{"id":90380,"date":"2022-02-07T07:29:15","date_gmt":"2022-02-07T07:29:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/news\/millwall-midfielder-on-being-back-in-the-side-and-why-he-didnt-go-banging-down-the-bosss-door\/"},"modified":"2022-02-07T07:29:15","modified_gmt":"2022-02-07T07:29:15","slug":"millwall-midfielder-on-being-back-in-the-side-and-why-he-didnt-go-banging-down-the-bosss-door","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/sport\/football\/millwall\/in-depth\/millwall-midfielder-on-being-back-in-the-side-and-why-he-didnt-go-banging-down-the-bosss-door\/","title":{"rendered":"Millwall midfielder on being back in the side &#8211; and why he didn&#8217;t go banging down the boss&#8217;s door"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>MAIKEL Kieftenbeld is Gary Rowett\u2019s calm but aggressive and determined lieutenant on the pitch.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s the player the manager can call upon to do a specific job.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"69959\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448384\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">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<\/script>\n<p>Rowett knows Kieftenbeld won\u2019t sulk after not being picked. And Kieftenbeld won\u2019t be going banging on the manager\u2019s door asking why he\u2019s not in the team.<\/p>\n<p>Kieftenbeld didn\u2019t start a league game for two-and-a-half months and though his return to the sid ended in disappointment with the 1-0 defeat to Blackpool, he showed why Rowett signed him in the 2-0 win against West Brom.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"68153\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448385\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMzg1NDU3MzU1MyIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWNvbnRlbnQgc291dGgtZW50aXR5LXBsYWNlbWVudCIgc3R5bGU9Im1hcmdpbi1sZWZ0OiBhdXRvO21hcmdpbi1yaWdodDogYXV0bzt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOiBjZW50ZXI7Ij48IS0tICAvMTU0NzI1MDcwLDIyNjk0MTk2OTY5L3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3Mvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cyAtLT4NCjxkaXYgaWQ9ImRpdi1ncHQtYWQtMngxIj4NCjxzY3JpcHQ+DQpnb29nbGV0YWcuY21kLnB1c2goZnVuY3Rpb24oKSB7IGdvb2dsZXRhZy5kaXNwbGF5KCdkaXYtZ3B0LWFkLTJ4MScpOyB9KTsNCjwvc2NyaXB0Pg0KPC9kaXY+ICAgICAgICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n<p>Rowett explained one of Kieftenbeld\u2019s main strengths is his ability to spot when to step up from a deeper position in midfield to press an opponent. He did exactly that against the Baggies, forcing a turnover of possession before Scott Malone found Benik Afobe who scored the second goal.<\/p>\n<p>At half-time in that game, with the Lions on the back of a three-game losing run and a Den that was getting edgy, Rowett kept his cool and told his side the game would open up after an hour. That\u2019s exactly what happened and Millwall took their chances.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71156\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448386\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMzkzMTM5MzA2MiIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWluLWFydGljbGUtbXB1OSBzb3V0aC1lbnRpdHktcGxhY2VtZW50Ij48IS0tICAvMTU0NzI1MDcwLDIyNjk0MTk2OTY5L3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3Mvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cyAtLT4NCjxkaXYgaWQ9ImRpdi1ncHQtYWQtbXB1OSI+DQo8c2NyaXB0Pg0KZ29vZ2xldGFnLmNtZC5wdXNoKGZ1bmN0aW9uKCkgeyBnb29nbGV0YWcuZGlzcGxheSgnZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHU5Jyk7IH0pOw0KPC9zY3JpcHQ+DQo8L2Rpdj4gICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n<p>Kieftenbeld appreciates that level approach from the manager who signed him for Birmingham.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_81236\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-81236\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-81236\" src=\"http:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Kieftenbeld-Portsmouth1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"445\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-81236\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Maikel Kieftenbeld joined in January 2021<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s a manager who\u2019s been around the Championship for a long time so he knows the league, he knows what to ask from his players,\u201d Kieftenbeld said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn some ways he is calm but he also wants his players to perform and win games. He makes sure we know and of course we know.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve had a lot of managers, especially in my time at Birmingham City, so I can see how things can be different, if some managers get stressed after three losses and start doing different things.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71157\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448387\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtNTE3Nzk0OTQ5IiBjbGFzcz0ic291dGgtaW4tYXJ0aWNsZS1tcHUtMTAgc291dGgtZW50aXR5LXBsYWNlbWVudCI+PCEtLSAgLzE1NDcyNTA3MCwyMjY5NDE5Njk2OS9zb3V0aHdhcmtuZXdzL3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3MgLS0+DQo8ZGl2IGlkPSJkaXYtZ3B0LWFkLW1wdTEwIj4NCjxzY3JpcHQ+DQpnb29nbGV0YWcuY21kLnB1c2goZnVuY3Rpb24oKSB7IGdvb2dsZXRhZy5kaXNwbGF5KCdkaXYtZ3B0LWFkLW1wdTEwJyk7IH0pOw0KPC9zY3JpcHQ+DQo8L2Rpdj4gICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n<p>\u201cIf you react out of emotion you think, \u2018we lost the last three games, we have to change things\u2019, but the game against Forest was probably one of our best games. Yes, you lose that game, but you should stick to the positive things. I think that\u2019s what he did.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Kieftenbeld is also a calm character and didn\u2019t get despondent despite that losing run.