The Young Lion

Suddenly, like a spring breeze overnight, it seems that the whole world is starting to turn against Millwall. /

After the Champions League group stage, Fleet Street itself was calm, and their focus was on the competition in their home league, the Premier League.

But other European media released heavy news one after another!

First, an official of UEFA with a high status made a public statement and criticized Millwall!

The European Champions Cup, this is the highest honor and the most influential event for football clubs on this planet! In the past ten years, Millwall has gained huge benefits, influence, honor, attention, and market through its outstanding performance in the Champions League. Development, money interests, etc., but ten years later, they start to lack respect for this competition! We can easily think of Millwall becoming arrogant, look at how they treat this season's Champions League group stage! In 6 official games, there were only 2 games. They sent the strongest lineup, then 3 games were played by substitute players, and 1 game was blatantly perfunctory. UEFA's position encourages clubs Emphasis on youth training, but Millwall’s approach has greatly hurt the Champions League, which is an extremely glorious event. I think Millwall needs to reflect on it. They have gained too much from the Champions League, but they are not willing to give more when they can give , such an approach is disappointing to UEFA.

To say that UEFA is dissatisfied with Millwall may have been veiled in the past!

After all, since the second generation of Wild Lions opened up the dynasty, Millwall has often underestimated the Champions League due to taking into account the league. Not only in the group stage, but also in the knockout stage, a large number of substitutes will be sent. Let the expectations of the game be lowered.

But past Millwall. is in a publicly recognized pattern.

That is to be on the bench. It must be the case of a comfortable future.

For example, the first 4 games of the group stage were all victorious, and the next 2 games were not the main force. Who can blame Millwall?

The first round of the knockout round was a big victory with more than three goals. In the second round, there was not much suspense left. Millwall sent some substitutes appropriately, and the outside world also took it for granted.

But this season. In Millwall's Champions League group stage, when the prospects for qualifying were not clear, they directly used the substitutes to fight for the right to qualify for the group, so that they were in the most suspenseful stage of the game. When the outside world was full of interest, Millwall poured water on the outside world. Basin of cold water.

The reason is also very simple.

Next, the six major sponsors of the Champions League also stood up and commented on Millwall's approach in a complaining tone.

UEFA has been working hard to promote the European Champions Cup as a brand to the world,

The promotion focus of the sport of football, of course, is the first star! Millwall has the highest club influence in the world. For Asia, Africa. For fans in many countries and regions such as North America, the greatest pleasure for them to watch the Champions League and Millwall games is to enjoy the performances of Ronaldinho and Henry, who have great prestige, but Millwall Hiding them in the Champions League, 6 games, Ronaldinho only played 2 games, he was not injured, and had an incredible performance in the Premier League, but he disappeared for a long time in the Champions League, This makes many fans feel lost! We hope that Millwall can improve this phenomenon and meet the expectations of the outside world as much as possible!

Because Millwall is the most successful team in the UEFA Champions League in the past ten years, the sponsors of the Champions League itself do not have direct economic interests with Millwall, because Millwall shares the cake with everyone, but it can be said that as a The most dazzling protagonist, the appearance rate of the superstars in the Millwall team, has a direct impact on the interests of the Champions League!

These sponsors can be forgiven for being dissatisfied.

Fleet Street was amazed!

Sponsors are understandably displeased.

After all, when people spend money, they are actually buying your brand influence. Millwall cannot fully exert its value and influence in the Champions League, stimulating the Champions League market, which has a direct economic impact on sponsors.

But UEFA also issued a warning against Millwall.

This sign made everyone unexpected.

It's unreasonable!

The rules are set by UEFA.

Millwall is not a passive game. After ensuring their own interests, they played the game under a rule recognized by everyone. They neither cheated nor violated the rules. Why should they be blamed?

Two days before his visit to Crystal Palace, Aldridge was browsing the comments of the major media in European football for the recent criticism of Millwall in his office.

There are countless media outlets watching the show, and there are not a few who make trouble.

Now that the black boss UEFA has stepped up and fired, then other people can naturally come forward and step on Millwall in a legitimate way.

The outside world knows to some extent that Millwall has a good relationship with the head of UEFA, and Aldridge has a certain personal relationship with Johansson.

Strangely, at this time, Johansson, as the head of UEFA, was silent and did not come forward.

After watching all the news, Aldridge lit a cigarette in the office.

