Rotherham
manager Neil Redfearn says his failing players need to fight for the
privilege of being a professional footballer.
The
Millers sank to a desperately disappointing 2-0 defeat at Huddersfield on Tuesday which mean they will definitely spend
Christmas in the bottom four.
The
first half was particularly grim, leaving Redfearn to tear into his
squad at half-time, something he described as a “condemnation of
them as professional footballers”.
The
boss says they need to realise how lucky they are.
“They
are in a privileged position,” he said. “I played nearly a 1,000
games and I played in all divisions, Premier League, right down to
the Conference.
“This is worth fighting for, let me tell you,
because the alternative is getting up at seven in the morning, going
to B&Q, working nine until half five, getting paid £5 an hour
and getting home at seven at night every day of the week.
“It
took a bollocking at half-time for them to come out and play with a
little bit of spirit, it's criminal, that should never happen.
“What
has got to be a given for us is that battling fighting spirit. We
didn't see that for 45 minutes and that can't happen.
“There's
no excuse for them when they go out, they know what's needed. They
are probably more organised now than they have ever been. There's no
excuse for them to go out and perform like that.
