Mills lauds Royals team spirit

Anthony Smith • Published 11 Jul 2010 09:00 0 Comments

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MATT Mills believes Reading's biggest advantage over their Championship rivals next season will be the strength of their team spirit.

Last season got off to an horrendous start for the Royals under ex-boss Brendan Rodgers.

But they survived that dark period and ended up finishing just outside the play-offs thanks to a stunning run from Christmas onwards under Brian McDermott.

During that turbulent period last season the Reading players formed a strong bond which Mills believes will serve them well over the forthcoming campaign.

Mills, pictured, who turns 24 next week, argued: "When you get a new squad together it's always difficult because it takes time for people to settle in. But there's definitely a very strong team spirit here which is vitally important.

"If you are ever going to do anything as a club you need your team to stick together, to work closely with the management and also with the fans.

"If we can tick all three boxes it should stand us in good stead."

Mills' own fortunes last season could not have mirrored those of Reading more closely.

He became the club's big signing when Rodgers signed him from Doncaster Rovers for £2 million.

But the centre-back was only sporadically used and he did not even travel with the squad to away games towards the end of Rodgers' ill-fated reign.

However, when McDermott came in Mills was quickly restored to the side and he finished the season wearing the captain's armband when skipper Ivar Ingimarsson was forced to have surgery.

Mills admitted: "Because I didn't get into the squad until fairly late I wasn't ready for the season to finish.

"But everyone has come back really fit which is a good sign. It means we can get stuck straight into the work instead of having to mess around with fitness.

"The lads are really buzzing and we're all looking forward to it now.

"I don't know what will happen with the captaincy, that's up to the manager. But when Ivar got injured last season it was a massive honour when Brian turned to me.

"But what will be will be, I'm just concentrating on getting up to match fitness."

Mills is also confident Reading could be challenging at the top of the division next season of they can harness the momentum they gained from Christmas onwards when they showed promotion-winning form.

"The key is to start next season the way we finished the last," he insisted. "Given the second half of last season there was a touch of disappointment when you think what might have been.

"We were so close to the play-offs in the end but that's behind us now. We've learned form the experience and grown as a squad and we're looking ahead now."

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