The Young Lion

The news that Millwall reached the FA Cup final is not sensational. Millwall has been the favorite team to win the FA Cup this season. Winning Middlesbrough is not a surprise.

When Aldridge led the team back to London, he was surrounded by reporters.

Countless reporters gathered at the gate of the club, some from Fleet Street, and sports journalists from other European countries stationed in London. They crowded around Aldridge, unable to stop Aldridge from moving forward with their bodies, but rushed towards him. ask questions.

Is Stam's move real?

Why would Millwall sell him?

How much will the transfer fee be?

Which club will Stam go to? He's going to leave England, isn't he?

 …

Aldridge's news before the FA Cup semi-final finally swept England.

The Premier League giants and first-tier clubs are watching closely, and other top European giants are also following the progress of this incident.

Everyone knows that Millwall is burdened with hundreds of millions of pounds in debt for the new stadium, and when Stam's transfer broke out from Aldridge, other clubs that were about to make a move also came to life.

Is Millwall Supermarket going to open?

Even the teams in the middle reaches of the Premier League are also verifying the authenticity of this news, because what does it mean for Millwall to lose a defensive player? The most intuitive thing is the decline in strength!

When Aldrich was about to enter the club, he stopped suddenly, turned around and faced all the reporters, and waited for the scene to quiet down. He said lightly: If there are no accidents. After the summer transfer window opens, Stam will leave Millwall and where he will transfer. You will know when that day comes. Regarding Stam's transfer, There will be no further response from Millwall, thank you.

After saying that, Aldridge walked into the gate of the club, and the reporters were blocked by security guards. Aldridge also quickly drove away from the club.

The next day, Stam's jersey was taken off the shelves.

Wild Lions fans couldn't accept the sudden news. They gathered in front of the club and wanted to know the inside story. Brady knew Aldridge best. Since a year and a half ago, he directly confronted Aldridge and asked Larson about his transfer. During the meeting, he understood Aldridge's attitude towards this club.

Aldridge will never do anything to hurt this club.

Even if Stam wants to transfer, it shouldn't be exposed at this time, but Aldridge can no longer continue to use Stam for the development of the team. Aldridge must get other players up as soon as possible, therefore. Brady judged that Stam must have made up his mind to transfer and leave.

Therefore, Brady was heartbroken and angry at the same time. He and the Lion Roar fan members put up slogans outside the reserve training ground.

Traitor! Get out! You fucking don't deserve the Wild Lion's jersey!

Stam's personal fans may not have any reaction, but for these fans who are loyal to the club, they obviously cannot tolerate Stam's transfer.

The love is deep and the responsibility is deep. The fans dedicate all their love to you. When outsiders criticize you, we support you behind your back. When others criticize your poor performance, we loyal supporters tolerate you. Even when other fans insult you, we risk our lives to fight them hand to hand!

How could you decide to leave at this moment?

We are at a critical moment in the championship!

Stam was training with the reserve team. When the fans were accusing him, insulting him, and saying that he was a traitor tens of meters away, Stam couldn't bear it and wanted to run to the fans. Theory, but eventually stopped by the coach.

Stam shook off the coach's hand and left the training ground alone.

Training this afternoon was terrible.

Aldridge watched the faces of the first-team players turn impassive because of Stam's transfer.

Because everyone knows how important Stam is to the team.

Millwall is not only the most powerful team in the Premier League this season, but also the team with the most solid defense and the fewest conceded goals. This is absolutely inseparable from Stam's contribution.

After training, Aldridge came to the locker room. The players hadn't left yet. Trezeguet happened to be discussing this matter with Makelele.

Why? What's wrong with his head?

Trezeguet was puzzled, with a complicated expression on his face.

Makelele asked back: What do you mean? Maybe he can earn more by going to another team. Sometimes things are not that complicated, it's very simple.

Trezeguet touched his bald head, and his tone was still full of doubts.

We only won one Premier League title, that's a fart. We're going to play the European Champions Cup next season. We won't be able to achieve anything until we get good results on that stage? It's so fucking hard understand.

Makelele stopped talking because he saw Aldridge come in and close the locker room door.

Trezeguet also saw Aldrich, and immediately shrank his head guiltily.

What he said just now was a bit taboo, and it sounded like he was just using Millwall as a springboard.

Aldridge heard it, but he was not angry, because it is human nature and there is no need to take it to heart.

Some of the other players took a shower, some were listening to music to relax, and suddenly saw Aldridge come to the locker room after training, and everyone returned to their lockers and sat down.

Aldridge stood by the door and leaned against the wall, his eyes calmly scanned the faces of each player, most of the players were calm, and some of them straightened their backs and showed firmness in their eyes, such as Ferdinand, Stam's Leaving must be a good thing for him, because he lost a strong competitor, and he was still a weak one.

