The Rise of Millwal

Chapter 320: A Date with a “Lover”

The day after the Premier League wrapped up, Millwall's entire squad returned to the training ground at Leo's Training Base to kick off their preparations, with reporters from various European media outlets gathered at the sidelines to watch.

This open training session would last for four days—open in the mornings and closed to the media in the afternoons.

Besides serving as a promotional warm-up for the Champions League final, it was also a signal that Aldrich was sending out to the public.

Each match often sees reporters trying to glean inside information: the starting lineup, the tactical formation, the team's attitude going into the game, and so on.

These details could sometimes be deciphered from the training sessions, but they weren't always spot on.

How much time was Millwall spending on offensive drills versus defensive setups? Were they focusing on set pieces or reinforcing penalty shootout practice?

At this stage, the actual training impact was limited; it mainly aimed at adjusting players' form and maintaining their rhythm.

Trying to concoct a miraculous new strategy to surprise opponents in less than two weeks wouldn't be wise. Aldrich had no reason to abandon his established tactical approach.

Today, the atmosphere at the training ground was relaxed. Laughter echoed as players enjoyed themselves while training, with a focus on lighthearted games to relieve stress.

Aldrich joined in, playing a ball-snatching game with the players. He spent half the session chasing after the ball without success, thoroughly outsmarted by the players. Their laughter echoed throughout the field, and even the reporters on the sidelines found the scene entertaining, quickly snapping photos to turn into news stories.

Throughout these four days, Millwall would practice penalties every morning without engaging in any scrimmages, relying on regular football exercises to keep the players sharp.

After analyzing Millwall's training content, news reports quickly surfaced suggesting that Millwall was likely to play a very conservative style in the Champions League final, opting for a defensive counter-attacking strategy. Even if they couldn't break through their opponents' defense, their extra penalty practice would come in handy if needed.

Fleet Street was buzzing with excitement as two London teams prepared for their European final. Chelsea found another English club alongside them on the final stage, a source of pride for Fleet Street, and a great moment for Chelsea's owner, Bates. But the spotlight was mostly on Millwall, given that they were set to compete in the Champions League final!

The Times published a special article on the Champions League, titled "The Miracle Repeats Itself!"

It was hard to believe such sensationalist writing came from David Miller, but he managed to argue his points effectively, presenting several seemingly convincing arguments.

Last year, Millwall made its debut in the European Cup Winners' Cup, ultimately reaching the final and winning.

This year, they made it to the Champions League final in their first attempt, with the result still unknown.

Last year, they eliminated a French team in the semifinals.

This year, it was again a French team.

Last year, they faced off against the La Liga giant FC Barcelona in the final.

This year, they would take on another La Liga powerhouse: Real Madrid.

Last year, Barcelona had just gone through an intense El Clásico before the final.

This year, Real Madrid had only a five-day gap between their last match and the final, and they were also in the race for the league's second place. Therefore, in the La Liga finale on May 15th, Real Madrid might prioritize securing their spot in the Champions League for next season rather than conserving energy.

As of the 37th round of La Liga, Real Madrid is ranked fourth, and the championship has been won by Barcelona a few rounds in advance. Real Madrid are now level on points with Valencia and two points behind second-placed Athletic Bilbao, meaning they still have a chance to compete for the runners-up title in the final game.

The last point of argument regarding the repetition of last year's trajectory was that Millwall's final last year took place in Rotterdam, and this year's Champions League final was also in the Netherlands!

To be honest, after this media analysis, it really felt like Millwall's chances of winning had significantly increased.

Of course, this was just wishful thinking. However, it did instill a sense of confidence in Millwall as they approached the final.

The Premier League concluded a week earlier than Serie A and La Liga, giving Aldrich more time to prepare than Real Madrid. As other major leagues wrapped up, annoying distractions began to surface.

Clubs from Serie A and La Liga were very interested in Millwall's players. If they made a list of players that clubs were sincerely looking to acquire, Millwall might only end up with Aldrich and a handful of substitutes left.

Aldrich communicated through Andrew to other clubs: the transfer door for Millwall would be closed until after the World Cup!

The World Cup was a platform for players to increase their market value, and during a tournament year, no club would do business prematurely unless it involved players not participating in the competition, which wouldn't affect their market value.

Four days before the Champions League final, Millwall held a press conference ahead of their departure. Aldrich, apart from attending UEFA's pre-final press conference, also wanted to give Fleet Street the attention it deserved.

The venue was packed. Dressed in sports gear and smiling, Aldrich greeted familiar reporters. The atmosphere was relaxed; at least for this moment, Fleet Street was firmly behind Millwall.

In recent days, journalists who had good relations with Aldrich had been filling him in with information.

For example, who played in the last match for Real Madrid, who didn't, what was the weather like in the Netherlands, the pitch condition of the final in Amsterdam, and data analysis of Real Madrid's performance in La Liga and the Champions League—who posed the biggest threat and where their defensive weaknesses lay.

Aldrich appreciated these media friends; some data was indeed information his own club's scouts hadn't picked up.