Carter sat across from him with a pensive look on his face. When half of Aldrich's cigarette turned into soot and smoke, Carter raised his head and said, Why don't you pour out your bitterness and use the Club World Cup as a shield?

Millwall itself should be very wronged.

Common sense, as long as they reasonable with UEFA, they should have more confidence!

However, in this world, most of the time, no one who is justified can avoid being bullied!

Isn't it asking for trouble to reason with an organization like UEFA that doesn't care about the zone?

UEFA itself holds the truth!

Aldridge shook his head and said, Do you still remember Manchester United in 1999?

Carter frowned slightly, not quite understanding, and asked, What do you mean?

Aldrich exhaled a puff of smoke, and said lightly: In the summer of 1999, Manchester United won the Champions League at the Nou Camp. It was normal to participate in the Toyota Cup at the end of that year. They did go to Tokyo and won the championship. Then? International The Football Association held the first Club World Cup in South America, and Manchester United did not want to go, but, in the words of the Manchester United players: the Football Association pointed a gun at the head of Manchester United, forcing Manchester United to run after the brutal Christmas schedule. On the other side of the world, to participate in the boring Club World Cup, and because of this, Manchester United was forced to give up the FA Cup directly! Listen clearly, when I say give up, Manchester United did not participate in the FA Cup that season at all, not sending a group of Unknown pawns lose games and get eliminated.

There is also a political game in the football circle. The outside world believes that Manchester United is very strong, but in the football political circle, the club is always subject to upper-level organizations such as the Football Association.

The FA coerced Manchester United to play in the Club World Cup. First of all, it must be that Manchester United represented England in the competition. It was a great honor. For the right to host the World Cup, it is very necessary to have more image projects and increase the worldwide influence!

Manchester United dare not go?

That is almost tantamount to making a mistake before bidding for the World Cup, which is a big issue that cannot be ambiguous!

Part of the reason why Millwall has such a huge influence in the Premier League is naturally inseparable from Aldridge’s contribution to English football, and the other part is that although Millwall is a Premier League team, the interest groups represented are always different from the English Football. Opposite, because the Premier League broke away from the control of the FA on the day it was established, but Millwall played in European games and has repeatedly won the European Super Cup, Toyota Cup and other honors that can benefit the FA.

So when the media from outside of England criticize Millwall, Fleet Street and the FA will come forward to defend Millwall and defend Millwall.

After Carter listened to Aldridge explain the past history of Manchester United, he understood what Aldridge meant.

If Millwall expands the problem and involves it again, it will be thankless, not only will it officially offend FIFA, but it may also make the FA unsatisfied.

The FA always want Millwall to play in the Club World Cup!

You know, whether it is the Club World Cup or the previous Toyota Cup, there is only one place in Europe every season!

Not necessarily from England!

It is the champion of the Champions League to participate. In other words, Millwall represents not only England, but the whole of Europe!

And it is a team from England that can represent Europe in the competition, the FA has a bright face!

If Millwall complains about the Club World Cup, it may be interpreted as a boycott of this event, offending FIFA, and it will also make the FA unhappy. There are no people inside and outside!

Carter spread his palms and asked helplessly, Then how should we respond?

Aldridge thought for a long time, and finally said: I don't think there is any need to respond. At this point in time, the negative impact on us is the lowest. The Champions League will be suspended, and it will return to the public eye after a few months. Secondly, The winter transfer window is about to open and more news will wash out the news surrounding us now.

It is a way to respond to all changes with the same, to respond in silence, and to wait for time to offset the negative impact.

Carter had no objection, but he saw Aldrich thinking for a long time, and asked curiously, What are you thinking?

Aldrich frowned and said, I think something is a little strange.

Carter tentatively asked: UEFA?

Aldrich nodded.

For no reason, UEFA began to make things difficult for Millwall, and because Millwall was too eye-catching, it didn't matter whether UEFA was reasonable or not. The key was that this represented a voice from within UEFA.

Carter was very sensitive about this, and said in a deep voice: I think it is normal for a complex organization like UEFA to have different voices. Although Johansson is in charge of the overall situation, he cannot make everyone submit to him. Belly, but if UEFA is really determined to target Millwall, why didn't the UEFA president stand up and speak out?

Aldrich just thought it was strange here.

If UEFA is targeting Millwall, then Johansson doesn't have to hide it, but a member of the UEFA executive committee came out to make a speech. If he didn't represent Johansson, wouldn't he anger Johansson? (To be continued..)

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