challenge this season could be, with the Sunderland game being off and the international break, that it feels very, very sporadic in the period before Christmas,” said Rowett. “We’re certainly going to make up for that, because I’m pretty sure after Christmas that we’ll be seeing quite a few games in a short space of time.
“It is what it is, you have to think about the best way of approaching the winter break. Clearly it is not to work for the whole four weeks because by the time you get two or three weeks in the players almost feel fatigued again mentally.
“You have to give them those little opportunities to get a breather. It might be the first time that everyone gets the chance to go away in November, I’m sure players are looking at where they can get a bit of sunshine for a few days.
“We’ll try our best to make good decisions and give ourselves half a chance of coming back and hitting the ground running.”
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Good idea to try and maintain fitness levels but let’s not forget the prospect of injuries that we can’t afford.
4 games in 19 days when the league starts again, against 4 teams who are all currently above us!
Sooner spend 4 weeks training!