NEIL Harris believes it will be important to strike a balance in his team talk tomorrow for Millwall’s “sink or swim” test at Leeds United.
Daniel Farke’s side are gunning for promotion, have won 11 of their last 12 games and are the only Championship side still unbeaten at home.
Those factors set the stage for an underdog challenge that Harris and Millwall fans tend to relish.
The Lions boss, who has won three of his four games since returning, will look to strike the right tone before the game.
Asked for his team talk plans to fire the players up, Harris said in his pre-match press conference: “You’d have to ask my players and they’d give you a very clear response. I’m a very passionate person and Elland Road away… it’s sink or swim. I love it.
“I’m very much looking forward to it and my energy and enthusiasm is matched by my players at the moment. We’re looking forward to the game.
“Speech-wise before the match, there’s a balance between making sure we’re an aggressive Millwall team on the road but also having calm heads where we manage the game to the best of our ability.”
Harris arrived at Millwall halfway into the week before pulling off the win at Southampton while the week before was disrupted by the Tuesday night clash at Blackburn.
The Millwall head coach said he has appreciated being able to spend some time at the training ground with the players away from the match environment.
“First and foremost, it’s beneficial for recuperation,” Harris said. “We are 37 games in and as much as I’m fresh and excited and enjoying myself, I have to remember that a lot of lads have played many games so we have to think about refreshing and getting energy levels back. Especially for Elland Road which is a very taxing environment mentally and physically.
“So there’s been a little bit of downtime but also an opportunity to get messages in but the messages are about shape work, information delivered through the class room, tactics board and on the grass and just getting that blend.
“All we’re looking to get do at this stage of the season is getting those one percent gains and looking better at both ends of the pitch with or without the ball to help us keep moving forward.”