The Rise of Millwal

Chapter 91: The Two Major Enemies in a Player's Career

"Through the wind and the rain, your dreams may be shattered, but move forward with the hope in your heart, you will never walk alone, you will never walk alone..."

Despite the notorious reputation of football hooligans in England, it's undeniable that fans from all over the world emulate English supporters. Here, actions speak louder than words, showcasing loyalty in its purest form. Even amidst the decline of English football, there are fans who live and die with their teams.

At Anfield, the stands were awash with a sea of red as fans waved Liverpool scarves above their heads, singing loudly together the anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone."

In Aldrich's previous life, he had watched Liverpool matches on television. The Chinese commentator referred to this song as "You'll Never Walk Alone," and while the meanings were similar, the essence felt vastly different. "You will never walk alone" implies constant companionship, while "you won't be lonely on the road" comes off as somewhat lacking. This led him to believe that the commentator was quite poor in his craft.

As he stepped out of the players' tunnel, he did not head toward the away team's bench but instead positioned himself along the sideline parallel to the center of the pitch. That spot was designated for the fourth official, but he claimed it first, standing with his hands on his hips and a serious expression on his face, as if trying to imprint every fan cheering with scarves in his memory.

"Where's the camera? Damn it, where's the camera? Focus on him! He's on the field! Fuck, Rudd, if you don't get the camera on Hall in ten seconds, you won't have a job tomorrow!"

In the live broadcast studio, the Sky Sports director erupted in anger. He had a clear view of Aldrich's entrance from the box, but the camera had yet to catch up.

Commentators Andy Gray and Martin Tyler were still preparing, yet they were captivated by Aldrich's presence on the screen, observing him from multiple angles.

"Martin, what's he doing?"

"I guess he's soaking in the atmosphere."

"Maybe, but this isn't Old Trafford; this is Anfield. Let's hope he's not rattled. Here, there aren't any female fans blowing him kisses; only fierce rival fans."

"I doubt it. It's probably his first time here; this is a match worth remembering."

"What kind of performance do you think Millwall will put on today? I mean, what's their goal? A draw, or a win? It's not like they're here to hand over three points."

"Of course it's a win. Aldrich needs that to inspire his players. Otherwise, with so many young lads in the team, why would they listen to him? Being so young, his only offer is victory, and that's what will make the players wholeheartedly follow him!"

...

Melanie and her family were also in the stands, raising their scarves and singing along with the crowd. When the song ended, applause rang out, echoing through the stadium.

Melanie's younger brother laughed, pointing at Aldrich on the sideline, "Sis, your boyfriend looks dumbstruck!"

Melanie smiled with her lips pursed and said, "He needs to experience the power of Liverpool! He must be terrified! Ha-ha."

The Kop exploded with fervent cheers, while on the other side, the traveling Millwall fans clustered together, clapping and chanting their team's name. Even though this was a mismatch in energy, both sides remained vocal—the battle in the stands was relentless.

Aldrich surveyed Anfield, took a deep breath, closed his eyes for a few seconds, and then opened them again, revealing a smile.

Anfield, I've finally made it here!

Not as a spectator, but as a coach here to fight!

A great stadium, a magnificent stage, a haven for great matches!

With respect for the forebears, Aldrich made his way toward the away team's bench.

In the past, when Wimbledon visited here, every player would spit on the "This is Anfield" sign in a show of disdain. Aldrich found that behavior extremely distasteful.

Football may be ruthless, but it has its limits.

He would inspire his players to fight with honor, making them understand that achieving victory here is a matter of pride, not deceitfully belittling this sacred ground. Doing so would only cheapen any victory they might attain.

Moreover, the sign's creator was none other than the great figure in Liverpool's history: Bill Shankly.

Perhaps many neutral fans know this name due to his famous quote: "Football is not a matter of life and death; it's more important than that."

This is a serious mistake. Bill Shankly never said that. What he actually said during an interview was: "Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you that it is much more important than that."

In reality, with the context of the interview, Shankly was simply emphasizing a positive attitude toward victory, not a cold disregard for life that has been twisted through the ages.

Bill Shankly created the spirit of the Reds; his philosophy of winning embodied nobility. He employed various psychological tactics, such as personally waiting at the bus for the visiting team at Anfield and warmly welcoming them, thereby putting mental pressure on his opponents. However, his principles were clear and unwavering—he would not tolerate any dirty practices on the pitch. Consequently, one of the managers he despised most was the creator of the great Inter team, Helenio Herrera.

Shankly established the tradition within the Liverpool dressing room, forming a team of champions, simple, passionate, strong, straightforward, yet laced with a touch of romanticism.

