The Rise of Millwal

Chapter 429  First Victory, New Challenges

Millwall's opening match of the new season saw them clinch a convincing 4-0 victory over Tottenham, a result that hardly surprised anyone. After the match, Aldrich approached the interview with a laid-back demeanor, merely stating that winning this game wasn't anything to be overly excited about. While he was pleased, he insisted that the team's mindset wouldn't fluctuate just because they had beaten Tottenham.

The underlying message he sent was clear: Tottenham's lack of strength meant Millwall had no reason to bask in complacency after such a result.

In contrast, Manchester United, also touted as a title contender alongside Millwall this season, drew against Everton at Goodison Park, seemingly still reeling from their poor performance in the Community Shield.

Next year is a major tournament year, and with the Premier League starting early and the schedule being quite packed, Aldrich is eager to face his opponent in just three days.

That opponent was none other than the traditional powerhouse, Liverpool.

After the win over Tottenham, he granted the team a day off, and upon their return to training, Aldrich was full of enthusiasm. When he attended the press conference before the trip, he wore a broad smile. The journalists could guess Aldrich's feelings.

"Aldrich, you seem eager to face Liverpool. Why is that?" n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Sitting at the podium, the corners of Aldrich's mouth curled up as he casually replied, "Because Liverpool is a young team, and their manager, Houllier, is a friend of mine. I look forward to facing a friend on the sidelines; that's one of the joys of this job. Plus, I'm excited to see how Owen, Gerrard, and Carragher perform."

"Are you saying Millwall has an interest in them?" An puzzled reporter shot back, while Richard, sitting next to him, stifled a laugh. He had been covering Millwall for years and could see through Aldrich's words.

Aldrich, now serious, replied, "Yes, Millwall was interested in them, but that was four years ago. I personally approached them to join Millwall, but they turned us down. Liverpool's media covered that at the time. Eventually, Liverpool offered Gerrard and others professional contracts, and since then, while Millwall hasn't looked to bring them in, I've maintained interest in their career development."

The questioning reporter nodded along, recording Aldrich's every word in his notebook, likely believing this was a major scoop. The transfer window wasn't closed, and Millwall's head coach openly expressed interest in the performances of three young Liverpool players. Who could guarantee a heavyweight transfer wouldn't crop up in the near future?

Even if there was a significant transfer, it could only concern Owen; as for Gerrard and Carragher, they hardly even qualified as stars.

Some reporters in attendance snickered, believing the questioning journalist was being led on. Richard boldly laughed and asked, "Aldrich, if tomorrow's game is at Millwall and Liverpool are visiting, would you still be as excited today?"

Aldrich smiled silently, and after a moment nodded, "Of course! Liverpool, the traditional powerhouse of England! How could I not be excited?"

"Who believes you? You haven't shown excitement before in the past two years before their visits! It's clear you're just looking forward to stopping by Liverpool to see your son. Why not just say it openly?"

"No, no, no. Richard, are you questioning my professionalism and dedication to my job? I would never mix personal matters with professional ones! Let me tell you, I love Anfield! From the moment I first stepped onto that pitch as a manager, I fell in love with it—such a glorious and historic ground. No manager would refuse to play there; sure, it has a dangerous aura, but that's exactly what a manager enjoys!"

Not only Richard but many journalists were now laughing and booing him!

Aldrich helplessly shrugged his shoulders, and finally, through gritted teeth, he said with a smile, "Believe it or not, tomorrow's match will show you whether I'm fully committed to the game!"

As Aldrich stood to leave, Richard shouted: "That excuse is too hypocritical! Wanting more time with your son has nothing to do with how much you value the game!"

Aldrich hurriedly picked up his pace and exited.

The next day, the team flew out to Liverpool. As soon as they got off the plane, they boarded the bus heading toward Anfield.

On the journey, some players listened to music, some read, some chatted, while others simply gazed out the window at the cityscape.

Aldrich didn't have any special feelings about Liverpool before, but his mindset was subtly different upon arriving; this was where his son was born.

Thinking about today's newspapers trumpeting his visit to Liverpool, which seemed more about visiting his son… Aldrich paused for a second; that thought felt somewhat odd.

He shook his head, worried that the players might get distracted by such thoughts.

Before arriving at Anfield, Aldrich stood up, clapped his hands, and gathered the players' attention. Those with headphones took them off, book readers closed their books, and chatting players quieted down, all of them curious about what the coach wanted to say.

