The Young Lion

Before leaving for the Netherlands, Aldrich went through a special ceremony when he left home. Arthur firmly asked the whole family to go to church together. In the deserted church, the potbellied Arthur knelt under the statue of Jesus and closed his eyes devoutly. pray.

Their family has a tradition of belief, but it has not reached the point of fanaticism. Aldrich just drifts with the crowd, and occasionally walks through the motions with his family, but he does not have much self-consciousness of a believer in his heart.

His parents hugged him one after another and kissed him on the forehead, his eldest brother and second brother hugged him, and even his nephew Bowen wanted to hug Aldrich seriously.

After this prayer ceremony that seemed to send Aldridge to the battlefield, Aldridge led the team to Amsterdam, the Netherlands three days in advance.

During this year, Millwall and the Netherlands really have a fate. They came here to play the final last year, and they were a guest at Eindhoven in the second half of the year. Now they are visiting the Netherlands again. The probability of coming here three times a year is really not high.

But this is good, the players will not be unfamiliar with the Netherlands, and the neutral fans here are also familiar with them. When they got off the plane and walked out of the airport, the enthusiastic fans who greeted them this year have at least tripled compared to last year.

Their plan is similar to the past. The first day is off, and the whole team can go sightseeing in the city. As long as they don't go to the red light district to have fun in person, they can do anything else.

Step on the field training on the second day, rest for half a day on the third day, and then prepare for the final.

When Real Madrid came to Amsterdam in the next step, it completely ignited the football enthusiasm of the whole city. The focus of Europe was on this city on water, and the battle of the pinnacle was imminent!

On May 20th, Amsterdam Arena.

The Champions League final is about to be staged. The fans of Millwall and Real Madrid are the main audience in the stands of this stadium. The number of fans of Real Madrid is larger because their fan base is richer and they can spend a lot of money from neutral fans. Buy tickets.

The colors in the stands are clear at a glance, the traditional noble and elegant white of Real Madrid and the blue of the traditional embodiment of loyalty and dignity of Millwall.

Although blue has a symbolic meaning of nobility in Europe, Millwall obviously has nothing to do with nobility, their blue. Represents loyalty and dignity.

There are pre-final shows for fans to enjoy, and live cameras are also capturing the focus. Fans of the two teams are waving flags in the stands, playing cheering slogans, and some celebrities who came to the scene. Among them, in the box, The warm embrace between Stefano and Puskas became the most eye-catching scene before the final.

Real Madrid President Sanz naturally also came to the scene to watch the game,

He was rather depressed, because Puskas and Stefano, as Real Madrid's legendary superstars, were one of the unshakable spectators in the stands on Millwall's home match day. Another appearance here was also invited by Millwall. Nothing to do with Real Madrid. This all comes from Fleet Street's hype before the game, using the blockbuster news of legendary reunion to increase sales, virtually making Real Madrid very passive.

When everything is in order, everyone looks forward to the moment when the finals will start. In the locker room, Aldridge was doing the final pre-war mobilization.

The players were well-organized, and Millwall played with the strongest team. It is needless to say that the fighting spirit is high.

Aldridge stood in front of the players and said solemnly: The outside media said that today's final is a milestone for me, and Aldrich Hall has become a legend. As long as I win the championship, I will become one of the legendary coaches in football. ...I won't deny that. But I don't think if I lose the game today, I'm worthless. I have 20, 30, 40 years. 50 years to fight, I'm invincible Believe that you will be a legend. But, for you, your career will not be another 20 years, 30 years ... the European Cup final, the highest honor in the club state competition, I will not say to you : You may only have this chance to play in the final once in your life, that’s impossible! We are already very strong, and every season in the future, we will be favorites for the championship. I have such confidence, and you should too. However, you should cherish yourself My career, this kind of final, playing one game, missing a game, missing, failing, is definitely not as glorious as winning, standing on the podium, and holding the trophy. Whether I can become a legend is not important, 40 If I don’t succeed before the age of 50, I can still fight for another 20 years, but you don’t have such a long career, reach the finals and tell yourself: win, win without regrets!”

After Aldridge finished speaking, he turned and opened the locker room door and left first.

In the locker room, the three captains took the lead in boosting morale. They were all waiting for this day, and there was no reason for stage fright at this time.

When Aldridge walked out of the player tunnel and came to the sidelines, the live broadcast camera immediately focused on him, and countless reporters around him also took pictures of him. The young coach looked calm and looked at the coaching bench of Real Madrid, and found that the opposing coach was still there. He didn't come out, so he probably spent a long time talking in the locker room.

After a while, Real Madrid players appeared in the player tunnel, lined up in two rows with the Millwall players, almost all strangers between them, and there was no communication before the game, each of them was as solemn as A warrior about to enter the battlefield.

Real Madrid's coaching staff also came out, and Aldridge was waiting outside for the opposing coach: Heynckes.

Heynckes led Real Madrid to a mess in the league this season, and the final result was the same as Millwall, failing to get the top two in the league. The qualification for the Champions League next season is suspended, and Real Madrid only ranks third in the league.

