Chapter 479: The Youth Take Their Stand
The sky had darkened by the time Aldrich returned to London. He parked his car in the garage of his community apartment and then walked straight to Yvonne's house across the street.
The living room was dimly lit, with flickering candles on the table, and her carefully arranged dinner set on the dining table. Seeing Aldrich arrive, she smiled brightly and said, "Perfect timing, the wine should be ready now."
With that, she poured two glasses of rich, aromatic red wine from the decanter.
Aldrich sat down, absently pulling the chair closer, his expression shifting to one of quiet distraction.
Yvonne, seated across from him, rested her chin on her palm, a playful grin lighting up her face. "Let me try to guess what's running through that head of yours," she said lightly.
Her voice brought him back. Aldrich picked up his wine glass and offered a small nod of thanks. "Cheers."
"Are you worrying about the team's performance? Do you think Manchester United has a chance to turn things around?"
Aldrich chuckled dismissively, shaking his head. "United might go undefeated till the end, but imagining Millwall collapsing and losing five of the last seven? That kind of miracle? Dream on."
Millwall found themselves settling for yet another draw in the league today—the sixth time this has happened since the start of the second half of the season.
"Really, you're not worried?" Yvonne seemed a little disappointed that her guess was off.
Aldrich raised an eyebrow and said, "Actually, I'm quite satisfied with how things are going. Even if we drop points again in the next match, I might laugh when I get home."
"Seriously? That's ridiculous! You've got to be lying."
"It's the truth."
"Who would believe you'd be happy about your team failing to win?"
"Only under the current circumstances and only in the league."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want the team to clinch the title before mid-April."
Yvonne stared at him in confusion. This man always seemed to think differently from everyone else.
Seeing her confusion, Aldrich smiled and explained, "There's been talk outside that Millwall could create an even more glorious history, and people have been criticizing me. They believe that if we field the strongest lineup in every match, we could break records, clinch the title early, and set unthinkable records for wins, goals, and so on. I won't deny that there's some truth to that, but I can't let the team win the title before mid-April. I just can't. Thankfully, Manchester United has been playing well lately. If they give up, it'll be worse for us."
"Worse? How is it worse? Winning the title early, shifting focus to the Champions League and the FA Cup, what's wrong with that?"
"Theoretically, it's fine. But the league is the most important competition. If we win the title before mid-April, or even earlier, the players will inevitably relax mentally. Physically, they'll be fine, but mentally, they might not be in peak form. I need the team to stay focused, to maintain a sense of urgency, even if it's minimal. Having a bit of fighting spirit is better than none. Imagine, they've been pushing themselves since August. If we clinch the title too early, won't they relax mentally?"
Yvonne nodded, seemingly agreeing with his reasoning.
"So what were you thinking just now?"
Aldrich fell silent for a few seconds before sighing. "Bert and Earl, they're at that stage where their cognitive abilities are developing. I don't want to become a stranger to them because I'm always away."
It's a basic human instinct, shared by almost all living creatures. When a person is constantly around during the stage when a child begins to recognize things, they develop a sense of closeness and trust.
Yvonne thought for a moment before saying, "Maybe you should talk to Chisholm. She can't always be with Bert and Earl either. From a child's perspective, at least you're not like her, constantly traveling abroad for concerts or promotions."
Aldrich was silent for about half a minute, then perked up, smiling. "Let's not talk about that anymore. If we keep this up, we'll end up wasting the dinner you so carefully prepared."
They both raised their glasses and exchanged a smile, then enjoyed their meal together.
In the final round of the Champions League group stage, Aldrich not only sent an entire squad of substitutes to the Netherlands, but his starting lineup also received criticism from many quarters.
Lazio had 7 points, Bordeaux had 5 points, and Feyenoord had 4 points.
Feyenoord had already been eliminated.
Lazio would face Bordeaux directly in the final round, while Feyenoord would host Millwall.
For Feyenoord, this match was a battle for honor, their farewell performance in the Champions League this season. They hoped to test themselves one last time against the powerful Millwall.
But Millwall was not cooperating. With nothing to gain, they were preparing for the upcoming quarterfinals.
In Millwall's starting lineup, only one player was over 21 years old.
Goalkeeper: Butt.
Defenders: Ferreira, Barzagli, Metzelder, Cole.
Midfielders: Pedretti, Alonso, Joe Cole.
Forwards: Vicente, Villa, Joaquin.
In such a meaningless Champions League match, Aldrich was using the high-profile stage to train his young players, pushing them to grow, giving them opportunities, and letting them experience the atmosphere of such a big match.
In the locker room before the match, Aldrich looked at the vibrant, energetic ten players, plus the calm and silent Butt.
These young players were full of ambition, and they could hardly believe they would be starting in a match of this magnitude!
