TRISTAN Crama, who joined Millwall only a few weeks ago, has faced several challenges. The Frenchman inked a contract to play center defense has been forced to play right back.
The Frenchman, however, has prospered. After playing in League One for the previous two years, he has started the last three games, all of which have ended in victories, and on Saturday he helped Aaron Connolly. Despite this, he is still getting used to the pace of the Championship.
After moving from Beziers to Brentford’s academy in 2020, Crama spent his first two years in England playing football for the B team.
At first, it was a difficult adjustment.
Crama told NewsAtDen, “So far, it’s been a long journey.” “It hasn’t always been simple. I couldn’t speak English when I initially arrived here, which was during COVID-19. My first year was somewhat turbulent because I was unable to see my family in France due to COVID-19.
Prior to the 2022–2023 season, Crama was called up to the first team squad, although he did not play in five league games as a replacement.
In the midst of managerial changes, he made 34 appearances for Bristol Rovers, a League One team, on loan the next year.
After that, he played for Exeter City, a League One team, during the first part of the 2024–25 season, making 26 appearances and taking home two Player of the Month awards.
“Bristol was my first loan,” Crama remarked. There were many highs and lows. In the same year, we had three different managers.
There were times when I played a lot and times when I didn’t play. I played every game the season after I moved to Exeter and really got going. I believe I performed well, and the staff and coach gave me their all.
Millwall was put on notice due to Crama’s performance at Exeter.
“They attended my games during the season,” Crama remarked. “I spoke with the manager and Steven at the start of the transfer window, and they informed me that they attended 24 of my games. I believe my agent informed me that Millwall might be a possibility for you at the start of the window.
The Lions were not the only club interested in securing the Frenchman’s services, but Crama was convinced by the project and the prospect of working with Alex Neil. “We spoke with different clubs,” Crama said. “I saw the project at Millwall is really exciting. They’re bringing in new players, developing them and obviously I spoke with the manager as well. “When you join a club you look at the manager and he made the difference compared to other clubs. You can see in his past what he has done with young players, especially with centre-backs. “So those were the main reasons why I came to Millwall: an exciting project, good manager, they play young players.”
Although he had originally planned to start as a center-back, injuries to Ryan Leonard and Danny McNamara during Millwall’s 2-2 draw with Cardiff City forced him to make his debut at right-back, a position he is much less experienced with.
“I think I only played there once or twice with Brentford, and that was in friendly games during the preseason,” Crama remarked. “I just attempt to perform the bare minimum. For my size, I’m pretty quick. I’ve liked it so far, even though it’s obviously not the same posture. I believe I performed well, and I try to keep my attention on the essentials rather than attempting to accomplish too much.
“I had a few successful games, which boosted my confidence, and it goes without saying that confident players perform better. As a player, I would rather play as a right-back than be a substitute, so I don’t mind staying there.
“It goes without saying that when the coach asked if I could play right back, I could. I was unable to refuse. “Of course I can,” I replied. It’s going well so far. The gaffer gives me a good platform to perform even though he is aware that it is not my position. Instead of assigning me to right-back, he says, “Do what you can.”
Crama started out as a midfielder in Beziers’ academy, and his skill with the ball made the switch easier.
“As a center-back, I always enjoyed moving forward and stepping with the ball,” Crama remarked. “I had that in my game, and I was a midfielder before I was a center-back for maybe five years.
“So, even though I’m really at ease with the ball, I’ve certainly never crossed a lot. I still have work to do on it. But moving ahead is something I’ve always had in my game, so I didn’t have to add anything.
Everything is going good so far. Although Crama has provided several dangerous balls and put himself in ideal positions, helping Connolly open the scoring against Queens Park Rangers and helping Luke Cundle score the game-winning goal, Millwall supporters may not have yet to witness his greatest skill—his ability to head—in action.
For Exeter, the six-foot-three defender used his head to score four goals.Crama remarked, “I worked a lot on timing on set-pieces when I was at Brentford.” I also scored a couple goals when I was younger, and I scored four goals in 26 games while I was at Exeter. which, in my opinion, is favorable. Therefore, I’m hoping to score my first goal for Millwall.
Crama must first perform a song for the rest of the Millwall team, who he claims have embraced him with open arms. This is a far more difficult challenge.
Crama remarked, “I haven’t done it yet. “Probably the upcoming road games. However, I may have to sing in French because I don’t have many English songs in my head.
