The Rise of Millwal

Chapter 259: Milestone Moment

Millwall's away victory by a staggering seven goals left Stamford Bridge buzzing with tension. Chelsea's disastrous performance in the first half had completely broken them apart, and internal locker room issues flared up, putting Gullit's position as head coach in jeopardy. Fleet Street revealed an exclusive report stating that Bates had instructed Vialli to co-manage with Gullit.

To Aldrich, this was another terribly misguided decision.

However, if Chelsea wanted to rise, it wasn't just about enhancing their strength; they also needed to build their reputation. Gullit's coaching level, when assessed objectively, was quite poor, but his star power from his playing days lent a certain aura to his role as head coach. This brought a level of visibility to Chelsea far greater than some more capable but less famous coaches could provide.

Millwall's success in the league helped rebuild the players' confidence. Before facing what would be the club's first-ever Champions League match, they quickly adjusted their mindset.

At the UEFA press conference the day before the match, Aldrich didn't carry the excitement over from the seven-goal thrashing of Chelsea but instead spoke earnestly to reporters, stressing the significance of the upcoming game and the need to avoid complacency.

"League matches and Champions League matches are two entirely different stages," he said. "In our first game, we're up against last season's champions from Eredivisie. There's no doubt this is a test. We're unfamiliar with our opponents, so if the players think they can just approach this Champions League match with a normal mindset and expect an easy win, that'd be a dangerous attitude. Especially since the qualification situation in our group is extremely tough; lose one match and you could find yourself in a precarious position, setting the stage for elimination."

"Will Millwall fight for first place in the group?"

"That question is foolish. We are the reigning Premier League champions, representing England. We're not here just to make up the numbers; of course, our goal is to advance from the group. Given the rules for qualification, we'll take every match seriously, aiming to secure the top spot in our group—there's no way we'll gamble on being the second-best team in a weaker group."

"Does Millwall believe it can win overwhelmingly against Barcelona in their two group matches?"

"There are also Dynamo Kyiv and PSV Eindhoven in our group. Barcelona is just one of our opponents. We'll treat every match with the same level of importance. We can't afford to underestimate any team because each is formidable in its own right. They've proven themselves in their respective leagues, and Millwall won't focus on, or disregard, any opponent based solely on outside perceptions."

"That's just your view; maybe the players have a different opinion."

"I have confidence in my players. Most of them are debuting in the Champions League, and they'll approach each match seriously, striving to reach the knockout stage. I don't believe any player in the Millwall squad thinks they can easily beat their opponents."

True to form, Aldrich remained low-key before the match. He never indulged in grand statements, knowing that such a display would be unwise. Even if the ultimate result was a guaranteed victory, it would only cultivate an image of arrogance. If they lost, the scrutiny from the public and club would turn harshly on him. On the other hand, maintaining a low profile before the match meant that regardless of the outcome, the coach wouldn't face as much pressure afterward. If they won, there'd be praise; if they lost, he could justify criticizing the players for their lack of performance.

The match was scheduled for the evening, and before the players went out to warm up, Aldrich addressed them in the locker room.

The players changed into their new jerseys and cleats, sitting in silence as they focused on Aldrich.

To be honest, they missed Aldrich a little; he hadn't been in the locker room during the last two league matches, which had felt off. Benítez liked to drum up tactical discipline before matches, which the players found hard to take.

It wasn't that Benítez's approach was right or wrong; he simply had a vastly different style than Aldrich. The players were just relieved that Benítez was only the assistant coach, managing the team temporarily.

So when Benítez spoke at length about tactics, most of the players weren't too keen to listen. They had already organized their game plan the day before, and while a day had passed, they were used to refining the training tactics within that time. By the time the match rolled around, they were ready.

Aldrich looked around at the team and said softly, "This is our first Champions League match, and it's also the first time in our club's history. You'll experience the passion of our fans and feel the excitement building in your hearts before the match, but I want to emphasize one thing: don't get overly excited. Most of you just returned from international duty a week ago and played a league match last weekend. Today is going to test your stamina. I'm not asking you to run your hearts out, but rather to play smart. Adjust your pace according to the game flow; we cannot maintain high intensity for ninety minutes. Even if you do manage it, you'll need an even longer recovery afterward, which would be detrimental for our upcoming matches. We want to win, but so does our opponent, and we need to use that to our advantage."

The players exchanged glances. Aldrich had never mentioned the Champions League during training before this match, and they had been criticized for discussing it during their training once the group stage results were in. Clearly, Aldrich didn't want them distracted by the Champions League.

"Boss, I have a question. We want to win, and they want to win too; how do we use that to our advantage?" Butt asked curiously.

