After the game, none of the players in the locker room went to wash and change clothes. Even the injured Pires and Trezeguet were sitting in front of the closet, their heads lowered in despair. The atmosphere was so oppressive that it was impossible to breathe.
Everyone knows that they failed to win this game and they have said goodbye to the league championship.
They are 5 points behind Newcastle United, but there are only two rounds left in the league. Even if they win the next game against Newcastle United, it seems to be of little significance. It will just extend the death sentence to the last round.
The players were so frustrated that they had no reaction when Aldridge walked into the locker room.
Aldridge's expression was also extremely sad. He walked around the locker room, then stood in the center and said in a serious tone: "I'm sorry, I betrayed your trust. The ambition of the league championship went to my head, and I
You should be allowed to rest more to maintain your condition, and you should also be allowed to be more
It's all my fault that I have to face the game more rationally. All the wins have made me arrogant. No opponent can win easily. I should realize this. Your performance this season deserves to be in the league.
Champion, but I can’t deliver the trophy into your hands.”
Aldrich's words were heartbreaking and his self-blame was palpable.
As soon as he finished speaking, all the players in the locker room looked up at him with somewhat shocked expressions.
After falling off the championship train, the players finally came to their senses.
They stared at Aldrich, with complex lights flashing in their eyes.
Guilt, apology, sadness...
Naturally, the rotation strategy that Aldridge has implemented since the beginning of the season comes to mind, but since the end of March, the team has no rotation.
Is it because the coach doesn't want to rotate or because the players don't want to be rotated?
They know it better than anyone else.
When Newcastle United's performance began to decline in the second half of the league, and the gap in the standings continued to narrow, the players' ambitions for the championship naturally ignited in their hearts.
If they want to win the championship, they naturally have to use the strongest lineup in every game. Many players even asked Aldridge to continue playing in the past month when they were resting at the training ground.
Aldrich agreed to them all.
However, they overestimated their health and had to take care of both the cup and the league. In April with a dense schedule, they finally showed their fatigue after reaching the limit in the eighth game.
In this game, they themselves could clearly feel that they wanted to fight, but they couldn't exert much effort. Running and sprinting were obviously difficult. Many players were already out of breath before the first half was finished.
At this moment, countless clips seemed to flash before their eyes. Aldridge occasionally looked worried on the sidelines of the training field, and Aldridge's dry-mouthed emphasis on calmness and steady performance in every game preparation meeting was heard in their ears.
....
Who failed whom?
The young marshal, who had always seen things clearly, took all the responsibility on his own head.
He is like a father who dotes on his child. When the child is disobedient and wants to indulge, the father does not choose to be harsh and harsh, but uses a tolerant heart to let the child go crazy. When the child hits a wall and breaks his head and bleeds, the father
Still not blaming him for anything, he started to bandage the child's wounds.
Aldrich could choose to roar hysterically at them, but that would only arouse the child's rebellious heart and create an irreparable rift between the two.
Tears shone in Schneider's eyes. He stood up and walked to Aldrich, saying softly: "Boss, I'm sorry."
It was their willfulness that cost them the championship, not Aldridge's ego.
Is he conceited?
Maybe, but he never showed that he took every game seriously and never changed his standards because of the strength of his opponent.
Aldrich raised a smile and said: "Bernd, there is no need to apologize to me..."
"Boss. I'm sorry."
"sorry."
...
The players stood up and gathered around Aldrich, each bowing his head and admitting his mistake.
Even though some of them are not highly educated, they still understand the warmth and warmth of human nature at the very least.
If Aldrich really yells at you every day to fight for me and win back the championship, they will naturally be dissatisfied now that the championship has almost been declared a failure.
After all, someone has to bear the responsibility.
However, that is not Aldridge's style. He usually boosts morale after setting the tone of the game, rather than expecting players to kill everyone with their enthusiasm.
But in the past month, all the players on the team have gone "crazy". Aldridge's "sobriety" seems fragile and weak.
For example, Aldridge could get angry at Beckham last year. It was definitely not because of Beckham's "outsider" status, but because other teammates were executing the coach's tactical arrangements, and Beckham's disobedience not only angered Aldridge.
, and also offended the public.
But in the recent period, the players have collectively "rebelled". No one will accept Aldridge's scolding. They are winning, and this reason is enough to refute.
In today's game, if they had listened to Aldridge's pre-game arrangements from the beginning, they would not have guaranteed victory, but they would never have ended up with a penalty kick to equalize the score before the end.
After falling from the clouds into the abyss, the players will take a serious look at themselves, and at the same time feel warm and grateful for Aldridge's tolerance.
Aldridge smiled and patted the players on the shoulders one by one and said: "Don't blame yourself, I don't blame you. This is the first time I have experienced such a situation. I lack some experience, but I will learn lessons. This will make the world better."
We will be stronger in the future, won't we? What you have to do now is to forget about the game, go back and have a good rest, and we will be better tomorrow.
