Marvin Elliott believes the Championship play-off final is bigger than its FA Cup equivalent.
Play-off final represents pinnacle of defender's career
Marvin Elliott believes the Championship play-off final is bigger than its FA Cup equivalent.
The defender represented Millwall against Manchester United in the final of English football's grandest club competition back in 2004, but is adamant that an appearance for Bristol City against Hull this Saturday would top that achievement.
A place in the Premier League can be worth up to £60million for those lucky enough to taste play-off glory, and Elliott is convinced that justifies the importance he is placing on the weekend encounter.
Similarities
"It is two completely different competitions," he said.
"The FA Cup final was for a trophy and a place in Europe, this is for a place in the Premier League and I think that makes it a bigger prize and therefore a bigger game.
"They also call this the richest game in football because of what is at stake and what it is worth to the winning club, so this is bigger.
"But obviously there will be similarities with the cup final. The crowd at Wembley will be just as big as it was at the Millennium Stadium, and this is another big final with a trophy at stake."
Devastated
He added: "I still remember that day and I will try to use that experience on Saturday. But at the end of the day you can have all the experience in the world, if you don't perform it counts for nothing.
"We must make sure we give it everything and have no regrets because if we do then we will be absolutely devastated.
"It has been a great season, but it is not over yet. There is one more game to go and hopefully at the end of it we will be able to sit down and reflect on a great season."
Cringe
City manager Gary Johnson has no injury concerns heading into the game, but admits that watching his players train this week has been a nervous experience.
"We have worked hard in training. You cross your fingers and cringe sometimes when you see some big tackles going in, but it has got to be that way because you have still got to train properly," said Johnson.
"At the moment everyone is fit and looking forward to being selected in the 16."
