Paul Warne talks to www.themillers.co.uk...
Rotherham United manager Paul Warne insists the excitement continues to build, as the countdown to kick off for the club’s first game of the 2017/18 Sky Bet League One campaign at Fleetwood Town continues.
The Millers boss says he is eagerly anticipating the opening fixture at Highbury Stadium, which will see a sold-out away allocation follow his side to the west coast and Warne admits he believes the pre-season preparations have set things up nicely for the opening day.
“It feels like everything has gone really well for us. Pre-season has been first-class, and whilst we know we don't get any points for pre-season, the performances have been good,” he told www.themilers.co.uk.
“The attitude of the lads has been faultless. Although I try to put across the way we want to play, it is the lads who have to take it out onto the pitch and put it into practice. They have bought into it, and if they keep doing that we will play in a way which will be exciting.
"We go into the first game with real excitement and we'll see where we are and if we are missing anything after the weekend.”
Warne is hoping that the stars will align for his side in the 2017/18 campaign, and after crossing paths with some faces from his days enjoying promotion with the club as a player this week, is hoping that the omens are good ahead of the trip to Fleetwood.
"I don't know if this is an good omen, but I have bumped into loads of old faces from the great team we had in the late 90s and early 2000s,” he continued.
“I went to a youth team tournament at SHU this week and saw our old fitness coach John Bilton. I've also seen our old Kitman John Newey and then today Sid our old bus driver when walking around the village where I live.
“They are all wishing us all the best, and hearing that positivity from some really good Rothers people is really encouraging.”
The Millers travel to their first away fixture of the season having failed to win on the road in the previous campaign and Warne is keen to ensure the travelling supporters go home happy come Saturday night.
“I hope that the fans will enjoy watching us, I appreciate our away form last year was poor so we need to put that behind us,” he explained.
“In pre-season our away form has been good, so we need to build on that and take it into the season.”