บท 190: Successful Debut
Aldrich's first confrontation with Wenger in the Premier League ended with a bitter 4-0 defeat for the latter. As the final whistle blew, the sounds of jubilant chants echoed through The Den, with songs of the London kings ringing in the air.
Aldrich approached Wenger for a handshake. Their exchange was brief—just a handshake before going their separate ways. Wenger walked down the tunnel to exit, while Aldrich took a moment to shake hands with each departing player.
At that moment, Aldrich could empathize with Wenger's struggles in the Premier League. Perhaps Wenger was simply too principled; he didn't gloat when he won and felt dejected when he lost. He wouldn't play the hypocritical game of social pleasantries.
The players enthusiastically thanked the fans, and as Aldrich made his way off the pitch, fans continued to applaud him from the stands. He raised his hand in acknowledgment before disappearing down the player's tunnel.
In the post-match press conference, Aldrich offered a succinct evaluation of both teams. He believed Millwall still had room for improvement, but for Arsenal, facing setbacks was a normal part of being on the right path. After all, Millwall had also suffered disappointing losses and dropped points last season, especially in January when performances dipped.
As for Wenger, Aldrich refrained from making comments, simply noting that every team undergoing a transition must endure growing pains.
Unbeknownst to Aldrich, scouts and coaches from Manchester United, Liverpool, and Newcastle United were all in attendance, analyzing Millwall's tactics and searching for methods to counter them.
Post-match, the biggest news in the UK wasn't Millwall's impressive 4-0 victory over Arsenal but rather Newcastle United's official announcement of Kevin Keegan's dismissal. Former Liverpool legend and the manager who led Blackburn to an unlikely title, Kenny Dalglish, was appointed as his successor.
Newcastle had ambitious plans for the season, bringing in Shearer for a world-record transfer fee to fulfill those goals. However, by January, it became clear that they were unlikely to contend for the championship or even secure a spot in next season's Champions League. After a draw with Southampton, they fell six points behind Manchester United, and the team struggled with old defensive issues, making Keegan's departure inevitable.
With news of Newcastle's managerial change, Millwall once again became the center of attention.
Football legends and pundits across the UK discussed the reasons behind Millwall's unstoppable momentum. Several conclusions were reached, some more credible than others, but a few truly hit the nail on the head: the team's intensity, technical proficiency, tactical awareness, and camaraderie.
This European-style transformation was quickly influencing other Premier League teams. Some factors were easier to replicate in the short term, like physical conditioning, while others, like intricate passing and movement, were harder to master.
In Millwall's squad, almost every player displayed solid passing fundamentals, from goalkeeper to striker. While not every player could control the ball in the air like Bergkamp, mistakes in ball control were rare.
As other teams scrambled to find ways to counter Millwall or replicate their success, Aldrich took his squad out to a fancy London restaurant to celebrate their derby win.
The atmosphere at the dinner table was warm and friendly. Everyone was enjoying the camaraderie within the team. Although there was competition for places, it was healthy and positive. Aldrich, with two and a half seasons of managerial experience under his belt, had learned how to manage rotations and nurture young talent effectively, maintaining harmony in the dressing room.
He was willing to give young players opportunities, but he wouldn't rush into trusting them. Some players would get carried away after just a match or two, and Aldrich would promptly remind them to stay grounded, letting them sit on the bench to observe their teammates and reflect on their own performance.
In the following days, London was gripped by alternating spring rains that disrupted the team's training plans. They had no choice but to shift their training to the indoor facility at the youth academy, much to the excitement of the young players. They looked up to the senior stars, but there were also some who felt competitive, like Ronaldinho. In a practice match, although his youth team lost, his impressive performance earned him recognition from several first-team players.
Schneider chimed in Aldrich's ear, "It's time to move that buck-toothed boy up to the first team, don't you think boss?"
Aldrich remained unhurried. Ronaldinho had adapted well over the past year, but he still hadn't experienced the intensity of true competition. In youth matches, players tended to focus on ball trajectories, but in the Premier League, many defenders were more focused on man-marking than watching the ball. The level of physical play was incomparable to youth games.
After all, Ronaldinho would only be 17 next season. Aldrich had patience, hoping Ronaldinho would also cultivate some.
Ashley Cole, who played alongside Ronaldinho on the left flank, had shown significant improvement over the year.
As the month progressed, Millwall faced Nottingham Forest in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Aldrich fielded a rather unconventional starting lineup for the rain-soaked match.
Goalkeeper: Keller; Defenders: Mills, Elghra, Materazzi, Zambrotta; Midfielders: Gattuso, Lampard, Ballack, Gronkjaer; Forwards: Van Nistelrooy, Toni.
It was an asymmetrical 4-3-1-2 formation.
Gronkjaer operated as a flying winger, with the side handled by the fullbacks, and Toni and Van Nistelrooy could cover each other and provide support to one another.
