The Young Lion

Thank you Thieves for your reward! ——

It was dark when we returned to London, and Aldrich returned to the community apartment, parked his car in the garage, and went straight to Ivan's home across the street.

The lights in the living room were not turned on, and there were flickering candles on the table. Her delicate and precise dinner was placed on the table. When she saw Aldridge coming, she smiled happily: It's just right, the time for sobering up has just passed.

As she spoke, she poured two glasses of mellow red wine from the decanter.

Aldrich pulled out his chair and sat down, his expression suddenly a little absent-minded, obviously thinking about something on his mind.

Yiwen sat opposite him, propped his chin and said with a half-smile: Let me guess what you're thinking.

Aldrich came back to his senses and raised his wine glass in salute, saying, Thank you.

Are you worried about the state of the team? Is it possible to be reversed by Manchester United?.

Aldridge snorted, shook his head and said: Manchester United may indeed be able to achieve a perfect record at the end, but it is possible for Millwall to lose 5 of the last 7 games. This is a miracle for Manchester United. How could it happen? ?”

The league was tied again today, the sixth league tie since the second half of the season.

Are you really not worried?

Yiwen seemed unwilling to accept that his guess had failed.

Aldridge raised his eyebrows and said: Actually, I am satisfied with the current situation. Even if I lose points in the next game, I may laugh when I go home.

Huh? How is it possible? This lie is too lame.

it is true.

Is anyone going to believe you're happy that your team can't win?

Only in the current situation and in the league.

why?

Because I don't want the team to win the title before mid-April.

Yiwen looked puzzled, the man in front of him was always different from what others thought.

Seeing the doubts on her expression, Aldrich explained with a smile: There is a voice from the outside world that Millwall can create a more glorious history.

criticized me. They think that as long as Millwall plays with the strongest lineup in all games. It can set a record and successfully defend the title many, many rounds ahead of time, and it will also refresh the statistics of wins, goals, etc. to an unprecedented height. I won the championship before, I can't, but fortunately Manchester United have played well recently, if they give up. On the contrary, it is not good.

What's wrong? Is it wrong to successfully defend the title early and shift the focus to the Champions League and the FA Cup early?.

In theory, it is correct to say this, but the league is the most important arena after all. If the title is successfully defended in mid-April or even earlier, the players will inevitably relax mentally. Next, the body is fine, but the spirit may not be able to achieve the best state of excitement. I need the team to maintain a certain sense of urgency and crisis. It is better than nothing, and it is better than nothing. Let this fighting spirit not be interrupted, there is continuity, I want to Thinking about it, they have been working hard from August to April, and they successfully defended the league title, won't they relax mentally?.

Yiwen nodded when he heard what he thought, and it sounded reasonable.

Then what were you thinking just now?

Aldrich sighed after being silent for more than ten seconds: Bert and Earl, they have reached the stage where their cognitive abilities are beginning to improve. I don't want to be a stranger in their eyes because I can't see them all the time.

This is human nature, and it is also the instinct of almost all creatures. At the stage of cognitive ability at birth, whoever gets close to them and frequently appears in front of them, deepening the cognitive impression, will have a sense of intimacy and trust.

Ivan thought for a while and said: Maybe you should talk to Chisholm, she can't be with Bert and Earl often, from the child's point of view, at least you don't spend a long time with her like her. Hold concerts abroad or do publicity.”

Aldrich cheered up after half a minute of silence, and said with a smile: Don't mention these things, if you continue to chat, you will waste your well-prepared dinner.

The two toasted together, looked at each other and smiled, and immediately had dinner

In the final round of the Champions League second stage group stage, Aldridge not only dispatched all substitutes to the Netherlands, but the starting list was criticized by many people.

Lazio 7 points, Bordeaux 5 points, Feyenoord 4 points.

Feyenoord has been eliminated.

Lazio had a direct dialogue with Bordeaux in the last round, and Feyenoord played against Millwall at home.

Therefore, for Feyenoord, this is a battle of honor, their finale in the Champions League this season, and they hope to compete with the mighty Millwall again.

But Millwall didn't cooperate, and the opponent was out, but Millwall still had to prepare for the ensuing quarter-finals.

There is only one player over the age of 21 in Millwall's starting XI.

Goalkeeper: Bout.

Defenders: Ferreira, Barzagli, Metzelder, Cole.

Midfield: Pedretti, Alonso, Joe Cole.

Forwards: Vicente, Villa, Joaquin.

In such a Champions League game where victory or defeat is irrelevant, Aldridge's training was a bit outrageous.

But he just wants to use this kind of high-profile game to train young players, stimulate their growth, give them opportunities, and let them experience all of this personally.

In the locker room before the game, Aldridge looked at the ten players who were full of vigor and vitality, plus a silent and calm Bout.

