章 393: Unpredictable rankings
As the Premier League title race heats up, Millwall is in a relatively strong position compared to Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea, all of whom are preparing for their end-of-season push. After returning to London from Kiev, Millwall are preparing to take on Charlton Athletic, the Premier League's closest geographical team, in a crucial London derby.
On Friday morning, Aldrich drove to the club, where reporters gathered outside the entrance. They were mostly young and inexperienced, a contrast to seasoned journalists who typically had established channels for news. Newcomers were the ones camping out for stories.
As Aldrich's car slowed down at the club entrance, a group of young reporters surged toward the vehicle, crowding around to snap pictures and firing off questions in a flurry of excitement.
"Mr. Hall, with Millwall facing Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinals, do you think this draw is good or bad? Does Millwall have the confidence to make it to the final at Camp Nou?"
"Manchester United drew Juventus. If United wins and Millwall reaches the final, it would mean two Premier League teams face each other. Is this the dawn of English football's dominance in Europe?"
"I hear you're friends with Juventus' coach Ancelotti. If he asks for advice on taking down Manchester United, would you help him?"
...
Aldrich at the club, Aldrey slowly drove around the bend only to find himself surrounded by a group of reporters eager to find headlines. He felt uncomfortable with this, but he did not consider himself superior, but he was unwilling to be forced to deal with them in this situation. He rolled up the window and drove into the club, refusing to answer any questions.
much to the disappointment of the journalists, some of whom muttered curses.
As the Champions League semi-finalists were announced, Millwall had effortlessly dispatched Dynamo Kyiv. Manchester United had eliminated Inter Milan, Bayern Munich won against Kaiserslautern with a staggering 6-0 scoreline, and Juventus edged past Olympiacos 3-2.
With both Millwall and Manchester United making the final four, Fleet Street was abuzz. The resurgence of English football in Europe was undeniable, and everyone was looking forward to the potential English clash at Camp Nou!
Aldrich felt a bit unlucky; Millwall had drawn Bayern Munich, the strongest of the three potential adversaries in his eyes. In the minds of many Bayern fans, the 1998-99 Bayern Munich was perhaps the most formidable team of that decade; even the champions of 2001 seemed a shade lesser.
At training, the players eagerly discussed the upcoming match, gearing up for a chance to face the German giants.
Aldrich's life was methodical; he maintained a low profile in public and focused intently on his work. However, the weekend's London derby saw him unusually furious with the team after the match.
As the clock ticked down to the end of the 90 minutes, Charlton's players erupted in celebration with a 1-1 scoreline.
While the derby lacked the usual fervor, it remained crucial; Millwall faced a team struggling in the relegation zone. If they couldn't clinch three points against what should have been an easier opponent, how could they expect to compete against Chelsea and Arsenal?
But it was clear the players had lost their focus. They probably thought Charlton was just there for an easy ride. With such a vast difference in abilities, they figured that if they simply played their usual game, the three points would almost gift themselves to them.
Aldrich had repeatedly stressed to them that relegation teams are always difficult to deal with, but when the whistle sounded, Millwall lost the ball in the midfield, the opponent quickly counterattacked, Materazzi knocked down the opponent's striker in the penalty area, and the opponent undoubtedly got a penalty kick. Charlton took the lead from the penalty kick and the situation was reversed.
As the game progressed, Millwall launched wave after wave of attacks on Charlton, but due to the opponent's crazy scramble and a series of fouls, Millwall was unable to reverse the situation until Larsson was knocked down in the penalty area and Larsson got a penalty kick. Millwall finally equalized the score with difficulty.
Aldrich stormed into the dressing room, slamming the door with a bang that echoed through the space. He turned to the whole team, rage etched on his face as he unleashed his fury.
"Today's performance was absolute shit! What on earth were you doing? Useless! Your value is more than ten times theirs, and your pay is over five times higher! That means you need to bring five times their drive and ten times the heart! Seriously, fk! Do you think football is some kind of game? Let me tell you: every single match is a battle! For us, a tie or a loss is a complete fking failure! A total disgrace! Go home tonight, sleep early, and tomorrow buy every newspaper. Turn on the TV and watch the football news—what's coming your way? Laughter and mockery! You better remember every shred of that ridicule and shame! If you don't want to feel that again, then snap out of it and show every opponent the respect they deserve!"
