บท 144: The Final Push
What was initially a disappointing draw turned into a triumphant celebration for Millwall on Fleet Street after the match.
What was the headline in The Sun?
"The Treble is Within Reach: Millwall is Set to Create the Biggest Miracle in English Football History!"
Other media outlets also analyzed Millwall's championship prospects, declaring them the top contenders for the title!
The reason was simple. With only four league matches remaining, Millwall had the best goal difference. If they won their last four matches, they would undoubtedly lift the Premier League trophy!
Currently, Millwall was tied with Manchester United, but with a seven-goal advantage in goal difference.
They trailed league leaders Newcastle United by three points but had a thirteen-goal advantage over them!
Yes, theoretically, as long as Millwall won their last four league matches, they would be crowned Premier League champions unless Manchester United managed to score eight more goals than them in addition to winning every game.
In the penultimate round of the league, Millwall would face Newcastle United away. Winning that match would level them on points with Newcastle, allowing them to climb to the top of the table.
Aldrich painfully realized that the players seemed to believe they were destined to win the Premier League title.
What a miracle this could be!
A promoted team winning the championship, potentially securing the FA Cup, along with the already-won League Cup.
The Triple Crown!
Aldrich's lack of experience was showing.
He didn't know how to make the right choices at this critical moment.
Psychologically, he wanted his team to remain calm and to treat the last four matches with a sense of normalcy, as that would allow them to perform better. But he couldn't say that directly to the players; it would undoubtedly dampen their spirits.
He could only motivate the team.
Cup matches are single-elimination; the trophy was right there waiting. Win it, and it's yours.
But the league was different. Not only did they need to win, but they also had to keep an eye on their competitors. Though this was somewhat meaningless, people easily get distracted.
Right now, Millwall had a better goal difference than Manchester United, but who could guarantee that United wouldn't go on a scoring spree in their last four matches?
Old Trafford's King Cantona had been on a scoring tear since February, helping his team. Everyone knew he was trying to make a return to the French national team for another international tournament at the age of thirty, racing against time to catch the last train to the European Cup. That determination made his performances simply unbelievable.
The dilemma Aldrich faced was a choice. The FA Cup had reached the semifinals—win those two matches, and the trophy would be theirs. With four league matches remaining, they also had a great shot at the league title.
Other than boosting the team's morale, he couldn't give any biased instructions to the players.
They would take the matches one at a time.
After the league concluded, Aldrich received a call from Andrew. Sky Sports had invited him to a talk show. Aldrich thought it over and decided to participate, hoping that through the interview, he could subtly remind the team and warn the outside world: The league isn't over; Millwall is nothing special. Don't just hand us the championship trophy; you're only flattering us!
Sky Sports typically featured football legends for interviews, discussing insights on English matches and analyzing game prospects. The recent episodes had mostly focused on the national team, especially with the European Cup approaching on home soil.
That evening, the host was a last-minute replacement. Aldrich recognized him: Jason Ferguson, who worked for Sky Sports.
It was clear why Sky Sports hired Jason. He was Ferguson's favored son. First, they could get the latest news about Manchester United straight from him. Second, his special status allowed for insightful commentary. Jason knew his father well; whenever United played, he was often seen in the Sky Sports studio. He was quick to notice when Ferguson became angry or pleased, and when the momentum of the match shifted, Jason would ensure the camera was on Ferguson at just the right moment.
Before going on the show, they bumped into each other in the hallway.
"Long time no see, Aldrich."
Jason Ferguson politely extended his hand to Aldrich.
They might meet only once or twice a year, usually at some gatherings; their relationship was more of a nodding acquaintance. However, since he had a good relationship with Andrew, Aldrich greeted him warmly and shook his hand.
"I might ask some embarrassing questions later."
Jason prepped Aldrich, realizing he didn't need to offend Aldrich since he was navigating his social circles in London behind Andrew.
That was what the job required; many talk shows in Europe and the U.S. thrived on improvisation, often leading guests to embarrassing or uncomfortable moments for higher ratings.
The more a guest got riled up or acted out, the more entertaining it was.
Aldrich understood all of this and nodded.
When the show began, Jason walked to the front. The stage was set up like a living room, featuring two single armchairs with a large screen in the background. Jason stood in the center, teasingly introducing today's guest.
"He's a twenty-year-old football coach."
"He has a handsome appearance."
"He's also a supporter of charitable causes."
"The team he leads has given headaches to all the Premier League coaches."
"Who is he?"
The audience shouted in unison: "Aldrich Hall!"
At this moment, Aldrich stepped onto the stage amidst cheers and applause, smiling as he shook hands with Jason before taking a seat on the sofa.
Jason began by playing a video on the large screen.
The video was a montage, ranging from Aldrich's first match as a coach to the recent East London derby. It lasted nearly ten minutes, showcasing countless clips of Aldrich either managing from the sidelines or volunteering in various capacities.
As the video concluded, applause erupted in the venue.
"I really envy you, Aldrich. At least you've become one of the most popular stars among girls in the coaching world."
Laughter filled the audience. Aldrich raised an eyebrow, flashing a wry smile.
Jason retained his grin and said, "Next, we'll discuss some topics about you. Can you promise to speak the truth?"
Aldrich shot back, "Is this a courtroom? Do I need to swear on the Constitution?"