"Liverpool, I don't want to dwell on how strong they are. The truth is, over the years, especially since we entered the top league, the Liverpool we've encountered has been on a decline. Quality players have been removed or marginalized due to off-field issues, which might lead you to think of them as no different from Tottenham. However, I must say that in recent years, Liverpool's away performance has been the fatal flaw in their title ambitions. Their home record, on the other hand, is quite stable, with some seasons losing only two matches at home and, at most, four in others. Essentially, on average, they lose three home matches each season. Of the 19 teams in the Premier League, only 3 or 4 have managed to take a victory from Anfield. We're not here for tourism; feel free to stick around the city after the match, but for the game, we certainly want to leave with three points. So, while you might think Liverpool isn't up to par, I allow you to underestimate their players, but I hope you respect Anfield as a venue. Winning at Anfield isn't a badge of honor, but it can certainly enhance our sense of achievement and satisfaction!"

The players nodded at Aldrich's words.

They were heading to play Liverpool, and their mindset was remarkably calm.

So calm, it felt strange to them.

Liverpool—once a legendary name in Europe, the team that established dominance!

Why, facing Liverpool, did they feel this way instead of a sense of urgency?

Perhaps, as Aldrich had suggested, they'd faced Liverpool yearly, often overpowering them in league matches, and had only faced elimination in cup matches once—with the young substitutes at that.

Having truly engaged and defeated them several times naturally dulled the importance of such a matchup.

But the match had to be played. A calm mindset was good; however, if their fighting spirit waned, that would spell trouble.

Aldrich aimed to boost their morale and shift their focus away from any complacency.

Simply looking at Liverpool's squad, their strength may not be much greater than Tottenham's.

Therefore, Aldrich sought to inspire his players to channel the history of their rivals into a powerful competitive spirit, using Liverpool's past achievements to motivate them to overcome the opposition.

Anfield remains the intimidating fortress in the Premier League, where the passionate singing of the Reds' supporters never ceases. This is the stadium that Ferguson once deemed 'dangerous.' However, Aldrich didn't feel an overwhelming sense of crisis upon arriving here, perhaps because Liverpool isn't a mortal enemy of Millwall. Instead, he simply enjoyed the atmosphere. Teams that can elevate their game because of their fans are rare, and Liverpool happens to be one of them. Aldrich relished the challenge of facing such an opponent.

Before the match started, Aldrich stood on the sidelines, whispering with Gérard Houllier. It wasn't Aldrich who went over to greet him; instead, it was Houllier who took the initiative to approach him.

Their conversation centered around "Is Millwall really interested in signing Owen?"

Once Aldrich assured Houllier that he had no interest in Owen anymore, Houllier felt relieved.

As for Gerrard and Carragher, to be honest, they hadn't yet made a significant mark.

Yet, since Aldrich had once personally invited them to join Millwall, Liverpool placed extra emphasis on these players.

They were still unsure of what kind of great players Carragher and Gerrard would become in the future, or which direction they'd grow in. There was no certainty.

Aldrich had long believed that the main reason Gerrard could only become "a Liverpool legend" was because during the early years of his career, he never had a clear position on the field.

Aldrich preferred players with defined roles and clear strengths, which allowed for an organized and effective team dynamic. For instance, Makélélé is for defense, Pirlo is for organization, and Nedvěd is for attack, ensuring a clear midfield system without confusion.

But a player like Gerrard had a rather vague positioning.

Could he defend? Yes.

Could he organize? Yes.

Could he attack? Yes.

He could do all three, but he wasn't top-tier in any of them!

If he's put in a defensive role, he'll be overrun by elite attacking talent. In a playmaking capacity, he struggles to break down high-level defenses. And when it comes to attacking, his ability to take chances seems lacking, especially in dribbling past opponents, where other offensive players in a playmaker or second striker role outperform him significantly."

In the future, European football is likely to favor top teams allowing only one player to focus solely on attack without participating in defense; the other nine, excluding the goalkeeper, must take on defensive responsibilities.

In other words, for a player like Gerrard, having defensive capabilities is the foundation, and next, he needs to enhance his specialized skills in attack.

Gerrard's reviews in the future would likely emphasize his versatility, which signifies a solid pool of general skills, yet it might fall short when compared to those elite players who have a defined specialty.

Especially when looking at the mediocre England national team, it's hard to pinpoint standout games from Gerrard's international career, while those with specific skill sets have shone even in weaker national squads.

Unfortunately, at the beginning of his career at Liverpool, Gerrard did not encounter a key mentor who could have properly developed his technical abilities during the crucial period when his on-field position and role were being established. He was shuffled between playing as a defensive midfielder, central midfielder, and even attacking midfielder at times. He contributed assists and scored goals while running tirelessly all over the pitch, but what exactly was his role? It seemed to change every year.

As for Carragher, his situation was even more tragic. In the new season, he remained a substitute, with Houllier defining him as a backup right-back. For the foreseeable future, Carragher would continue to be a glaring weakness exposed at Anfield.