Although the players were frustrated after the game, Aldridge would not comfort or encourage them.
Why comfort them at all?
If they had fought hard but still lost, criticism would be unwarranted. But he sensed complacency among them; they had been riding high with their lead in the league, advancing in both the FA Cup and Champions League, and we're basking in the praise for their beautiful attacking style. Perhaps subconsciously, they felt invincible.
Today, the offense struggled mainly because of Ronaldinho and Henry. Both of them became a little too arrogant and chose to face one-on-one situations alone. While their success rate in breaking through in those situations was indeed very high, what happened after they broke through? They inevitably found themselves surrounded by defenders, causing the offense to stagnate. Either the passing lane was blocked or the ball was quickly intercepted.
Yet Aldrich refused to point fingers at specific players. He emphasized teamwork, and this collective should shoulder the blame for dropping points against Charlton.
After the match, the first team stayed behind for a meeting at the club. Led by the newly fit Southgate, they refocused, preparing everyone to stay mentally sharp for the remaining matches.
Aldrich's anger was justified. Typically, Millwall would have found it easy to defeat Charlton mid-season, but he had warned them: as the season wound down, the opponents' surface ability mattered less; those at the top and bottom would be more dangerous.
The teams at the top were fighting for European qualification while those at the bottom were desperate to avoid relegation. Every match was a battle, one cutthroat to the end.
On the contrary, those mid-table teams, although performing well, are easier to deal with because they lack clear goals.
In the same round, Manchester United narrowly defeated Derby County 1-0. Arsenal managed a shaky 1-0 win over relegation-threatened Blackburn. Chelsea edged Leeds United 1-0, all while Millwall drew, making the title race even more thrilling.
The next day, The Times headline read: "Most Unpredictable Season Yet!"
Millwall had only a 2-point lead over Manchester United and was just 4 points ahead of both Arsenal and Chelsea. With six matches remaining, they still held the upper hand, but United's title odds were skyrocketing, almost leveling with Millwall's. With their last four matches against Chelsea and Arsenal, it seemed likely United could benefit.
The Millwall first team dove headfirst into preparations.
Midweek, Aldrich attended a UEFA press conference ahead of the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich.
As he entered the press room, camera flashes erupted, and the composed young manager took his seat, briefly addressing reporters' questions.
"While Millwall is the defending champion, we are not favored. I believe Bayern Munich is stronger on paper. Just look at their lineup—Matthäus, Effenberg, Kahn, Lizarazu... Millwall might be younger, but Bayern is more experienced. In matches of this caliber, experience will matter greatly. Still, we have a chance. If we want to reach Camp Nou, we need to fight with guts and determination."
"Will the intense competition in the league distract Millwall? Bayern doesn't seem to have that issue with their considerable lead in the Bundesliga."
After pondering, Aldrich replied, "This is a 180-minute match, and I need my players focused. If the league distracts us, victory will be out of reach."
"Can you comment on Hitzfeld? He indicated this is a test for Bayern and referred to you as a magic young manager, believing in your ability to elevate such a young team. How wrong was the skepticism about Millwall before the season?"
Aldrich smiled at the remark, "I respect Coach Hitzfeld; he's a veteran. Compared to him, I'm still just a kid. He has won the Champions League with Dortmund and now aims to take Bayern to glory. His skills in coaching are admirable."
"Will Millwall adopt an aggressive offensive approach in the first leg?"
"Certainly. If we can't secure a win at home, our situation in Munich becomes perilous. But first, we must solidify our defense and prevent away goals."
"With Southgate returning, will he play tomorrow?"
"Yes, he's the team captain, and his presence will be a positive influence."
"But can he contain the attacking duo of Jancker and Elber?"
"I don't believe in one-on-one battles between offense and defense. We will limit the opposition at every line—forward, midfield, and defense. This collective approach is crucial. In other words, if Jancker and Elber lack support, they will struggle to make an impact."
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