Throughout his learning process, Aldrich held deep respect for Shankly. He even believed that if he could go back to the 1960s, he would find himself in a dilemma: to be swayed by the Busby Babes or fall under the charm of Shankly himself, fully embracing his identity as a British football fan. It would have been impossible to like both Manchester United and Liverpool simultaneously.

The entrance of both teams snapped Aldrich out of his reverie. He looked at the Liverpool players taking the field and felt a tinge of envy, for many among them were exceptionally talented.

The 22-year-old Jamie Redknapp was already more popular than Manchester United's Paul Scholes, having just been called up to the England national team.

At 23 years old, Steve McManaman, if it weren't for injuries, why should England lament that Giggs is Welsh?

Robbie Fowler, Liverpool's "God," the teenage prodigy, had pushed Ian Rush to the bench.

Goalkeeper David James might not yet be world-class, but it was certain he would become England's starting keeper.

What saddens Aldrich was that among Liverpool's ranks, there was a product of Millwall's youth academy, left-back Neil Ruddock. This player, who appeared somewhat overweight, had entered Millwall's youth system at 15 and was poached at 18, having gained fame too quickly. A few years ago, he briefly returned to Millwall to serve for a year and was still at a young age.

Aldrich quickly shifted his gaze. The fortune of others is a double-edged sword—there's no end to envy. He felt a bit of regret; Liverpool, as one of England's traditional powerhouses, had become a stereotype of stubbornness. Even West Ham from East London began adopting modern sports medicine to ensure player health, while Liverpool remained doubtful and resistant to advanced medical practices. How many hopes had that destroyed?

The players on the field now, such as Jamie Redknapp, Robbie Fowler, and Rob Jones, who retired at a young age, do not mean that once a player is injured, it must be because the club did not properly handle the injury.However, subsequent generations of players have mentioned the poor level of Liverpool's medical team. Even Redknapp trained and played with a fracture for a long time due to misdiagnosis, leaving a minor injury that could have been treated with surgery. It evolved into a comminuted fracture. These all reflect the negative consequences of Liverpool's stubborn tradition.

Moreover, another fatal factor preventing Liverpool from returning to the top is that under Shankly, the Reds were known for their strict discipline, much like Ferguson's teams during that era. When Lee Sharpe fell from grace, Ferguson could not save him, so he sold him off to avoid negative influence on other players. However, this group of talents at Liverpool earned the nickname "The Spice Boys," which stems from their off-field lifestyle.

In a player's career, there are two major enemies: injuries and a lack of self-discipline. Liverpool has not handled either well, so there's no need to complain about why the team consistently produces talent but is unable to win the top league title.

Hence, Aldrich's team-building philosophy was to avoid these two obstacles: an advanced medical department, strict internal discipline, and three captains who lived by a code off the field—even if one of them was Materazzi, the tough guy on the field, he was a gentleman off it.

The players took their positions, ready for kickoff.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the third round of the English Premier League! We're live from Anfield for a thrilling match between the Reds, Liverpool, and the visiting Millwall. While Millwall might not come to mind as a strong team, they're showcasing impressive fighting spirit in their first season in the Premier League. They managed to draw a heart-stopping 5-5 against Manchester United in their first away match, and last round defeated derby rivals Arsenal with ease, demonstrating their formidable strength."

"Before the season, many pundits considered Millwall a relegation candidate and were concerned about their adaptation to the Premier League. However, Aldrich's side has silenced all doubters with just two matches; Millwall is unquestionably strong. It's Liverpool that raises some concerns—they only scraped through the first round against a weaker Sheffield Wednesday, and in the second round, they lost to Leeds United. Can they pull off a win at Anfield today? After ninety minutes of play, let's hope for no unexpected outcome."

"Now let's introduce the starting lineups. Millwall's starting squad remains unchanged from the previous two matches... Liverpool's starting lineup is: goalkeeper David James; defenders Rob Jones, Mark Wright, John Scales, Neil Ruddock; midfielders Jason McAteer, John Barnes, Jamie Redknapp, Steve McManaman; forwards Robbie Fowler, Stan Collymore. The 32-year-old veteran Wright may be a target for Millwall's attacks; in the first match against Manchester United, Bruce was repeatedly caught out by Millwall's offensive play. Collymore, signed from Nottingham Forest in the summer, hasn't hit his stride yet. Last season he scored 24 goals for Nottingham Forest, but at Liverpool, he and Fowler haven't found chemistry. On the other hand, Millwall's frontline looks promising, with Larson scoring four goals across two matches, undoubtedly a contender for the Premier League Golden Boot. Manchester United's ￡7 million bid couldn't lure him away. If Larson can deliver standout statistics this season, his market value will only rise. A bit off-topic, but Fowler has kicked off the match, folks! The game is on—let's enjoy this clash of red and blue!"