Bab 435: Villa’s Growing Pains
In the early morning, Aldrich awoke from his dream, feeling groggy for a moment before fully coming to terms with reality five minutes later. Clad in just a pair of shorts, he strolled into the gym.
He pulled back the curtains, and bright sunlight flooded the room. With his headphones on, he tuned into the morning news while jogging on the treadmill, his spirits soaring as if a continuous stream of happy thoughts accompanied him. A smile was unconsciously etched on his face.
After finishing his workout, he stepped into the bathroom, took a shower, and while brushing his teeth, noticed a photo taped next to the mirror. Smiling to himself, he said, "Bert, Earl, good morning."
After breakfast at home, Aldrich drove to the club alone, stopping at a fast-food joint to grab two cups of coffee. Upon entering the training facility, he handed one cup to the young security guard.
"Hey, Aldrich."
"Good morning, Robert, this is for you."
Robert accepted the coffee with a smile and shook his head slightly.
Since his summer return from Liverpool, Since he returned to work at the club last summer, Aldrich had undergone a transformation. He seemed lighter, happier, and was filled with infectious enthusiasm that inspired everyone around him.
He had contemplated that having a child might lead him to settle down and lose some of that passion, but in reality, every day now felt invigorating; it was as if each day was bright and brand new.
With a match at home today, he had stayed away from Liverpool yesterday. However, upon arriving for training, Klinsmann shared some unfortunate news.
"Ronaldinho injured his leg last night while swimming; he won't be able to play today."
On hearing the news, Aldrich felt no worry; instead, he found it somewhat amusing.
"What is he thinking?"
"I'm not sure. After yesterday's pre-match briefing, he and Villa were racing in the indoor pool, and apparently bumped his leg against the wall while turning. It's not serious; the team doctor checked it, and he just needs a week of rest."
Aldrich scratched his head and sighed, "Let him recover. Training will be adjusted accordingly. We need to find a player to start in his place. Um, let's have Joe Cole take his spot."
Injuries among players can be quite peculiar at times. Gascoigne's infamous incident of standing on the ball and getting knocked over by a teammate—resulting in months of injury—is a particularly humorous and unusual case. However, it's not uncommon to see accidental injuries in life.
Before training started, Klinsmann tossed the first-team shirt to Joe Cole. As the team noticed Ronaldinho was absent from the training field, whispers of curiosity circulated. Klinsmann later announced that Ronaldinho would be sidelined for a week and miss today's match as well as the one in four days.
Villa and Joe Cole had known of Ronaldinho's absence last night, as they had swum together and were present during the incident. However, neither took it too seriously—at worst, it would mean a spot on the bench.
However, van der Meyde and Gronkjaer were not included in the starting lineup, as Aldrich decided to see how Ronaldinho's absence would affect the next away match before involving them.
Ecstatic, Joe Cole slipped on the first-team shirt and turned to beam at Villa and Vicente, who exchanged glances and mumbled curses—"What luck does little Joe have!"
In the squad, there were two Coles: Ashley and Joe. Teammates, including Ronaldinho, referred to Joe Cole as "Little Joe."
With an afternoon match looming, the morning training session lacked intensity. It primarily revolved around ball control to hone their skills. After the club's carefully arranged nutrition and rest period, it was time to step onto the pitch for the game.
In the fifth round of the Premier League, Millwall hosted an opponent far removed from being formidable: Southampton.
This team had finished in the relegation zone in two of the past three seasons—putting them just one step away from being relegated.
Fleet Street's commentary states that Southampton's survival last season was nothing short of absurd!
They were the second-lowest scoring team in the league and had the second-highest number of goals conceded in the entire Premier League.
This means their defense was poor, and their offense was ineffective.
Fans look for goals and thrilling defense, but they certainly failed to please. Ironically, they confirmed their survival two rounds early, finishing fourth from the bottom.
Facing such an opponent, even without Ronaldinho and with Joe Cole stepping in, Aldrich believed that as long as Cole didn't hinder the team, winning against Southampton would be a simple task.
With senior players leading the way, Cole wouldn't attract much attention from the opposition defense. This allowed him to perform freely while being shielded by the stars around him. He might not have an earth-shattering moment, but at the very least, he could hold the ball well, take risks, and chase back even if he lost possession.
Aldrich allowed Joe Cole just 65 minutes of play. While he didn't score or provide an assist, Millwall had already established a 3-0 lead, and he contributed to the buildup for two of those goals. He was greeted with applause from the fans as he left the pitch.
Aldrich applauded him as well, hoping this performance would boost his confidence.
This was Millwall's fifth league match, and it marked Aldrich's fifth consecutive game in which he substituted two players before they hit the 70-minute mark. The team's attacking stance had started to slow down, transitioning to Pirlo controlling the tempo.