"I'm a young coach, and naturally, I favor young players. Many of your predecessors—Capdevila, Helguera, Pirlo, Ronaldinho, Trezeguet, and so many others—when they were your age, they had already become key players for the team, earning honors for the club. Time waits for no one, the world waits for no one. I won't ask if you're ready. Even if you're not sure inside, you must lie to yourselves and tell yourselves, deep down, 'This is our time!'"
Aldrich's words made the young players, who still had a touch of youthful naivety in their faces, stand tall and confident, as if an invisible force had made them declare their determination.
"However, I won't ask you to do anything beyond your abilities. But I expect you to perform at the level you've shown in training. Stay calm on the pitch and apply the knowledge we've taught you. Show your best self. Today is a test, and I will give you ratings at halftime. The three worst performers will be substituted at the break. Now, let's go."
As soon as Aldrich finished speaking, he led the way out of the locker room.
Butt was certain not to be substituted, but for the other ten players, each of them was burning with passion, eager to prove themselves or avoid being substituted. This mental boost was extremely effective.
The top three Dutch clubs are famous for their youth development, so it's not unusual for their youth teams to rise through the ranks in European competitions.
Today, Aldrich brought his youth squad to Feyenoord.
Holland had been a lucky land for Millwall, with two European Cup victories in its history, but the fans of the top three Dutch clubs didn't like Millwall. Only neutral fans welcomed their presence.
As Millwall's young squad walked onto the pitch, the home fans erupted into a deafening chorus of boos.
To them, the fact that Millwall had sent out this lineup was an insult.
They didn't even seem to have any intention of challenging Feyenoord, merely showing up for a "friendly" match.
Feyenoord, playing at home, was determined to give their fans a victory. Even if they had to leave this prestigious stage, they would leave with their heads held high.
Thus, Feyenoord launched an all-out attack, staying true to the tradition of Dutch football. A Dutch team that doesn't attack is simply unimaginable.
Millwall's youthful squad may not yet possess the experience to rival Feyenoord's veterans, but they made up for it through other means.
These boys had grown up together on the pitch, their understanding of each other instinctive. Their commitment to team football, discipline, and tactical awareness was paying off. Sure, they were under siege from the start, but they never panicked. Their formation held firm, their minds stayed cool.
Attack. Fail. Attack again. Fail again. And still, they kept fighting. Aldrich's pride was unmistakable as he watched from the sidelines.
This squad wasn't just talented—they were relentless. No matter how many times they stumbled, they got back up, unfazed and determined.
Pedretti and Alonso held the line just ahead of the defense. While there were moments of disarray, their positional sense and synergy repeatedly neutralized dangerous situations.
In the 37th minute, after Joaquin had failed in three consecutive attempts to break through, he and Joe Cole combined for a one-two that finally paid off. Joaquin managed to get to the byline, feinted a cross, then cut inside, as Villa was tightly marked. He passed back to the top of the box, where Vicente appeared.
The Feyenoord defender made a critical error, lunging in too hastily. Vicente capitalized on his agility, swiftly changing direction to break into the box. From a 45-degree angle, he unleashed a powerful strike toward goal.
The goalkeeper blocked the shot, but to his dismay, Villa was already closing in. Seizing the opportunity, he delivered a powerful follow-up that sent the ball crashing into the back of the net.
Villa's celebration was wild as he ran around the pitch, with the only player not rushing to join him being Butt, who remained in goal, pumping his fists in celebration of the goal. The rest of the young players ran straight to Villa, sharing the joy of their collective effort.
This goal was a huge boost for them. It wasn't just about the win—it marked a moment where they weren't hiding behind the wings of seasoned stars like Nedved and Southgate. These 10 young players, after countless attempts, a stubborn defense, and failed attacks, had finally earned their own moment of glory. This goal was a testament to their hard work, a reflection of their own identity as a youthful squad.
Aldrich had lied to them—he hadn't substituted anyone at halftime, and it had nothing to do with the scoreline. The claim about making changes was a complete fabrication.
In the second half, Feyenoord, after sustained pressure, finally equalized. As the scoreline changed to 1-1, Aldrich remained still on the bench, but internally, he urged his team: Hold on, hold on. Show me more!
What makes a team truly worth watching?
For Aldrich, this young squad was precisely that. Even after conceding the equalizer, they remained composed, patiently waiting for the perfect moment to strike a decisive blow, never squandering any valuable opportunities.
In the 69th minute, Joe Cole latched onto Villa's layoff just outside the box and unleashed a powerful shot to reclaim the lead.
This time, Aldrich leaped from the bench, punching the air in celebration.
These spirited youngsters gave him hope—a glimpse of Millwall's future, proof that his efforts were paying off. In a match where the result hardly mattered, he believed the team had reaped more rewards than in countless other games.
It wasn't just about gaining experience; its significance ran far deeper.
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