“We’d be really stupid to look past Burnley” – Lions boss reacts to talk of Manchester City clash in EFL Cup
BY ALEX GRACE
Gary Rowett is not getting excited about the possibility of facing Manchester City in the EFL Cup.
The winner of Millwall’s tie with Burnley on Wednesday night will host the winner of Bournemouth or Manchester City.
The Clarets are managed by former Lions centre-back Sean Dyche, pictured below.
Asked if he was excited by the potential of hosting the holders, Lions boss Rowett said: “No, because Burnley are a very very good side in their own right.
“They are in the Premier League, so I think we would be really stupid to look beyond the tie.
“We have to play really well against Burnley, certainly better than today [Saturday’s 1-0 win at Rotherham United] and I’m sure it will be a very tough game.
“One of two of the lads have got tired legs today, tired foreheads today and they will have to go again on Wednesday.”
Due to the current coronavirus restrictions fans remain unable to attend games and Rowett admits that they will be a big miss for the tie.
“Any game where you need that atmosphere to make that difference, it’s like anything you’re playing a Premier League side, you’re going to expect to have less of the ball at times so when you do attack you need that attack to create tempo that gives the players that impetus to step forward and have that five or 10 minutes of pressure.
“It’s like today – it was so difficult to create any tempo, all the games feel flat, all the games I’ve seen feel flat because there’s no atmosphere.
“It’s like having half a game really, but it is what it is, certainly, Wednesday will be the same but we’ve got to be professional, we’ve got to try and win the game.
Millwall have a good recent record against Premier League sides at The Den in cup competitions but the atmosphere has played a big part in those victories, particularly the victory over Everton in the FA Cup in 2018.
Rowett said: ”Sometimes you have to try and create that tempo yourself, but against a Premier League team like Burnley, to have fans there would be fantastic just to give us that extra lift to try and win the game.”
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