Millwall's performance wasn't particularly pretty; errors were frequent due to the rainy conditions and the wingers' poor crossing abilities. However, the central attacking play was effective, with Toni playing a pivotal role and registering one assist and one goal, while Van Nistelrooy also found the net thanks to Zambrotta's assist.
Nottingham Forest, having had a dismal season, showed little desire to fight and ultimately lost 3-1, allowing Millwall to progress to the round of 16 in the FA Cup.
As the cold rain fell, Aldrich, clad in a damp suit, went to shake hands with Nottingham Forest's manager. After shaking Clark's hand, he turned to leave, but then he gave a self-deprecating chuckle and returned to shake hands with another Nottingham Forest manager.
Aldrich thought to himself that the Nottingham Forest board must be out of their minds. Having two managers for one team was nonsensical.
This season, Nottingham Forest was floundering at the bottom of the table, having surprisingly fallen to last place and widening the gap to safety. Their two managers—Clark, whom Aldrich was familiar with, and Stuart Pearce—illustrated the absurdity of the board's decision.
Theoretically, three heads are better than one, but in football, authority and unity are crucial. Even if two managers were identical twins, their divergent thoughts would confuse the players about whom to listen to.
The decline of the once-great Nottingham Forest was inevitable and closely tied to the board's ludicrous decisions.
After swiftly concluding the post-match interviews, Aldrich returned to his office. Having just removed his damp suit, he was greeted by someone entering from outside, handing him a clean towel.
Turning around, Aldrich noticed Yvonne, dressed in a tailored black suit, smiling at him warmly.
"What brings you here?"
"Reporting for duty, boss."
"Duty?"
"Yep, I'm now the manager of Millwall's marketing department."
"Ha, April Fool's Day is still a long way off."
Wiping his hair with a towel, Aldrich assumed Yvonne was here just to catch the match and see him. Everyone at the club was aware she was Aldrich's friend. Even without an official role, she took her place beside Puskás in the stands to watch over the legendary superstar—she had a special status within the club.
Now, in addition to the fans, the sight of Arthur, Puskas, and Yvonne sitting side by side in the stands had become a unique attraction.
Once Aldrich had dried his face, he saw the small work ID in Yvonne's palm.
Aldrich looked closely and saw her photo on the ID, confirming that it was indeed a staff badge from Millwall.
Frowning, Aldrich said, "A prank? What's the fun in impersonating a Millwall staff member? If you had the skill, you could pretend to be a Manchester United staff member and sneak into Manchester City. Hey, that's my old trick."
Yvonne's eyes widened in disbelief. "Hey, are you really looking down on me?"
Aldrich shrugged and smiled. "I'm just stating the facts. You think a fake ID will earn you respect? Tsk, the technology for forging IDs isn't impressive these days. It'll only mean something in another ten or twenty years."
Yvonne pushed Aldrich playfully but fiercely replied, "Don't underestimate me; this is real. I'm your new employee, no ifs, ands, or buts about it."
Aldrich plopped down on the office sofa, laughing. "Could you at least impersonate a reasonable role? I'd believe you if you said secretary, but department manager? Ha, that's a stretch."
Just then, Adam appeared at the door, knocking before he entered. Noticing Yvonne's displeased expression, he curiously asked, "Boss, are you dissatisfied with her?"
"She claims she's the new department manager for our club. When did we even have a marketing department?" he chuckled.
"Uh, a week ago. Miss Lowell was just hired as our new department manager. Her main task is to help establish our official website and promote the club brand online. Finding professionals for this role is challenging; tech companies have snatched them all up. She..."
"Mr. Adam, are you implying I'm an amateur?"
Yvonne interjected with annoyance.
Adam looked apologetic. "Sorry, that came out wrong. Miss Lowell has enough expertise to help us do this well. Boss, are you unhappy with her?"
Now Aldrich understood.
He waved a hand at Adam. "I get it. She's just started, hasn't done anything yet, so I can't evaluate her capabilities. I'll wait until the performance report comes in."
After Adam nodded and left, Aldrich sat on the sofa, thinking for a moment. Suddenly, he looked up to find Yvonne gazing at the ceiling, evidently sulking.
"Miss Yvonne Lowell, you're my employee. Is there any employee who acts tough in front of their boss?"
Yvonne scoffed and didn't meet Aldrich's gaze, replying, "But my self-esteem has been bruised by the boss."
"'Bruised' is a strong word, don't you think?"
"Regardless, I've been hurt—my feelings are damaged. Can you hear it? My heart is shattered into a million pieces."
"You win. Please, tidy up your delicate heart. How would you like me to make amends for the misunderstanding?"
Yvonne's beautiful eyes glimmered; she glanced slyly at Aldrich and stated, "Maxim."
"Alright, we'll go to Maxim tonight."
"I'll treat."
"Huh? Is this your punishment for me?"
"To celebrate my new job, of course."
Finally turning toward Aldrich with a beaming smile, Yvonne made him feel like a little girl again, and he responded in a teasing tone, "Alright, angel, I'll grant your wish."
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