Aldridge said indifferently: In the past, this was not the focus of England, not even London. We have worked hard in the low-level leagues all year round and have not won any important championships. Now, we are starting to win trophies and attention. We also have Stam is the top player, but his relationship with us has come to an end. The point I want to talk about today is. I can't tolerate anything that destroys the unity of the team. Anything that affects our concentration. I Will wish you all stay here and retire, but I know it's not possible, but I hope, we respect each other, understand each other, when you are still wearing a Millwall shirt, please stick to the bottom line of your loyalty, please in your mind I only think about one thing. That is to contribute to this team. When anyone of you wants to leave, please tell me, I will not deliberately obstruct anyone, I will show my sincerity to keep, Those who want to leave, what they need to do is to convince themselves, think seriously and calmly, is leaving Millwall for the next stop is the right choice for their career? Will they get more honor in the new club? Or. You just tell me straight up: a new club will make me richer. But I will say: the idea is stupid. Because only continued success, there is a wider opportunity to make money. This club has a long-term plan. In five to 10 years to complete the transformation, I firmly believe that Millwall will become the most successful club on the planet, and I will continue to work hard for it.

The players listened very carefully, focused their eyes on Aldridge, watched him smile bitterly after he finished speaking, and then prepared to leave.

At this moment, the door of the locker room was roughly pushed open from the outside.

boom.

The door slammed against the other wall with a loud bang.

Stam rushed in like a wild beast, he scanned the room, and finally found Aldridge standing next to him with a calm face.

How could you do that? How could you! Call me a traitor! I'm a traitor? I've always respected you from the bottom of my heart, but that's how you pay me back?

Stam didn't do anything, just turned around and snarled at Aldridge with a ferocious face.

The players stood up, and Aldridge reached out to signal the others not to come over.

Aldridge looked at Stam without showing any weakness, and said softly: Pass your chest, and ask yourself calmly, when Manchester United contacted you privately, when you reached a verbal agreement with them, what did you do? , not a traitor, what is it?

We had an agreement last summer! You said you would let me go this summer! This is your promise!

Stam growled hoarsely.

Aldridge stared at each other sharply, and reprimanded: But summer is not here yet! Our season is not over yet! Your heart flew to Old Trafford! It is you who made things like this, as long as you Wait, two months later, as long as you propose that you want to leave, I will not stop you at all! But you reached an agreement with Manchester United in advance and privately, you-fuck, ask the bosses and head coaches all over the world, Who will put up with it? You fucking trample on Millwall's dignity, you say you respect me! That's how you respect me?

The other players standing aside looked shocked.

They never imagined that there was such a process behind Stam's transfer!

They also guessed the inside story of Stam's transfer, maybe it was a peaceful breakup, Stam proposed a transfer, Aldridge let go, an agreement was reached between the two, let Stam go to the reserve team to maintain his state and so on.

It's not that the other players have private contact with the club, but they all refused. Some of them are not interested in transferring, some are professional, and some intend to listen to the offer. But for too many of them are young players, not many of them can Going to a top club, even if there is an olive branch, they can't promise the main position. Why bother to move away from Millwall? Everyone knows that as long as you work hard to compete here, you will stand out, while other wealthy clubs vigorously sweep the market as soon as the transfer period comes, which directly reduces the playing space for young players in the team.

Stam was still not reconciled, he roared angrily: When I came here, what was Millwall? League one garbage! Now? The Premier League champion! I have spent three years here! My hard work and contribution , in exchange for your traitor accusation?

Aldrich sneered as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world.

But don't forget, when you came here, you were nothing! Who is your hard work for? That's your own career. Don't call sweat and hard work selfless dedication! It's you Your own life! If you don’t work hard, you will destroy yourself! And what has Millwall given you? Here, you have become a top defender, and you have won honors that many people envy! I don’t deny your contribution to the team Contribute, but don't ignore the fact that Millwall has made you!

Stam was speechless, the veins around his cheekbones twitched, he clenched his fists but couldn't utter a word of rebuttal.

Southgate came over, he stood in front of Stam, and said calmly: Please leave here, since you have decided to transfer, I wish you good luck on behalf of the teammates, but this is the dressing room, outsiders Can't be here.

outsider!

Stam turned his head to look at those teammates who fought side by side half a month ago. Although many of them had peaceful eyes, some of them still showed hostility.

Yes, he is already an outsider!

The locker room, the most closed place of the team, is not where he should appear.

Stam quickly calmed down, the previous anger dissipated and disappeared, and he turned and left sadly.

Aldrich was heartbroken at this moment. He watched Stam's leaving figure disappear at the door, then he walked slowly to the row of wardrobes, stood in front of Stam's wardrobe, stretched out his hand and gently tore it off. A horizontal strip with Stam's name engraved on it, put the horizontal strip in his pocket, and Aldrich walked out with his head down.

The players watched Aldridge the entire time, and Nedved saw a tear fall to the ground before Aldridge walked out the door.

Aldrich, Stam, the two masters and apprentices whose karma is over have become strangers since then... (To be continued...) (m)