The Rise of Millwal

Chapter 186: The Dilemma of the Arsenal Rebuilder

Who is the biggest star of Millwall?

Even when Aldrich faces the public, he always attributes the team's achievements to the players, yet all the fans who love Millwall believe that the most important person in the team is undoubtedly this young coach.

This perception likely relates to the rebuilding strategy the team began two and a half years ago. Millwall never signed big-name superstars—not that they had the allure—but under Aldrich's careful guidance, the team became a constellation of talent. Players from different countries came together to play a fluid, beautiful style of football.

Aldrich almost every month has to tirelessly decline a series of advertising and commercial contracts.

Luxury goods, fashion brands, high-end cars, watches, and electronics—Aldrich's loyalty to Armani far exceeded the expectations of the companies that sought to partner with him.

In truth, Aldrich simply didn't want to appear excessively in commercial promotions. How could he indulge in such things when his major goal had yet to be achieved?

Even the Armani contract left Aldridge feeling some regret. However, he believed it was necessary for the job and there was nothing wrong with dressing appropriately. However, what followed was persuasion from advertisers: "Brother, you can wear a brand-name watch, our brand of leather shoes, a belt, a tie, or even glasses!"

Aldrich turned down everything. At least for now, he felt he should focus all his attention on the pitch without diverting his players' thoughts elsewhere.

If he started wearing all those branded endorsements, his players might follow suit. In that case, he'd lose any authority to lecture them.

However, he didn't oppose his players taking advertising contracts—as long as they adhered to team discipline, didn't show up late for training, or lack seriousness in practice. If the players earned some off-field revenue through their on-field successes, that was something the club welcomed. For instance, Larsson, Nedved, and Schneider garnered interest from advertisers in their countries, and their commercial influence would partially reflect on Millwall.

Aldrich's popularity overshadowed the players', partly due to his relationship with a pop star girlfriend.

The Spice Girls had taken Europe by storm and were poised to break into the North American market. Wherever they went, they sparked entertainment frenzy. In such a backdrop, any mention of Aldrich during Melani's interviews or performances would catapult both their recognitions. This mutual influence echoed the phenomenon of Victoria and David Beckham, especially after Beckham received a promotion from England's manager Hoddle and became a newly minted England international. Since Victoria and Melanie were in the same group, and both Aldrich and Beckham were in the Premier League, although the four didn't appear together publicly, the subtle connections produced an explosive effect that undeniably boosted their popularity.

Yet Aldrich remained unfazed by things outside football, declining all entertainment interviews. When he appeared at press conferences, he answered any non-football-related questions with silence, resulting in fewer and fewer topics generated by him and Melanie, while stories about Beckham and Victoria began to proliferate.

Compared to Aldrich's rising fortunes, the next game for Millwall was a rescheduled match against Arsenal, whose manager was having a rough time in London.

Previously, due to cup competition commitments, a local derby match for Millwall was postponed, and their opponents were North London neighbors, Arsenal.

The rescheduled match was set for a Wednesday evening, and Aldrich attended the press conference the previous evening. After concluding a training session with the players, he held a pre-match meeting in the hotel's tactical conference room. He arrived on-site still dressed in a blue tracksuit, without changing.

Now, every Millwall press conference sees a packed room, attracting even more attention than Manchester United, at least in the context of the Premier League.

After sitting down and taking a sip of water to clear his throat—having spoken extensively about the upcoming match against Arsenal in the meeting—Aldrich made it clear he valued this particular rescheduled fixture. Unlike other teams whose main tactics remained unchanged with player rotations, Arsenal was the only team whose core structure had not shifted much but whose playing style had undergone a revolutionary transformation. Therefore, he needed his players to recognize that Arsenal was no longer just the "boring Arsenal" of yesteryears.

As the reporters watched with keen interest, one raised their hand to pose a question after Aldrich finished his water.

Steve Howard, a columnist from The Sun known for stirring up eye-catching topics, interjected, "Mr. Hall, what are your thoughts on replays for draws in the FA Cup? Have you considered suggesting reforms to the FA?"

His fellow journalists smiled knowingly at the question.

Aldrich sighed lightly and replied, "If you're here today to mock Arsène Wenger, then this press conference is over. I'm not interested in commenting on the observations of my colleagues; I respect every manager's right to express their opinions, after all."

Steve Howard shrugged, unamused, and didn't press further.