Laughter erupted again.
"Of course not, but I, along with everyone here, want to hear the truth from you, not the bullshit."
Aldrich nodded seriously, "Okay, if I'm willing to say it, then it's true. But for questions I don't want to answer, I'll remain silent."
"Alright, first question: Which team will be the Premier League champion this season?"
Aldrich blurted out, "I don't know."
"Why didn't your answer include Millwall?"
"Because I'm a pragmatic coach. Compared to us, Newcastle and Manchester United are at an advantage. Newcastle could afford to make mistakes. Even if Manchester United won all their matches, Newcastle could secure the title with three wins and one draw."
"What about Millwall?"
"I think many fans fail to realize a fact: Millwall's last four league matches are all tough battles. In the next round, we'll face Chelsea, which is a derby against a fierce rival. Then we have Leeds, who are battling relegation—they've already managed to stumble Newcastle. After that, we go away to face Newcastle, and finally, we'll have another London derby against QPR. Although the opponent is QPR, it's still a London derby, and it will be tough, especially if they still have relegation hopes in the last round. That will make the match very unpredictable. Manchester United and Newcastle have an easier schedule than we do, so Millwall is not a title contender."
Jason flashed a knowing smile and said, "No one doubts that this season's Premier League champion will come from Newcastle, Millwall, or Manchester United, but the attitudes of the three coaches are quite surprising. Kevin Keegan asserts that Newcastle will clinch the trophy without a doubt. Alex Ferguson doubts Newcastle's championship caliber and suggests that the final competition is between Manchester United and Millwall. Yet you, Aldrich Hall, claim that Millwall is not a contender. I think all three coaches are lying. What do you think?"
...
"Why did Beckham and Neville return early to Manchester last season?"
"I don't want to talk about that."
"If you could sign both of them, would you refuse?"
"No, I wouldn't. They are excellent players with great talent."
To this day, the media still speculates about what happened at Millwall last year that led to Beckham and Neville ending their loan and returning early to Manchester United.
Perhaps the truth will emerge only in the distant future when someone involved writes their autobiography.
"Are you satisfied with your team?"
"That's too vague a question. I can only judge based on the players' performances. If they perform well, I'm satisfied; if they underperform, I'll criticize them. But being satisfied doesn't mean I stop pushing for improvement. Take Trezeguet, for example; he's a talented forward, one of the future world-class strikers, but he isn't there yet. So, when he performs well, I'll praise him, but during training, I won't allow him a minute to slack off. If I relax my standards for him, it would actually be harmful."
...
"Let's talk about the East London derby. As the club owner, why did you take that stance? I believe other coaches would protect the fans."
"I appreciate the fans, but it's crucial to distinguish between two different groups: one is the fans, and the other is the football hooligans."
"Are you saying there are football hooligans among Millwall fans? Have you considered the consequences of this statement?"
"I tend to favor rationality, so I don't want to lie. As the outside criticism goes, there are football hooligans in the stands at Millwall! This is absolutely different from the devoted fans who always support us. Football hooligans don't care about the game; for the most part, they are failures in life, harboring resentment and anger, seeking chaos, or are just thrill-seekers who come to the stadium looking for an opportunity to stir trouble and fight. After the two East London derbies this season, the focus is often on the poorly behaved supporters of both Millwall and West Ham. I think that's unfair; most real fans are unfairly blamed for the actions of the hooligans. According to the London police investigation reports I've seen, in the aftermath of the riots, many of the main participants weren't even fans of Millwall or West Ham. They received calls the day before the match and came to East London just to fight. It's no secret; the public knows that football hooligans have connections between them; they show up wherever there's trouble. Not only does this create a negative image, but it also puts genuine Millwall fans at risk. Therefore, I believe the real culprits are the hooligans, and both the Millwall club and its fans are victims."
As Aldrich finished his statement, the room fell silent.
"Talking about the topic of football hooliganism is a weighty issue, but as the owner and coach of Millwall, he must confront it directly.
Should he grandiosely protect the fans?
What action should he take the next time trouble arises?
Should he continue to protect them?"
Jason, somewhat taken aback, asked, "So how will you resolve this issue?"
"I believe this is not just about what I can do, but rather a collective effort from the FA, the police, the clubs, and the fans. Ultimately, football is part of life in England; the behavior of players and fans on the pitch and in the stands reflects our society's current state. Why is East London labeled as the cradle of football hooliganism? And why did Chelsea have an extreme racist fan group twenty years ago that has now disappeared? At the heart of it, these are societal issues; hooligans aren't born. Moreover, I hope the public can give Millwall more respect. The overwhelming majority of our fans sincerely support the club; each weekend, they come to the stadium to support the team, which has become a vital part of their lives. Don't label every Millwall fan as a hooligan; that's a misunderstanding and a lack of respect. The club has banned certain hooligans and some extreme fan groups from entering for what? For the safety of the stands. I want every Millwall fan, when they become parents, to bring their children to the stadium safely and happily to support us. That way, our club has a future—and this applies to every stadium across England."
...
With the airing of this episode of Sky Sports, Aldrich's banners began to disappear from the Millwall training ground, while the club's supporters increased significantly. Fans from the surrounding counties in Southeast London formed supporter groups and made their first appearance at the FA Cup semi-final, publicly supporting Millwall.
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