Paul Warne has tasted the blood. He used to spit it out in the morning as he wrestled with the stresses of a job he never asked for or applied for.
Warne has shed tears, standing before his players to bare his soul in a speech about his father who is seriously ill.
This week, the manager of Championship club Rotherham has been shivering and sneezing inside the oversized padded coat he likes to wear on the touchline. Yet he is undaunted. Blood, snot and tears fuel the pursuit of an FA Cup miracle at Manchester City.
Paul Warne is preparing to take Rotherham to Manchester City in the FA Cup third round
At least Warne’s illness persuaded him to swerve what might have been an unnerving scouting mission to see the champions beat Liverpool on Thursday.
He watched from home in South Yorkshire, trading WhatsApp messages with his staff and trying to work out City’s team with his 12-year-old daughter, Riley.
‘We get the squad up and I’m saying, “Yeah, Phil Foden, I think he’ll play”,’ said Warne. ‘She says, “Is he good?” and I say, “Yes, he’s good, Riley”. “What about him, will he play?” “Yes, I think he will”. “Is he good?” “Yes, he’s very good”.’
Even without those who started against Liverpool, Pep Guardiola can call on Kevin De Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez and Gabriel Jesus in Sunday’s third-round tie.
‘The gap is monumental, but the good thing is football’s not fair. The best team doesn’t always win,’ said Warne, who was in Rotherham’s attack for a 1-1 draw with City in League One in March 2002 — the last time the teams met.
‘With Oldham we played away in the FA Cup at Chasetown on a wet, muddy pitch and it was the live TV game. Our captain, Chris Swailes, reckoned their captain wanted to fight him when he went to hand in the team sheet.
‘He returned and said, “They’re a bit revved up, he didn’t even have a shirt on”. We got a draw and battered them in the replay. That’s why fans love the FA Cup.
‘And that’s the thing with City. The levels are so wide some of the things my players do they won’t be used to seeing. They might be confused if Jon Taylor or Ryan Williams run at them.’
Now 45, Warne was dressed as an elf, waiting to shoot a Christmas advert for the club shop when he learned he was to be Rotherham’s next manager. ‘The chief exec tapped me on the shoulder and said, “You’d better get out of the elf outfit. You’re going to be the caretaker manager”.’
It was late November 2016. Rotherham had seven points from 18 Championship games and Kenny Jackett had walked out after only 39 days in charge.
Warne was the fitness coach and a popular figure after playing nearly 300 games at the club in two spells covering 10 years. ‘I thought it would be one
