That night after the game, Aldridge invited Schneider to dinner at home.
When Schneider arrived, Aldrich had just taken the steak out of the oven, poured the sauce on it and opened another bottle of red wine. He smiled at Schneider and said, "Please, I'm not very good at cooking. My mother
She will do better, and I will invite you to try her craftsmanship next time you have the opportunity."
Schneider sat down at the dining table. This was not the first time he met with Aldridge alone. During training, Aldridge would occasionally bring players to the office to chat about their current situation, especially when they first came to the team.
, Aldrich would always ask them from time to time how they were adapting to life in London.
"It feels pretty good, boss. I heard that you cook great Chinese food?"
"Huh? Who said that?"
"Saw it in the newspaper."
"Oh, that's okay. Besides steak, I also like Chinese food."
Aldrich knew that the gossip tabloid had learned this information through an interview with Melanie, but he didn't care, it was harmless.
The dinner was very pleasant. After all, the two of them were similar in age. Schneider was more than two years older than Aldrich. They could chat like friends, talking about popular music, recent movies, and new releases in bookstores.
What good books are there?
Schneider knew that Aldrich's invitation to have dinner with him was definitely more than just a chat, but he didn't ask and waited for Aldrich to reveal the mystery.
After dinner, Aldrich went to wash the dishes, and Schneider also took the initiative to help. The two men quickly cleared the dishes, and then Aldrich made a pot of calming tea, and Schneider sat on the sofa holding a teacup.
Very relaxing.
Aldridge went upstairs to get a tactical book. After coming downstairs, he sat on the single sofa and smiled at Schneider: "Bernd, you should be able to guess that I will talk to you about football next."
It’s something, and it’s related to your career.”
Schneider nodded, took a sip of tea and waited for the rest.
Aldridge continued: "To be honest, Bernd, you have talent and are willing to work hard. You are the coach's favorite player because you always obey instead of stubbornly asking why. I hope you understand that today
I want our conversations to be open and honest with each other, not my orders to you."
"Boss, do you want to sell me away?"
Schneider raised Aldrich's tone too solemnly, as if he was about to say something hurtful to him next.
Aldrich was stunned for a second, shook his head and said: "Of course not. Take a look at this first."
Schneider took the tactical book handed by Aldrich and looked down at it carefully.
It was a tactical diagram, a 433 formation, and there was a 4231 on the next page. The player positions were marked symmetrically and reasonably, and the offensive and defensive movements were also marked with lines.
The dotted line represents defense and the solid line represents offense.
Schneider's attention was drawn to the position he was playing.
In 433, he is a winger, and in 4231, he can be regarded as a full midfielder.
However, the offensive movements between the two are similar. The solid arrows are aimed at the front of the enemy's penalty area, and the defense must also pull back to the bottom line until in front of the full-back.
"This is just a basic diagram of offensive and defensive movements. Bernd, can you understand the abilities you need to have in your current position in the future?"
Aldrich's question made Schneider hesitate. He frowned and said, "Boss, you want me to get closer to the penalty area?"
Aldridge said frankly: "In Millwall's future tactical system, wingers or full midfielders must have strong scoring capabilities, and they will no longer just provide assists to the forwards, but you can also see the forwards' movements.
, you must have the ability to support, Millwall does not need a pure shooter in the future, the forward must not only be able to score goals, but also have the ability to assist, and the winger cuts inside to receive the threat from the direct pass and the diagonal pass, you should understand."
Schneider couldn't refute that there was someone around him who did a great job, and that person was Robert Pires.
"Boss, if you think I need to improve my shooting skills in the penalty area, I will work hard."
Schneider put down his tactical book and said solemnly.
Aldridge shook his head and said: "I don't plan to let you practice shooting into the penalty area in sports battles. To be honest, no player is truly omnipotent. Your passing and passing skills on the wing are all first-class.
, coupled with excellent team awareness, you practice inserting shots into the penalty area? I think that will ruin you. Do you still remember Hans Briggel, the full-back who was once hailed by Germany as a model for future players? "
Schneider thought about it for a long time and felt that the name was very familiar. He racked his brains to remember it and said: "Oh, the former main player of West Germany's national team."
Aldrich said solemnly: "He is a decathlete, but what about his achievements? In the two World Cups in 1982 and 1986, in the games he was on the field, he had to lose at least six goals conceded by the West German team.
The responsibility of the four balls. I have said many times that the characteristics of future players will be diversified, but it will not be balanced.
For all-round development, there is a limit to the player's load. You have to develop the most outstanding and effective characteristics based on your position. My colleagues on the coaching staff and I held a meeting to discuss your development prospects. To be honest, we don't think you
He will develop into the type of player we need as a winger in the future."
Schneider's face turned pale when he heard the last sentence, and he felt like the world was spinning, as if the end of the world was about to come.
Aldrich saw his expression and immediately said: "Listen to me, Bernd, I admire and trust you very much. You are a model player in the team. I want to keep you with the club until you retire."
Management contracts tie your players, but I have to respect you,
And to imagine for you, if you are unwilling to cooperate with the team's future tactical system, then I can only recommend you to go to the club that best suits your characteristics, so that you can achieve the best achievements in your career, rather than
The team changed from the main player to the substitute due to tactical reasons."
Schneider said with some excitement: "Boss, just tell me what you want me to do? No matter what it is, I will cooperate!"
Aldrich pointed to the playbook and said, "Look at the offensive and defensive requirements of the right back."
Schneider quickly picked up the tactical book, looked at it carefully, and his eyes were fixed on the right back position.