Aldrich responded with calm confidence, "In our group, Barcelona is the clear favorite to advance, followed by us, then PSV Eindhoven, with Dynamo Kyiv last. However, we've never played in the Champions League before. Despite winning the Cup Winners' Cup last season, our reputation and influence haven't grown enough. The champions from Eredivisie are also eager to qualify, so they'll need to take down us and Dynamo Kyiv while at least getting a draw or a win against Barcelona. You might agree that Dynamo Kyiv feels the same way; both teams will be looking to get the upper hand on us. We need to eliminate the weaker teams in our group, and the real battle will be against Barcelona. While I don't think this line of thinking is wrong, it does create a psychological miscalculation. I believe PSV Eindhoven and Dynamo Kyiv will come at us with a winning mindset. We must seize that and play defensively first, then attack, to control our fate. You guys know how I plan tactically, and you should have an idea of where I'm headed with this."

The players exchanged knowing smiles.

Twenty minutes before the match began, Aldrich stepped out of the locker room and made his way to the bench.

Walking through the tunnel at Wembley, he was suddenly struck by the electric atmosphere.

The stands were packed, and The Lions' fans had come in droves to fill Wembley Stadium that day.

The members of the Lions created an impressive display on one side of the stands, showcasing their unwavering support.

In the stands, fans had painted a lion representing Millwall's crest in blue, accompanied by a message below.

"Millwall, let's make us proud!"

There are no limits in football, and the enthusiasm that fans have for their team knows no bounds.

The success of Millwall FC directly impacted the lives of every Lion fan, instilling a sense of confidence and joy in local supporters in London. Even for international fans who couldn't be there in person, watching Millwall play on TV, especially during thrilling wins, stirred their emotions and filled them with excitement.

On the main stand side, a large banner showcasing a giant portrait was held up, passing over the sea of fans.

The focus of the massive portrait depicted Aldrich instructing from the sidelines.

He looked every bit like a general issuing commands, with his right hand pointing sharply, standing tall and serious.

The stands were filled with dense signage, with various slogans cheering for the team and players. Many posters featured pictures of star players demonstrating their flair.

Before anyone knew it, songs began to rise as The Lions' anthem enveloped Wembley, resonating long and loud.

PSV Eindhoven, from the coach to the players, was left astounded by the atmosphere of the stadium.

This is Britain's greatest stadium, a place that spreads a fan culture often imitated around the world.

As The Lions made their mark in Europe, many fans from different countries began adopting their slogans.

"No one likes us; we don't care!"

When teams from other countries face relegation or feel wronged, fan groups often raise similar slogans.

It's a spirit of resilience and unwavering determination.

Aldrich extended his hand to shake with PSV head coach Dick Advocaat; they exchanged a few courteous words before parting ways.

Returning to his position, Aldrich stood with his hands in his pockets, contemplating the match.

PSV had two star players—Kokcu in midfield and the winger Lammers. Kokcu was the brain of their midfield, while Lammers was a vital piece of their attack.

But more importantly, they had an excellent coach.

Advocaat was trained under the tactical wisdom of the Dutch master, Michels, and had formed his own football philosophy. Besides leading the Netherlands national team to elimination by Brazil in the World Cup three years before, he had also led PSV to victory in the Eredivisie last season, which demonstrated his coaching ability.

Standing tall, Aldrich scrutinized the players from both teams as they took to the field. He was eager to see if PSV could embody the essence of Dutch total football today.

The pre-match ceremonies were still happening, with the starting players for Millwall looking serious and ready. Live cameras panned over their faces, capturing this milestone moment.

This wasn't just Millwall's first foray into the Champions League.

It was also the Champions League debut for this group of players!

They held immense respect for their opponents and looked forward to the match.

"The first round of Group C in the 1997-98 UEFA Champions League is about to begin, here at Wembley Stadium in London, where last season's Premier League champions, Millwall, are the home team. It's worth noting that Wembley isn't their home ground, as their own stadium, The Den, doesn't meet UEFA's standards for Champions League matches, so Millwall is borrowing Wembley for their home games. While the media speculates that Millwall's home advantage may be affected by the venue, just look at the atmosphere in the stands today. Without a doubt, the Millwall fans have created a much more formidable home environment in this stadium that holds over eighty thousand people!"

From an economic perspective, hosting UEFA Champions League matches at Wembley allowed Millwall to sell over seventy thousand tickets, with prices considerably higher than league matches. Playing at Wembley guaranteed greater earnings; furthermore, the FA had increased rental fees, demanding a five-percentage point rise in ticket revenue compared to the previous year. Aldrich didn't want to haggle over this, so he directly agreed to Weissman's proposal.

After all, Weissman was keen to silence dissenting voices internally and wanted Millwall to use Wembley unimpeded; it was reasonable to be flexible on the financials.

"This year is definitely different from last year. During last season's Cup Winners' Cup, Millwall was able to play at The Den without needing to borrow Wembley. However, for this year's Champions League, if they can't borrow Wembley and are unable to find a suitable venue that meets UEFA standards, it's doubtful whether Millwall will be able to participate. It's not surprising that the FA would try to cash in on this situation, but they can't be too greedy; if Millwall rejects the offer and ends up unable to attend the Champions League, it would result in a scandal that would tarnish English football. Even if they allowed a third-placed team to compete for the title, it is unlikely that UEFA and Millwall would agree to that arrangement."

Wouldn't it be nice to give everyone a little financial benefit and then everyone continues to be harmonious?