Morison: We are not under any illusions
MILLWALL striker Steve Morison has claimed elite clubs are no longer producing “manly” players ahead of today’s quarter-final against Tottenham.
The Lions sit sixth in League One and 47 places below their Premier League opponents, but they come into this tie in excellent form.
They are unbeaten in 17 matches and have conceded only one goal in 10, with Leicester, Bournemouth and Watford already falling victim to Neil Harris’ side.
Millwall’s success has made light of the gap between top teams and those in the lower divisions, but Morison insists the difference, in terms of skill at least, remains considerable.
“It’s massive. Teams at the top are there for a reason, they’ve got the best players,” Morison said.
“But for me football is changing. It’s going a different route. It’s not as manly as it used to be.
“We’re not producing players... are we producing football players? I think we’re producing technically good footballers, but I don’t think we’re producing men any more.”
Morison added: “We’re now going to get a taste of what it’s like playing at the top, playing on a beautiful pitch against beautifully talented players – as strong as you, quicker than you. So we’ve got to try to turn it into the kind of game we want to play in.”
Morison was part of the Norwich side that beat Tottenham 2-1 at White Hart Lane in 2012, but for Millwall’s younger players the trip will represent a highlight of their fledgling careers.
The 33-year-old is keen to remove any sense of awe, however, and he will certainly not be asking for shirts at the final whistle.
“We’re not under any illusions of how hard it’s going to be, but I’m definitely not going there to collect autographs or be nice to them,” Morison said.
“I’m not really an emotional person like that. I don’t get excited, I’m not going to go there on Sunday and be like, ‘oh wow, look who it is!’
“It’s another human being in my eyes and that’s how I’ve always been. I’m not really massively bothered. I’m there to play alongside you and to beat you.”