Wenger recently became the center of attention in the Premier League news as he complained about the scheduling and criticized the FA Cup's policy of requiring a replay for drawn matches. This made him the target of criticism, with Ferguson ruthlessly mocking him, suggesting that as an outsider, he had barely settled in before criticizing the traditions here.

The relentless pressure from the media made Wenger acutely aware of how tricky the British press could be. Under such stress, he naturally became more cautious with his words and actions, and this excessive caution ended up annoying those around Fleet Street.

David Miller, a more serious journalist from The Times, was present not for gossip but to gain Aldrich's insights. He raised his hand calmly and asked, "Mr. Hall, I've heard your private relationship with Wenger is good? Didn't you vacation together in France over the summer?"

His wording seemed to create some ambiguity. What did he mean about Aldrich vacationing with Wenger?

Other journalists chuckled at the unintentional humor.

Aldrich nodded, saying, "Yes, I went to France this summer. However, while there, I was introduced to many excellent coaches who work in France through Mr. Wenger. We watched matches together and discussed football. I don't see why you should be grinning at that."

David Miller cast a disapproving glance at some of the tabloid colleagues. He wanted real football news, not sensational gossip. He continued, "In that case, based on what you know of Wenger, could you offer an objective evaluation of him?"

Aldrich rubbed his nose and chuckled, "Evaluation? What right do I have to judge others? He is a senior figure in our profession; it would be impolite for me to comment on him. However, I can share a few facts: ten years ago, Graham took over at Arsenal. During that time, while the club enjoyed a period of success, how did the fans perceive Arsenal? A library. Wenger transformed Arsenal's style within a month: emphasizing European-style, ground-based passing football. He revamped the training and management, renewing the team's spirit. Once stagnant, they now play dynamic and aesthetically pleasing football. Wenger is a coach with a profound football knowledge. Did you know he studied and experimented with football ideology for 25 years and found success in Monaco? I don't think anyone in England is qualified to critique him."

The reporters exchanged glances, sensing something peculiar in Aldrich's words, as if they were experiencing auditory illusions.

David Miller nodded thoughtfully; he seemed satisfied with Aldrich's remarks. However, Richard, sitting at the back as a reporter for the Daily Mail, furrowed his brow and asked, "Mr. Hall, given your high praise for Wenger—you mean admiration, right? That's how I interpret it—have you considered that he is your rival, managing a team called Arsenal, Millwall's derby opponent? You shouldn't be swayed by your personal relationship."

Aldrich remained calm as he stated, "I'm saying this precisely because my judgment is not swayed by personal relationships. Arsenal has started its rebuild and will soon find itself back in the championship race. If my players and I don't recognize Arsenal's potential and developments, we could very well suffer the consequences of taking them lightly. I prefer to be straightforward; I only speak the truth, and every word I've said about Arsenal is made from an objective perspective."

"Championship contenders? This season?" a reporter from The Star interjected.

How far off were Arsenal from Millwall? Nearly a 30-point gap!

Unless Millwall lost all their remaining games, Arsenal had no chance of winning the title.

Aldrich scratched his head and smiled, "This season, Arsenal is certainly out of the title race. Even if Millwall were to relinquish the top spot, neither Manchester United nor Newcastle would agree, and Liverpool definitely won't. However, Arsenal still has the FA Cup to aim for. They are a strong team. Just look at their complete backline and midfield, with key players like Bergkamp and Wright up front, plus Vieira and Pires brought in over the summer and Henri recently joining. Arsenal's squad is well-structured and lays a solid foundation for the future."

"Let's talk about Millwall. With such a significant lead in the league, will the team's focus shift in the coming months? For instance, defending the FA Cup or going for glory in the European Cup Winners' Cup?"

"I think the only thing Millwall lacks is experience. Our squad is very young. Although many players are at their peak age, like Larsson, Nedved, and Southgate, we're still overall quite young. So, putting pressure and responsibility on these players will be heavy. I hope they can set examples for the younger players and help them grow, which is the most important thing. In the coming months, I'll be trying to give more young players opportunities. As for trophies, we'll take it one step at a time. We've just entered the quarterfinals of the European Cup Winners' Cup; before thinking about the final, we first need to defeat the strong Norwegian team, Brann, in two months. As for the FA Cup, of course, we'll do our best, but losing doesn't mean we didn't give our all, because sometimes the cost of losing is that my players gain experience and improve through competitive matches, which is a necessary path in the long-term construction of the club."