The Rise of Millwal

427  Gifts from the Heart

The next day, Aldrich woke up early, eager to arrive at the training ground ahead of the players. As he drove to the Leo Training Base, staff greeted him with congratulations at every turn, and he graciously accepted their warm wishes.

However, when he arrived at the training field in his training gear, he was taken aback by what he saw—it was a shocking sight.

When he walked onto the training ground in his tracksuit, the scene that greeted him left him utterly speechless. The players, who were usually cutting it close, were already there, not a single one missing, all beaming at him.

As Aldrich approached, the players suddenly shouted in unison, "Boss, congratulations on becoming a dad!"

Aldrich laughed, pointing at them, "Don't think you can butter me up like this to slack off in training! I've endured for three months; I've missed you all so much! Finally, I have someone to shout at!"

"Ha ha ha!"

Laughter erupted among the players, and Southgate stepped forward, holding two Millwall jerseys in one hand and a soccer ball in the other. He presented them to Aldrich, saying, "We had a discussion and didn't quite know what to get for Bert and Earl, so the whole team signed these jerseys with short messages of blessing, along with this football, which also has our signatures. We hope they grow up healthy and happy."

Aldrich was deeply touched. The neat handwriting on the jerseys was a stark contrast to the flamboyant signatures these stars usually used for commercial events; each name was written with care, along with heartfelt wishes.

He embraced each player, thanking them for their warm blessings.

Jensen also presented two "mini Lions" plush toys to Aldrich's sons on behalf of the coaching staff.

Once the heartwarming scene wrapped up, Aldrich asked a staff member to help send the gifts back to his office. Then he turned to face the players, surveying their mental state.

They looked great; each player's eyes seemed to spark with the fiery desire to win.

They could hardly wait for the new season to kick off, itching to give it their all.

"Some say we're a dynasty-level team because we've won 13 trophies over the past four years, but I don't agree with that view. Yes, we've won two league titles, but can a team that can't even defend its championship truly be called a champion? Can it be a ruler? We have the will of a strong team, the strength, and the resolve, but we still lack absolute dominance! This season, I'll set you a very challenging goal, but I believe you can withstand the pressure and turn it into motivation. Together, let's achieve my objectives. Starting today, we need to work towards May next year, and tell yourselves that on May 14, we will once again lift the league championship trophy and claim back our title! And on May 24 next year, tell me, where will you be?"

The players almost shouted in unison, "Paris!"

Paris, at the Stade de France, would be the venue for next year's Champions League final!

"Great, keep up this momentum. I hope by May next year, you won't be home watching the live broadcasts in disappointment. Now, let's start training. The rewards you get will depend on how much you put in; I don't want to say much more on that."

With Aldrich's command, the players began their training for the day, their spirits higher than ever. Players have their sense of the team's condition; when they understand what state they're in, the atmosphere, and their teammates' mindset align towards a common goal, they know that hard work will bring rich rewards.

As the day's training ended and dusk fell, the club's new season family photo had not yet been taken because everyone was waiting for Aldrich to return. Finally, that afternoon, they captured the 1999-00 season Millwall family portrait on the green pitch.

Aldrich sat in the center, flanked by two assistant coaches and first-team coaches. He specifically asked the younger players to stand in the front row, showcasing their youthful enthusiasm and ambition.

For the new season, Aldrich didn't need to motivate anyone; the entire club was filled with anticipation, ready to embrace new challenges and build a true dynasty!

**Millwall's New Season First-Team Roster:**

**Goalkeepers:** Butt, Keller, Wright. **Defenders:** Schneider, Paulo Ferreira, Materazzi, Southgate, Metzelder, Barzagli, Zambrotta, Ashley Cole. **Midfielders:** Makélélé, Gattuso, Pedretti, Pirlo, Lampard, Alonso, Nedvěd, Joe Cole, Van der Meyde. **Forwards:** Larsson, Henry, Ronaldinho, Klose, Gronkjaer, David Larmore, Villa, Joaquin, Vicente. **Total:** 22 players.

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**August 7**

The opening match of the new Premier League season.

On a sunny afternoon with clear skies, Aldrich had yet to arrive at The Den field, but news about him was spreading through the streets.

The young Millwall manager missed the official pre-season interview, causing some commercial loss for the FA, which led to a symbolic fine of a warning and a £3,000 penalty.

Aldrich wasn't absent without reason; he was in a hurry.

