The Young Lion

On Monday night, the match between Millwall and Middlesbrough was the last game of this round of the Premier League, so it received the most attention. Itinerary for a few days.

The Super Bowl is a grand event that will be broadcast live in nearly a hundred countries. Although the United Kingdom has a disdainful attitude towards American football, after all, besides football, rugby also has a certain sports status in this country, so it is unintentional to be a live broadcast of the Super Bowl. When Aldridge and Millwall players in the box were caught in the middle, the British media exclaimed: Are they crazy? !

The day before the Premier League game, the Millwall first team was still enjoying the Super Bowl leisurely in the United States? !

Aldridge had no intention of stealing the show at the Riverside Stadium, but he inevitably became the focus after the game. Firstly, the team won the game, and secondly, there were too many news about Millwall's recent whereabouts.

In an interview in the mixed zone, Aldridge smiled and told reporters truthfully when he asked to confirm Millwall's itinerary in the past five days.

Mr. Hall, what is the reason that you can find time to lead the whole team to the United States to watch an insignificant game in such a tight schedule? I mean, you can go by yourself, but Doesn't the travel fatigue of the players in the team be taken into account?

Aldridge replied: This is a pleasant trip for mental relaxation. My players and I took a short trip to reduce stress. The effect is very good. It is better than letting them stay at home alone and spend the weekend peacefully. .”

You defeated Middlesbrough in the away game today, did you ask you to say such a reason?

Of course not. Even if we lose, I won't change my words. There is no need to lie about this matter. At this time last year, I gave the team's main players a holiday. They haven't played for half a month, and At this time of year, I have used other means to achieve the same goal.

Middlesbrough lost at home to Millwall, who came back from vacation. What do you think of Robson? Is his tactics wrong in this game? Middlesbrough can take away a lot at the Lions Den. Points, but can't score points at home, isn't it a good proof?

Aldridge looked meaningfully at the gentle and bespectacled male reporter. He always had to face this kind of question trap in the interview, and it was unavoidable.

As a coach, the most taboo is to comment on the ability of your peers. You can comment on any team, but you can’t directly express your opinion on the coach’s tactics and abilities. That’s what football critics and reporters like to do. It’s a convention among peers. There will be a kind of tacit courtesy of respect, unless you make up your mind that you will never get in touch with each other or never die.

Even if Aldridge criticized Redknapp and West Ham United, he never rose to the evaluation of Redknapp's coaching ability. It would be very stupid to do so, because from an outside point of view, it would only make Become a clown yourself, and your peers will regard you as a mad dog.

Middlesbrough played well and started the season as relegation favourites, but Robson fought back really well with hard work and results, Millwall beat Middlesbrough today because we were in control of the game Stronger, more chances created, it's not about Robson, Millwall put a lot more into the team than Middlesbrough last year and this year.

After the interview, Aldridge led the team back to London.

He gave the team a day and a half off again, and will return to the training ground on Wednesday afternoon.

On Tuesday afternoon, Aldridge was called to the Leo youth training base by Andrew.

He came to the edge of the court wearing the sportswear he had used for training. Andrew stood on the sidelines in a suit and leather shoes and watched the youth team train. Beside him was a skinny young man who was obviously not white from the perspective of his skin color.

Hey, Andrew.

Aldrich yelled, and saw Andrew and the boy turning their heads together.

Aldrich froze in place for a moment, looking at the black boy's appearance, he felt a sense of nonsense: the incisors that can't be covered by the big mouth are so cute!

Hey Ronaldo, say hello to your boss.

Andrew patted the shoulder of the boy beside him and said encouragingly.

The teenager was called Ronaldo. At least in the early 1996, the name Ronaldo had no special meaning to Europe, let alone a reputation, especially the Ronaldo who was later called alien is now in Eindhoven. Wen was in a difficult position because of the generals problem.

Aldridge walked over quickly, he already knew who the boy in front of him was.

Those buck teeth are too memorable.

Hi, boss.

Ronaldinho, who is about to turn 16, was not afraid of strangers, and he raised his head and greeted Aldridge.

Aldridge smiled and reached out to him, and the two shook hands like adults. Aldridge doesn't like to treat players with the attitude of looking at children, even Joe Cole, who was 13 years old last summer. There is a formal handshake when meeting.

The players of the youth team on the court saw Aldrich coming to the sidelines to watch the game, so they naturally trained harder. Now they are playing a confrontation match, Najib is directing from the sidelines, and he is sternly training the young players' running positions and Cooperate.

Aldridge looked at the pitch and asked Ronaldinho, Do you want to play?

Ronaldinho, who had just arrived, couldn't understand too difficult English, so Aldridge asked in the simplest English.

At this moment, he hated the bastard British Empire a little bit in his heart. Why didn't he colonize Brazil back then? Let Portugal grab the territory, and the official language of Brazil is Portuguese.