However, both teams have reached the Champions League final historically, Millwall is the first time, and Real Madrid has returned to the final stage after a long absence.

Unlike many other famous coaches, Heynckes spent most of his coaching career in giants. He has coached many teams, and there are only a handful of giants. Before coaching Real Madrid, the most famous team he coached was Bayern Munich. The first time he was favored by a wealthy team was favored because he coached a small team to achieve a breakthrough and excellent record.

His achievements came step by step, and Aldridge respected each other very much.

Before the start of the game, Aldridge shook hands with the opponent and expressed his admiration face to face. After the pleasant and friendly conversation between the two, they went back to stand in front of their respective coaches' benches.

Under the leadership of the referee team, players from both sides walked into the field with their heads held high.

The 97/98 UEFA Champions League final is about to start. The two teams that have come to the final this season are Millwall from England and Real Madrid from Spain. I believe the audience who followed this game already know that Millwall Wall entered the final of the Champions League for the first time in history. They are only short of the last victory to replicate the miracle of Nottingham Forest. Real Madrid has been away from the Champions League for 32 years. This makes Real Madrid's Champions League The kings are not worthy of their name. They have won the most championships, but they have not been able to achieve convincing results on this stage in 32 years. It’s a championship with special meaning.”

When the Champions League theme song was played in the stadium, the starting lineups of both sides were also introduced to the audience by the commentators.

Millwall started 433.

Goalkeeper: Bout

Defenders: Schneider, Helguera, Southgate, Capdevila

Midfielder: Makelele. Pirlo. Nedved

Forward: Andriy Shevchenko. Trezeguet, Larson

Real Madrid starting 442

Goalkeeper: Irgner

Defenders: Panucci, Sanches, Hierro. carlos

Midfielders: Kalumbu, Redondo, Seedorf, Raul

Forwards: Mijatovic, Morientes

Millwall's starting lineup today is not unexpected. As for whether it is 433 or 4231, it must be analyzed according to the posture in the game.

Real Madrid's players are also familiar with each other.

If you want to say what Aldridge envies Real Madrid most, it is their goalkeeper.

Ilgner started today, and Canizares was sitting on the bench. There is also Casillas in the lower echelon.

As for players in other positions in Real Madrid, Aldridge does not think that Millwall is worse than the opponent, or in a suitable tactical system, even if Real Madrid's players are stronger in personal ability, they may not be able to perform well in Millwall .

Real Madrid's midfield today is a small diamond-shaped position. Lower back Redondo, synonymous with elegance.

Seedorf, Kalumbu is a central midfielder, he can also pull the side, can attack and defend well, the midfielder is Raul, he is more like a nine and a half, he can pass and shoot, and he scored double 20 in the season under Capello + horror data.

Last season's partners Mijatovic and Suker were separated. Suker, who can play the violin with his left foot, seems to be incompatible with Heynckes. Haishuai prefers high center forwards like Morientes. He has height and hardness, can hold the ball and act as a fulcrum, and the striker's skill and speed are not bad.

Aldridge stared blankly at Sanchez. This is a Real Madrid legend. Not only did he play for Real Madrid all his life, but his father also played for Real Madrid for a long time. The Sanchez family is a myth in the history of Real Madrid.

Aldrich was envious in his heart, wondering when Millwall would have such a legend.

Real Madrid and Barcelona, ​​these are the two teams that Aldridge admires the most!

First of all, I admire them for maintaining the traditional nature of the club and not for profit. Even if Real Madrid embarks on the road of international commercialization, it is never for the purpose of private profit. Members do not expect dividends from the club at the end of the season. The club can Making a lot of money is to enrich the strength of the team and give fans the highest level of football enjoyment. This should be the public welfare of traditional clubs. When other wealthy clubs are either reduced to private property or money-making machines, Real Madrid and Barcelona become This is a special case of the Jinyuan football era.

The second is to admire these two giants for their ability to toss!

They can fire the best coaches, tear apart the best rosters, reverse proven developmental strategies...  

In short, it may not be difficult to find one or two teams in the football world that do such a self-destructing thing. Everyone has their heads down.

However, if there is any team that can do this over and over again in the long history, to look over the history of Barcelona and Real Madrid, there is an answer.

The general election of the chairman alone means that the team will undergo earth-shaking changes. The phenomenon of one emperor and one courtier is more vividly reflected than any other club. Coupled with factors such as pressure from fans, support from member votes, etc., the club has every three to five. It is not surprising that the news of the turmoil came.

Aldridge regretted that although Heynckes is a good coach, from his personal point of view, he would prefer to touch Real Madrid coached by Capello.

Last season's La Liga team overwhelmed Barcelona's Real Madrid team to win the championship!

It's a pity that Capello couldn't stand the accusations of Real Madrid fans and left in charge.

Aldridge is sorry, maybe Real Madrid fans are even more regretful, if Capello is still there, Real Madrid may not be so far behind Barcelona in the league. ()