In the past two days, after finishing training each day, he rushed straight to the airport to fly to Liverpool, returning to London the next morning.

The arrival of his second son occupied Aldrich's thoughts, but he could only travel between two cities every day. He had thought about suggesting bringing the kids to London to raise them himself, but Melanie and her family disagreed.

Perhaps Melanie believed that if she kept the kids nearby, Aldrich would naturally show up every day. However, once she finished her recovery and returned to work in the remaining Spice Girls lineup, she'd likely end up having no time to even glance at her children.

When Aldrich finally stepped onto The Den field, the crowd erupted into cheers. Fans were thrilled; they genuinely liked and supported their young manager and felt a sense of pride in him.

As usual, the stands were a sea of blue.

But today, something was different: Brady's Lion Roar fan group wore jerseys with the names of two non-players printed on the back—Bert and Earl.

As Aldrich walked onto the field, the fan group welcomed their manager with their signature gesture. Some even turned their backs, forming a striking display with large individual letters that read, "Bert, Earl, Sons of Hall, may peace and health accompany you for life!"

Aldrich stood at the edge of the field, gazing at the banner in the South Stand, nearly moved to tears. The clapping reverberated in his ears; he felt an immense sense of happiness. If he could turn back time five years, he wouldn't hesitate or frown. He would definitely tell Barnet: "Give me Millwall! That's what I want most!"

Gathering his emotions, Aldrich positioned himself at the coaching bench, preparing for the game to start.

"The English Premier League 1999-00 season opener is about to begin. I'm Martin Tyler, here with my old friend Andy Gray to commentate on this crucial London derby as reigning champions Millwall host their northern neighbors, Tottenham. Today's scene has so many stories to tell."

"Hehe, indeed, Millwall vs. Spurs, a derby against the same city; Hall and Graham, representing the old and new generations of Millwall coaches. Plus, Graham's glorious past at Arsenal makes him a real enigma."

"It's hard to understand. Graham's departure from Millwall to Arsenal seemed normal back then, but the older Millwall fans expressed anger in the pre-match interviews, feeling abandoned. Now they think Graham is no different from countless past Millwall managers—just an unknown figure who's long been forgotten. Millwall now possesses the best manager in club and Premier League history, possibly even in English football history—this is their pride. As for Graham, after crafting an impressive legacy at Arsenal before falling from grace due to controversy (the media spun the tale of Hall being his downfall), he earned a reputation as the 'Coach Killer.' Arsenal fans reminisced about Graham, but once he took charge at White Hart Lane, all their nostalgia likely went out the window, replaced by anger. Now, Spurs fans also harbor resentment towards Graham, believing he's unable to lead Tottenham to glory. If the new season doesn't start well, Graham's days will likely get tougher."

"That's unfortunate. He faces Millwall in the first round of the league, with Spurs currently a shadow of their former selves—a struggling team with little fight left. Only Sol Campbell stands out."

"Millwall's coming out strong today; they're clearly aiming for three points at home. Let's see if Millwall can deliver the exciting football fans expect. Last season's matches actually broke some viewing records."

Standing at the edge of the field, Aldrich's gaze reflected fierce determination as he watched the vibrant players on the pitch.

The illustrious attacking lineup developed midway through last season had improved significantly in terms of player physicality and overall squad composition. The team had also solidified their chemistry, with key players like Pirlo and Ronaldinho making substantial physical progress. Henry, now thriving in the striker position, had the potential for further tactical innovation this season, promising explosive results.

Once the match kicked off, Aldrich carefully analyzed the situation on the field. Upon noticing Spurs' formation and player positioning, a smirk of disdain crept onto his lips.

Parking the bus? Here we go again!

This wasn't surprising; Graham employed a five-defender counter-attacking strategy at Arsenal while leading a strong team, so it was unrealistic to expect him to go toe-to-toe with a team that he knew to be weaker than Millwall.

Aldrich is no longer afraid of facing teams that park the bus, especially when his first-choice lineup is on the field.

In 1998, The Lions conquered Europe by breaking down tight defenses with aggressive movement and close coordination. But this Millwall team? Aldrich thinks their sheer power can run right over any weak team's defensive wall.

Millwall's players are playing with ease. They aren't surprised by their opponents pulling back into a defensive shell—this was exactly what the coaching staff predicted in the pre-game preparations. With their current tactical approach, Millwall is unstoppable, capable of breaking through any defense while sticking to their own style.

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