Needless to say, there is no need to say anything about dotted line defense. The full-back is originally a member of the last row of the defense, and the solid line representing the offense points directly from the bottom line to the opponent's bottom line.
Schneider understood somewhat. He looked up and asked: "Boss, do you want me to play full-back instead?"
Aldrich nodded solemnly and said sincerely: "The entire coaching staff has given you full marks for your defensive attitude and your enthusiasm for returning to defense. Among the frontcourt players, you and Pavel are the best. They can run from the wing back to the penalty area.
Yes, I can always see you, but I may not always see Robert and Bernd. This season, our tactics have changed.
You should be fully aware of the changes. Last season, our full-backs did not assist and only participated in support in the second half. But this season, full-back assists have begun to become an important part of the tactics. This is why when Lilian
After the assist comes, you have to slant into the penalty area to complete the support or score, but your shortcomings are exposed."
Schneider scratched his head, Aldrich was right.
In Millwall's full-back assists this season, the left wing is always more successful than the right wing. The reason is very simple. Neil or Gianluca Zambrotta assists from the left wing, Pires is good at cutting inside, and Shi
Ned is on the right, but he and Thuram can't produce a sharp effect on the left.
"Bernd, I respect you, so in my future plan, if you are willing, you will be the main right back. Defense depends half on ability and half on consciousness. Team awareness is especially critical. You only need to strengthen your defensive skills."
Train, and then combine your strengths and specialties to play on the back side
In the defender position, there is a lot of space in front of you, which is very suitable for you to go forward to assist, dribble the ball on the wing or pass the ball. This is what you are best at now, and you also have the physical ability to go straight up and down. To be honest, in the future
In football, good forwards can be bought with money, but good full-backs have a price but no market."
Aldrich spoke earnestly.
Schneider asked in confusion: "What about Lilian? Shall I play on the left?"
Thuram is Millwall's main full-back and is unbeatable.
When Aldrich heard this, he let out a long sigh. He was really opening his heart to Schneider.
"Lillian, Millwall can't keep him. Don't you think he is very quiet in the dressing room? Sometimes he feels that he has a lot of things on his mind but is unwilling to share them with us, like a person outside the team? His professionalism is
Top-notch, but for the past year and a half, I have been hoping that he can show some signs to give me confidence that Millwall can rely on him in the future. However, he has no sense of belonging here. I believe you can also see it.
."
Schneider remained silent with a somewhat disappointed expression.
As teammates, it was difficult for them to get along with Thuram, and after the East London Derby, they obviously defeated West Ham United in the away game, but Thuram just packed his bags calmly and talked to the team without saying a word.
Got on the bus and went back.
Everyone knew he was angry.
Because of the game at Upton Park, some fans in the stands insulted black players on the field with racially discriminatory words and deeds.
Makelele was very angry. After the game, Aldrich also condemned the behavior of the opposing fans for the team. This was included in the report against West Ham United. However, the measures taken by the Football Association were to calm the matter.
What else can Derich do?
This kind of thing is common in this era, especially when black players go to Elland Road as guests and will be wantonly humiliated by Leeds United fans.
Even Manchester United players will be treated like this, let alone Millwall?
Furthermore, looking at Europe, where is it completely clean? Where are the fans completely equal and do not distinguish between black and white in the eyes of others?
No.
And this is not an issue of racial discrimination at all!
Just because of the color of the jersey, West Ham United hates Millwall, so they use this method.
Historically, the Football Association has punished players or fans for racial discrimination, but is it really a stance of racial discrimination? Not at all. For example, more than ten years later, the relationship between Suarez and Evra was racial discrimination? If so,
Suarez is a racist, can he get along with black teammates at Liverpool?
This kind of thing is nothing more than using racial discrimination as a means to attack. In essence, it is using different skin colors to cover up the hatred of the color of the jersey!
Makelele expressed anger, which is a good sign.
And Thuram's calmness made Aldridge feel disappointed, because Thuram seemed to have a transparent barrier between him and Millwall.
He came here to work and do his best work, and that was enough. He might not mind the rest, or he might not have expectations, because he knew this was not his destination.
"The club has four and a half years left on Lilian's contract, but in my opinion, we can only keep him for two and a half years at most. Bernd, I said, I respect you, if you feel that your future is not in Mir
Wall, I don’t want to change my current position on the court. I won’t have any negative opinions about you, and I will help you find a club that suits you best so that you can play your characteristics in your most ideal position.
, and I am convinced that you can do a good job, and the main position will not be a problem."
Aldridge spoke candidly to Schneider.
Players must serve the club's tactical system. If they cannot, Aldridge will not accommodate the players, but there is no need to forcefully keep the players. In addition to being generals and apprentices, they are also friends in life. For the sake of each other's future, let
If the opponent feels happy playing football, Aldrich will fulfill his promise and find him a club that suits him best, even if the transfer fee is lower.
Schneider smiled, stood up and smiled at Aldrich: "Boss, thank you for your hospitality. I will see you at the training ground tomorrow. It seems that I should apprentice to Lilian and Claude."
Aldrich closed his eyes, smiled, and stood up to see him off.
Schneider's words have shown his determination. Thuram is now the full-back in the team, and Makelele was also a full-back. The defensive skills of the two are obvious to all.
After sending Schneider away and closing the door, Aldrich put away the tactical notebook on the coffee table. He couldn't help but smile on his face until he took a bath in the bathroom.
He made a firm decision in his heart.
As long as Schneider doesn't want to leave, Millwall will never abandon him!
Is this kind of player something that money can buy?!