"This is not right, really not right! We watch Millwall's matches to enjoy their brilliant performances for the entire 90 minutes, but now we're only treated to the exquisite football they play for 70 minutes, or even just 60."
Commentator Martin Taylor could typically guess the momentum of the upcoming game as soon as Millwall made substitutions.
"Martin, we can't blame Hall. His team is simply too strong. He needs to give the substitutes some time and conserve energy. If someone should be held accountable, it's the FA—they've scheduled the first nine rounds so that Millwall won't face any strong opponents until the tenth round when they meet Arsenal. If Millwall draws a tough group in the new Champions League, once the Premier League tenth round rolls around, they'll be in for a challenging run with tough fixtures every week. The outcome will hinge on their Champions League draw."
"Even though Manchester United adjusted quickly after their first-round draw against Everton, winning 2-1 at Coventry in their last match for their fourth consecutive victory, it's truly hard to imagine which Premier League team could stop Millwall given that they can seemingly secure a victory within the first 60 minutes! They haven't conceded a single goal yet! They haven't even given their opponents a chance!"
"Thus, the Lions' fans are eagerly anticipating the start of the new season's Champions League—they can't wait to face off against the top teams in Europe."
The match concluded with Millwall once again triumphing, this time with a score of 4-0. Even with Millwall taking their foot off the gas after the 60-minute mark, their utterly demoralized opponents offered no resistance. In fact, when Millwall slowed the pace, the others were left confused, thinking Millwall was simply trying to coast to victory.
Yet then Pirlo suddenly accelerated, launching a swift counterattack that was devastating!
Larsson scored twice while Henry and Nedvěd each added a goal of their own. On the Premier League table, Millwall not only achieved five straight victories, scoring 18 goals in the process, but three of their players also topped the scoring charts, with Pirlo setting the pace for assists.
Four days later, Manchester United crushed Newcastle 5-1 at home, while Millwall also secured a 2-0 away victory against promoted side Bradford, signaling a pause in league action.
The imminent FIFA match day didn't directly affect Aldrich's work, but before that, he had one more League Cup match to prepare for at home.
Millwall drew a relatively unknown opponent: Morecambe.
For Aldrich, it was a welcome opportunity to give his younger players some time on the pitch. Morecambe, on the other hand, were overjoyed—they had drawn none other than Millwall, the club everyone in Europe was watching!
As the match would be on their home ground, ticket sales and broadcasting fees would have their club executives grinning from ear to ear. Sure, advancing might be a long shot, but who cares? In tournaments like the League Cup and FA Cup, more matches don't always mean more money. A home game against a title-contending team? It's like winning the jackpot.
Aldrich didn't bring a single starting player for the trip to Morecambe, fielding an entire lineup of substitutes. With Millwall's deep bench this season, he intended to use this opportunity for a full rotation and spark some competition among the backup players.
Morecambe's executives were thrilled to host Millwall, but the fans had a different attitude.
In a stadium even smaller and more basic than The Den, Millwall's players were greeted with jeers from the stands every time they touched the ball.
In this kind of game, Aldrich seemed even more focused than when he was guiding the starting eleven. Sitting behind him on the bench were Villa, Joe Cole, Vicente, and others, all tense and eagerly awaiting a chance from Aldrich.
After the first half, Klose had scored twice, and Lampard added a long-range goal, giving Millwall a 3-0 lead. In the second half, Aldrich replaced Villa, Vicente, and Joaquin, completely overhauling the attack.
However, within five minutes of coming onto the field, Villa fouled an opposing player while chasing back, giving away a penalty.
After conceding the penalty, Villa seemed to lose his composure, looking to prove himself and hence wasted several opportunities, ultimately receiving a second yellow card and being sent off in the 75th minute.
As he left the field, Aldrich ignored him, letting Villa head to the locker room alone to cool off.
With a numerical advantage, Morecambe ramped up the pressure late in the game, but Vicente and Joaquin exploited their speed for counterattacks, each scoring a goal. Millwall's reserves triumphed with a 5-1 victory over Morecambe, advancing to the next round.
Post-match, Aldrich spoke in the mixed zone, declaring, "I know there will be many criticisms directed at Villa tomorrow, but let me say this: it's nonsense. He just made a mistake that young players tend to make. I don't mind; he is growing and improving. Is it possible not to make mistakes? I have faith in him. He will learn from this experience and get better step by step."
Back in the changing room, players had hastily showered and changed, preparing to board the bus for their return to London.
Some players were heading off to national teams, while younger players received calls for lower-tier selections.
Though Villa received a red card, the team's victory meant his mistake wouldn't be excessively magnified, particularly regarding any negative impact within the squad.
Nonetheless, he sat in a corner of the bus's last row, morose and gazing out the window lost in thought.
Suddenly, Aldrich sat down next to him.
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