Ronaldinho nodded, his eyes showed eager light, obviously, he also wanted to compete with those children on the field.

Aldridge yelled at Najib and beckoned him to come over. After Najib walked over, Aldrich pushed Ronaldinho in front of him and said with a smile, Give him ten minutes, um, play forward.

Side or center?

Let him play, let his teammates pass him the ball, and see how he feels.

Najib nodded, and then took Ronaldinho to the coach's bench, changed him into a jersey, and then gave him time to warm up. He will be replaced on the court ten minutes before the end of the training game.

Aldridge asked Andrew from the sidelines, Is everything in his family settled?

Well, he arranged a girls' school for his sister, and the mixed education can make her background look better. His family also agrees. There is a store in the community under his mother's name, which makes them very happy. To be honest, From my non-professional point of view, this kid is an artist on the pitch, used to watching England's fierce and rough football, watching him play is like enjoying an elegant opera.

Aldridge smiled noncommittally: You can understand opera? Are you elegant?

Hahaha, yes, I'm a vulgar guy. I'm busy recently. I have to fly to Brazil in two days. If nothing else happens, Rivaldo will land in Europe in the summer. Are you interested? If I persuade him, He'll definitely think about Millwall, especially with what he's been doing so well this season.

No, if you want to introduce him, you have to knock on the door of the FA, and there is no place for him in the team.

Okay, when Rivaldo lands in Europe in the summer, I can count as a sign in South American football, and then I can build a bigger network there.

Aldridge nodded and said nothing. Not long after, Najib walked up to him, and Ronaldinho also substituted on the other side of the court.

Today's games are all young players under the age of 17 playing together, including Ashley Cole, Villa, Capdevila, Joe Cole, because the physical confrontation is not very intense, like Joe Cole Billy and Villa will not be submerged in tough defense on the court, and they can always find space to play.

After Ronaldinho played, Najib frowned.

Before playing just now, he specifically instructed Ronaldinho. Although he could not understand the language, he told him through the tactical board to let him play forward, and Ronaldinho nodded to express his understanding.

But as soon as he played, Ronaldinho ran directly back to the midfield to ask for the ball.

Just as Najib was about to raise his hand to make a trumpet-like call, Aldridge smiled at him and waved his hand, saying, Today is just to see.

Najib had no choice but to give up.

Ronaldinho got the ball very quickly, from the middle and backcourt. After he took the ball and turned around, he passed an opponent's uphill player. This made Najib furious. He shouted: Daniel, how many times have I said Don't take the risk of grabbing up, protect the space behind you!

The boy named Daniel just wanted to give Ronaldinho a bad start, but he didn't expect to become a stepping stone for him, and he was dumbfounded when he chased him back.

Ronaldinho took the ball and danced on the court like an elf, knocking the ball left and right, smacking the opponent with his toes, and his teammate Joe Cole was stunned by the combination of human and ball. Er Ke has the aura of genius, but his ball sense and foot skills are obviously inferior to Ronaldinho.

The youth training coaches on the other side of the training field also stood up and stared at Ronaldinho with piercing eyes, as if they had seen a ghost!

Aldridge and Andrew were smiling, and Najib was very excited to see Ronaldinho's performance, but he kept saying two words in a low voice repeatedly.

Pass, pass, pass, pass! Fuck! Pass!

Ronaldinho dribbled the ball from the midfield and broke through three defenders all the way, and the last line of defense was passed by others, and finally pushed the ball directly into the goal.

After scoring the goal, he turned around and showed a bit of a smug smile, and the other children were all stunned.

Najib slapped him on the forehead. He shook his head and said, This kid is unparalleled in talent, but if he continues to play like this in the future, he is really not optimistic.

Aldrich patted him on the shoulder and said, That depends on how you train.

Talented young players like to stick to the ball. This is a normal phenomenon, especially for Brazilian players. How to correct their playing habits and make them use their talents in the most reasonable way is the responsibility of the coach to teach.

With seven minutes left in the game, Nagy called the team who had just conceded the ball to the front, reassigned them defensive tasks, and the game continued.

Just now they all looked down on Ronaldinho, a strange young man, but after being scored such a humiliating goal, they obviously all paid attention to it. With Najib's command, in the next seven minutes, although Ronaldinho received his teammates He wanted to continue to pass the ball to complete the goal, but he failed every time. Basically, after he passed one person, there was no room for him to continue to pass the ball, and he was blocked by the defensive players with numerical advantages and zone defense tactics.

After the game, Nagy deliberately left Ronaldinho and began to give him the first lesson, while Aldridge and Andrew left with a smile.

It was a pleasant day, and it was worth Aldrich asking Andrew to have a seafood dinner.

PS: Thank you Nanxi Old Man for your tip!