This batch of heroic teenagers is full of fighting spirit, and they never dreamed that they would start in such a level of competition!

I'm a young coach, I naturally like young players, Capdevila, Helguera, Pirlo, Ronaldinho, Trezeguet, etc. There are too many of your predecessors or have been here The players who played, they have become the main force of the team when they are about the same age as you, and have won honors for the team, time waits for no one, the world waits for no one, I will not ask you if you are ready, even if you I have no idea in my heart, and now I have to lie. Deceive myself. Tell myself countless times in my heart: Now. Our time has come!

Aldrich's words made this group of young people with slightly green faces stand up, as if they were expressing their determination invisibly.

However, I will not ask you to do things beyond your ability, but you must show the level in training, keep calm on the court, apply the knowledge taught to you by the coaches in the game, and show the best performance as much as possible. Good self, today is an assessment. I will give you grades during the intermission, and I will replace the three worst performers at halftime. Now, let’s go.”

As soon as Aldridge finished speaking, he left the locker room first.

Of the 11 players in the starting line-up, Bout is definitely not going to be replaced. The remaining 10 people have blazing flames in their hearts, whether they want to show themselves or they don't want to be replaced. This is very effective for their mental stimulation.

The three giants of the Netherlands are known for their youth training, so from time to time you can see a youth army suddenly emerging in Europe.

Nowadays. Aldridge came to Feyenoord with his youth army.

The Netherlands is the blessed land of Millwall. It has won two European championships here. However, the fans of the three giants in the Netherlands do not like Millwall, and only neutral fans will welcome them.

When Millwall's youth team entered the field, the home team fans booed loudly.

In their view, it is a humiliation for the opponent to send this lineup.

I didn't even have the idea of ​​competing with Feyenoord, it was purely entertainment with Feyenoord.

Feyenoord will give back to the fans with a victory at home, even if they leave this glorious stage, they will leave with their heads held high!

Therefore, Feyenoord will attack with all their strength at home, which is in line with the tradition of Dutch football. It is unimaginable for a Dutch team not to attack.

Even though Millwall's young army is still unable to compete with the experienced Feyenoord, they are making up for the gap through other aspects.

Under the influence of the tacit understanding of playing football together for many years, the instilled overall team football concept, the extremely high tactical quality and discipline cultivated, and other factors, Millwall has been passively beaten since the beginning, but the youth army is present. He was in an orderly manner, and his formation was not disrupted because of his passivity, and his mentality became restless.

Attack, fail, attack, fail, and time and time again, the Millwall boys filled Aldridge's eyes with admiration.

Because he saw the unbeatable tenacity of these young players, kept a stable mentality and kept trying, without the slightest sign of collapse in the face of continuous failure.

Pedretti and Alonso guarded the front of the penalty area and defended in the middle. They occasionally performed in a panic, but their good awareness and tacit understanding of filling positions can always save the day.

Until the 37th minute of the game, Joaquin successfully played two-on-one with Joe Cole after failing to break through three times in a row, and finally showed his power on the wing. The full-back cuts inside, and when Villa is marked, he passes back to the top of the box, where Vicente appears.

When the Feyenoord defender rushed forward, Vicente relied on his flexible feet to break through and break into the penalty area, volleying directly at the goal from a 45-degree angle.

The goalkeeper blocked the ball, but did not expect Villa to follow up and send the ball into the gate.

After the goal, Villa ran wildly around the sidelines. Except for Bout who raised his fists in front of the goal and cheered for Villa's goal, other young players rushed towards Villa.

This goal is very encouraging to them, because they are no longer hiding under the mainstay of Nedved, Southgate and other teams.

Their 10 young players, through unremitting efforts, tenacious defense and successive offensive setbacks, tirelessly pursued victory. Now, they are at least standing in front of the victory. This is a goal that can make them feel self-affirmed. Young them.

Aldridge lied to them and didn't replace anyone at half-time, it had nothing to do with the score, it was a complete lie to say that substitutions were made before the game.

In the second half, Feyenoord finally equalized after a long attack.

When the score became 1:1, Aldridge was still indifferent while sitting on the coach's bench, but he said silently in his heart: Hold on, hold on, let me see more!

What kind of team can be full of expectations?

This was the case with Aldridge's young team. After being tied, they remained calm and patiently waited for the opportunity to give their opponent a fatal blow, and never squandered any precious opportunity.

In the 69th minute, Joe Cole took the ball back from Villa in front of the penalty area and made a long shot to overtake the score again.

This time, Aldridge stormed out of the dugout and jumped up, punching the air in celebration.

The energetic young men let him see hope, see the future of Millwall, and see the rewards for his efforts. In such a game where the outcome is unimportant, he thinks that so far, the fruits he has harvested are more than too much. More games are more.

It's not just military training, its meaning is by no means so superficial. (to be continued...) ()