City’s Canadian winger will have a big part to play on Saturday
Mohamed Belloumi and Liam Millar have been on quite a journey together(Image: Warren Little/Getty Images)
Liam Millar has revealed how both he and Mo Belloumi shared a special moment together after their play-off semi-final win at Millwall, as the realisation of their achievement began to hit home that they’re just one game away from the Premier League.
Millar and Belloumi missed much of last season with cruciate knee ligament injuries, which were sustained within two weeks of each other, and they spent much of their rehab working closely together, supporting each other through the dark times, as well as the brighter ones, in a period that lasted almost a year.
A bond was created between the two of them, as well as Eliot Matazo and the medical staff, that will continue for longer than their time together at City.
The influential duo have had their respective injury setbacks this season since overcoming ACL surgery, but have played key roles in getting City into Saturday’s Championship play-off final at Wembley, where they’ll take on Middlesbrough for a place in the Premier League.
Belloumi especially proved the difference in the second leg at The Den, scoring a sensational opener before teeing up Joe Gelhardt to seal a deserved 2-0 victory, and send the Tigers into their first play-off final for 10 years.
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“Me and Mo were on the pitch after the game and the physio Will Peers was there as well. Will took me and Mo both through our ACLs, me and Mo had a little moment after the game where we were just like, ‘It’s crazy that a year ago today we both had an ACL injury, we both had Portsmouth, hoping that we don’t go down, not being able to be in any control of what’s going on, and a year later we’re winning a play-off semi-final. Me, Mo, and Will just all had a moment together,” the winger told Hull Live.
“We all just appreciated it, celebrated it together, and it was just a really great moment. I think that’s a great example of just taking a step back and appreciating where you’ve come from and where you are now.
“Honestly, not yet,” Millar continued when asked if the realisation had set in. “I feel like I’ll get it when I get there. I feel like even when we do the tour of the stadium, maybe I’ll get it in that moment, but as of right now, I still don’t have it yet.
“I feel like I’m still not like appreciated like how big this moment is yet. It’s probably a good thing in general, whereas it’s not putting any extra pressure on, and I’m just really relaxed about the moment. I’m really looking forward to it, though. Wembley’s a very historic stadium.
“I remember being a kid in Canada watching games at Wembley on TV, so where I was as a kid, to be where I am now, to be playing at Wembley is unbelievable.”
City’s squad is packed with experience, with players who have played in big games both domestically and internationally, and that’s something Millar feels will be crucial.
“I’ve played in a Copa America semi-final, I’ve played in a Conference League semi-final, we’ve got people like Lunny (John Lundstram) who’s played in a Europa League final. You’ve got Eags (John Egan), who has played how many games in the Premier League? Lunny, Eags and Oli (McBurnie) have been promoted from the Championship to the Premier League.
“There’s a lot of people in this group who have a lot of experience in big moments and that’s what I’m talking about, leaching off everyone’s knowledge. How did they deal with these moments? What did they do wrong in these moments that you can help me with so I don’t do that wrong when it comes to this moment?
“I feel like in this group, we’re so open that we’re all able to ask that question to each other. That’s why I think it’s such a positive thing that no matter if this is your first time playing in a big game or if you played in multiple big games before, we all know exactly how to approach it.”
“I’m just very proud of myself, very proud of everyone around me, my family, everyone who’s helped me through this moment, and the lads to get to this moment, but for me it will be a fantastic experience. I’m gonna have my moment where I probably get goosebumps when I walk out, but as soon as that moment’s over, I’m gonna be focused on making sure I do everything I can to get this club to the Premier League.”
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