"Let's talk about Millwall for a moment. You've been practicing penalties a lot lately—are you planning for a penalty shootout in the final?"

Laughter rippled through the reporters; everyone knew the question was lighthearted, and no one genuinely thought it was a jab at Millwall.

Aldrich rested his chin on his hand, smiling as he responded: "Penalties are just part of our preparation. As head coach, I must consider all possible scenarios that could arise in the final. It doesn't mean we expect a shootout, but we can't be sure of a resolution in 90 minutes or even a minute. We treat penalties as just one aspect of our training; better safe than sorry. The team is in great shape, and the players are eager to win this championship. They firmly believe we'll be lifting the trophy, and they can't wait to give everything they've got against Real Madrid."

"This season, Millwall has participated in the Champions League, playing a total of ten matches from the group stage to the final, remaining unbeaten with eight wins and two draws. However, there seems to be a certain gap in tactical play compared to the Premier League, which feels a bit conservative. Critics suggest that Millwall's style in the Champions League is solely based on defensive counterattacks. Will that strategy dominate in the final?"

Aldrich chuckled, "Well, if we've achieved eight wins and two draws with this tactical approach, there's no reason to change our successful style for the final. I've said it many times; I don't care how others view Millwall's tactics. Some will appreciate it, some won't. No matter how the tactics evolve, it's impossible to please everyone."

The reporters nodded in agreement, recognizing that Aldrich's comments confirmed their earlier predictions: defensive counterattacking.

Various pundits also believed that Millwall's defensive counterattacking style was the best approach for navigating their way through the Champions League.

A mature style that balances solid defense—especially in a single knockout match against Real Madrid, who have always pursued glamorous offensive play—requires enhancing their defensive game.

"What are your thoughts on Real Madrid?"

In response to this query, Aldrich held out his hands and asked, "Does it really matter?"

"Of course."

"Alright then. Real Madrid's reputation and stature speak for themselves. But I want to point out that their yearning for the trophy might exceed even that of Millwall. I'm not suggesting that the players at Millwall don't care about the trophy. But if you think about it, people will applaud Millwall for reaching the final. Even if Millwall finishes as runners-up, the applause will still be there. However, it's different for Real Madrid; they have waited for 32 years. For them, this final isn't simply a chance to win a trophy; it's about reclaiming what has eluded the club for 32 years, restoring the glory that they believe belongs to them deep down. Therefore, their desire is immense, and the pressure they face transforms into motivation, making that obsession incredibly powerful in the match!"

"How should Millwall respond to that?"

"I'm trying to help the players approach the final with a lighter mindset, so I've referred to this match as a date with a lover," Aldrich said.

At his words, the entire room of reporters fell silent, shocked.

"A date with a lover? Is this a slight against Real Madrid?"

Seeing the reporters' reaction, Aldrich paused for a moment, then replied, "Have I misremembered my football history? Isn't Real Madrid the darling of the Champions Cup?"

"Oh..."

The reporters suddenly understood.

Indeed, this "darling of the Champions Cup" was a title given to Real Madrid for their remarkable achievement of winning the European Cup five times in a row.

However, it had been 32 years since they last held the Champions League trophy, a span so long that many forgot this illustrious nickname. During that time, Real Madrid had only reached the final once, losing that match, and almost all the reporters failed to recall this nickname in the moment.

"This darling of the Champions Cup has been neglected for 32 years..."

One reporter quipped, and laughter erupted in the room.

They saw Aldrich's coaching approach as refreshingly unique. With the big match looming, he wanted to ease the pressure on his players, yet he managed to introduce the topic of the final in a way that brought smiles rather than tension.

"Is it true that Puskas will also be there to watch the match? Is he on Millwall's side or supporting Real Madrid?"

Aldrich typically avoided discussing Puskas in public, as it could seem like he was riding on Puskas's legacy to elevate his influence.

But today, he felt comfortable mentioning it, knowing he had nothing to hide.

"Yes, he will be there, and the club has arranged for him to meet an old friend. They will reunite in Amsterdam after many years, sharing the experience of watching the Champions League final together."

The journalists exchanged glances, realizing that this friend must be quite significant.

"Can you reveal who Puskas's friend is?"

Aldrich smirked and replied, "Can't you guess? Here's a hint: he has a fear of flying."

The reporters instantly perked up, "Di Stefano?!"

Aldrich nodded.

They hadn't expected such iconic legends from the football world to attend the final, especially the legendary duo of Puskas and Di Stefano, known for their remarkable stories and deep friendship.

But then, they furrowed their brows.

"With two legendary Real Madrid stars watching from the stands, wouldn't this affect Millwall's morale? Di Stefano would likely lean toward supporting Real Madrid, and what about Puskas?"

Aldrich shook his head, "I don't know; I haven't asked. I think it doesn't matter. I just hope they can enjoy the match together."

The Fleet Street journalists left satisfied, having gathered plenty of information—from heavyweight news to amusing anecdotes. Regardless of the outcome, they had a delightful appetizer before the Champions League final.