<\/p>\n<p>He said: \u201cNot in terms of, \u2018oh, we lost three games in a row\u2019. It\u2019s just the Championship. Sometimes you have a bad spell for a couple of games and it\u2019s just how you respond.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe way we responded [against West Brom] was perfect. Even in the three games we lost I think we played well. We played well against Forest and were unlucky to lose that game.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s small margins sometimes in the Championship but after three games of not winning a win is always good.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Kieftenbeld has had to be patient in this campaign, with Billy Mitchell, George Saville and George Evans often ahead of him in Rowett\u2019s thoughts.<\/p>\n<p>He did find it frustrating that he missed games because of two positive Covid tests when he was fine health-wise but because of government rules he had to stay away from the training ground and self-isolate.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t get me wrong, I\u2019m really glad I didn\u2019t feel anything because I know there are a lot of people who are struggling when they catch Covid,\u201d Kieftenbeld said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor me it was frustrating because I felt fine and the lads were out there playing matches. I wanted to be part of it but it is what it is, the season that it is, all clubs have struggled with it. But for me it was not great because I just want to be part of the team and be out there.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was tough [not playing]. I just had to wait for my chance and I\u2019m glad I\u2019m really more involved now. Hopefully the second half the season I can be more involved than the first half.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m not really a person for [knocking on the manager\u2019s door] because I know he trusts me, he knows me as a player. I always have the feeling that if he needs me he will put me straight back into the team. I don\u2019t really like when people go to the manager and ask why they are not playing.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI just want to keep my head down and show it on the training pitch, make sure I\u2019m fit when the chance is there. One of the sports scientists told me it was about 21 weeks ago when I played my last 90.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn some way I\u2019m proud of myself that I kept going and training and am able now to play 90 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It has been a frustrating season for Millwall with injuries and a Covid outbreak in December. But different players have made impacts when others have been out.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_79527\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-79527\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-79527\" src=\"http:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Kieftenbeld1-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"445\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-79527\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The midfielder focused on working hard in training<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>And Kieftenbeld feels that when Jed Wallace and George Saville return they will boost the side\u2019s prospects in the second half of the season.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFirst Bradders [Tom Bradshaw] and then Benik, they really stepped up,\u201d Kieftenbeld said. \u201cNow you\u2019ve got Mason Bennett, he has had a few injuries, but it always helps the team when the forwards are full of confidence.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJed is a phenomenal player and that will help us in the second half of the season. We lost three games in a row but if you look at the league table we\u2019re still in and around it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHopefully we can get some good results. It\u2019s really hard in the Championship.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Is the top six still the aim?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s always difficult, it\u2019s my seventh season now in the Championship,\u201d Kieftenbeld replies. \u201cAfter three defeats you think you\u2019re struggling, then you beat West Brom and then you\u2019re asking me about the play-offs. Things change so quickly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHopefully the guys who are out can return quickly because the Championship is a tough league, we often play every three days so we need everyone.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou can call me back in two months and I hope I can give you a positive answer about challenging for the play-offs!\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Image: Millwall FC\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MAIKEL Kieftenbeld will be hoping to keep his place in the team when the Lions face Fulham.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16625,"featured_media":74878,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[15418],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-90380","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-in-depth"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90380","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16625"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=90380"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90380\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/74878"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=90380"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=90380"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=90380"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}