Millwall manager Gary Rowett has admitted he was pleased to see Leeds United stay in the Premier League. The Whites secured their top-flight status on the final day of the season with a 2-1 win over Brentford, moving ahead of Burnley who were beaten by Newcastle United.
Burnley joined Norwich City and Watford in being relegated to the Championship, with those two sides having been promoted just a year earlier. The fixture between Leeds and Millwall has developed quite an edge during their seasons in both the Championship and League One together.
In Leeds’ promotion campaign, they came back from a 2-0 half time deficit to win 3-2 in front of a raucous Elland Road atmosphere. The Whites have often struggled at the New Den, though, not winning in any of their last six visits to Millwall.
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Via quotes from London News Online, Rowett claimed that although Millwall fans may be disappointed the two clubs cannot renew rivalries, from a personal perspective he is pleased as he believes the Championship is a harder division with Leeds in it.
He said: “I’m not disappointed at Leeds not being in the Championship. It is one of the places which is very difficult to go and play football, it’s a great atmosphere. I appreciate it is a brilliant away day and the rivalry is strong between the fans, but as a manager you look at the clubs you think will be really, really strong next season.
“It can be hard to tell, but Everton is another one I didn’t want to come down because you presume they would just bounce straight back up quite comfortably. All those clubs coming out of the Premier League have parachute payments behind them and Premier League squads.”
