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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Sport
David Byrom

'They don't want to play for this club again' - Millwall manager Neil Harris gives explosive interview after Bristol City defeat

Bristol City revitalised their play-off hopes with a 2-1 victory over Millwall last night.

The Robins came from behind to take a vital win, although they are now relying on Swansea City to beat Derby County this evening.

For the hosts, it ended their home campaign on a downbeat note.

The Lions have been battling relegation this year, but are safe going into their final game of the season - an way trip to Wigan.

However, if the Robins and Millwall are in the same league next season, fans can expect to see a completely different Lions team - if an explosive post-match interview with manager Neil Harris is anything to go by.

Criticising the mentality of some of his players, Harris said some have said they never want to play for the Lions again.

"I picked a team I knew that was going to work for me, that care. I put the three young lads on the bench because they care," Harris told News at Den.

"We’re short of numbers because of injuries. The young lads have done well in the younger teams.

"There will be a lot of change in the summer, a lot of change. Some players have really let me down this year, have let the football club down. There’s been a lot that won’t come out that has made it difficult.

"A lot goes on that people don’t see. What I want is a group of players that I’ve had in the past that we’ve not had at times this year. A group of players that show commitment to the cause, that are good in the dressing room, that are professional within the football club, have a winning mentality and want to be better and learn.

"Players this year haven’t had that, that have told me they don’t ever want to play for this club again.

"We have to invest and get better players in over the course of the summer, because the Championship is getting better and if we don’t then we’ll get further away. That was evident this year."

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Harris promised there will be changes in the summer because he cannot put up with unprofessional players.

He said: "I cannot be any clearer, I can only have people that want to be at this football club within my changing room. People that put their professionalism and their job and their love for the game before anything else.

"Footballers are no different to society, no different to your friends when they have issues. The level of performance from some individuals this year has been nowhere near good enough.

"I’m the guy that has to stand on the touchline and take the brunt of it because I always back my players – but they’ve let me down at times this year individually and I won’t accept that moving forward.

"The time for change hasn’t been in January, hasn’t been in February or March. The time for change is in the summer – and I will change it.

"I don’t know exactly [how many players will be recruited] because of contract situations. I’m going to be ruthless this summer. I know exactly what I want to do.

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"We’ve had a great period at this club. I took over at a time when relegation was inevitable. I changed the personnel because there were too many senior players on a lot of money that didn’t care about the club. I managed to get them out and bring new players through.

"We’ve just completed a four-year cycle. I’m not going to end up in that situation again.

"We need better players than what we’ve got, better personalities than what we’ve got. That’s what I’ll be telling everybody.

"I don’t do social media so I don’t need to hazard a guess what’s on it. I know my players better than anybody, I know my group mentality better than anybody. I know what needs to change. I know what players need to go and I know the players that need to come in. I’ll be doing my damnedest to change it.

"People have had an opinion this year, fair play to them, that’s fine, but I won’t allow people to question me or my changing room next season if it’s not right."

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