Instead of reading the newspaper, go shopping with your family, go to a movie with your girlfriend, or go to a restaurant to enjoy a meal. I can recommend a few good restaurants to you. Okay, I still have interviews to deal with, you all
Keep your head up, remember, you are tenacious warriors, you will not be defeated, keep your head high, everything will be business as usual!"
After Aldridge finished speaking, he turned around and walked out of the locker room.
The players cheered up, showered, ate, teammates sat together and chatted, Schneider played a soothing pop song, and the locker room quickly regained its vitality.
There is no need to worry about the game, but after this month's crazy winning streak came to an abrupt end today, they all understood one fact: obeying the head coach's command is the most important thing.
Meanwhile, Aldrich was being interviewed in the mixed zone and was bombarded with questions from BBC reporters.
"After unexpectedly losing two points at home today, is Millwall's league over? I mean you will definitely get a ticket to Europe. In the last two games, even if you beat Newcastle United, you will still be there.
2 points behind them.”
Aldridge looked calm and said: "If the result of this game is an accident, then it is disrespectful to Leeds United. Although they are fighting to avoid relegation at this time. But their strength is very strong. Four years ago
They are still the league champions, but their performance this season has not been ideal. Millwall has won six of the past seven games. I think the team has played very well. The league is not over, whether we can win the championship or not. Today
It’s not the end, otherwise, can the mid-level teams take a holiday directly?”
"How would you rate Millwall's performance today?"
"The players were very tired, but they persevered, especially in the face of adversity and finally equalized the score. This is a rare quality on the court, and it is their tenacious fighting spirit that plays a role."
"Why don't you give the players a break?"
Aldridge was silent for a moment. Then he said: "When you may win the league championship, of course you want to put all the strongest players on the field, but I made a mistake. I should have let the players rest, I think.
, This is the lesson I should learn. No matter what, there are still two rounds of the league. Moreover, there is still an FA Cup final waiting for us. Next, we will not make any mistakes again."
...
It is dangerous for a head coach to publicly admit his mistakes because it will trigger external insults and internal doubts.
But Aldridge took all the responsibility on himself, not to gain sympathy from the players, but to protect the players and prevent them from being criticized by the outside world. If Aldridge stays silent at this time or puts all the blame on the players,
Tell the truth: it is the players who insist on playing!
Then it will definitely lead to catastrophic consequences.
The player will become the target of public criticism, and his control over the team will also be exposed. At that time, internal and external troubles will cause the team to collapse.
In the evening, Aldrich returned home, took off his suit and loosened his tie, sat alone on the sofa, staring at the ceiling blankly.
Benitez went to watch Arsenal's game today and will probably not come back until very late.
Aldridge doesn't know how long Bayou will stay here, and he doesn't have time to think about why the other party doesn't go to Spain to find out which Spanish second division team he should take over next season.
While he was lost in thought alone, the doorbell rang.
Aldrich went to open the door tiredly and found that the visitor was Nagy, who was carrying two dozen beers in his left and right hands.
After coming to the living room and sitting down, Naji took the initiative to open the beer and pass it to Aldrich.
"Isn't it difficult during this period? Do you feel aggrieved? You have to force a smile outside, defend players who have obviously made mistakes, and watch the hope of the championship slip through your fingers. Aldrich, in fact, you are
The one who suffers the most, but you still have to comfort the players."
After taking a sip of wine and lighting a cigarette, Aldrich smiled slightly bitterly.
"It seems pretentious to say it. In this world, how can everything go as planned?"
What happens in a season is so complex that it is difficult to summarize it in a simple way.
Aldridge wants the championship, but he needs a balance. If there is no harvest this season, he will not be able to retain players. In order to win the cup championship, the league is indeed not doing its best, but this is also to allow more young players to grow up quickly.
, Otherwise, even if we win the league championship with the main lineup, what about next season? It will still be a rough situation. Once the main lineup has a crippling change, not to mention player transfers, but just injuries, the record will be ruined.
Rapid decline.
The head coach's vision cannot be short-sighted and fixed on one season. However, at the end of March, when Aldridge realized that Millwall had the hope of winning the league championship, he naturally started planning. Rotation was necessary because of the intensive schedule and the mentality of the players.
Stability is also necessary in order to function normally, but when the latter took the initiative, Aldrich found that there was no possibility of implementing his plan.
It was lucky to have reached the penultimate round before the championship hopes were dashed.
Millwall's sprint limit is already at the end of its tether at Stamford Bridge.
Aldridge's concession was because his plan might not lead to a reliable league championship. In order to prevent himself from appearing to be incompatible with his players, he had no choice but to compromise.
Are you feeling pain in your heart?
So what?
Who to complain to?
What’s the point?
Aldridge picked up the beer and touched the bottle in Najib's hand, and said with a smile: "We won't talk about football today, let's have a drink."
The two drank bottle after bottle, not trying to drown their sorrows by drinking. They chatted about interesting things from the past, made fun of each other's childish and ridiculous behaviors, and talked about the strange things that happened around them, feeling nostalgic about the past and feeling sad about their mentors.
