The Millwall players regretted it. They should have followed Aldridge's advice and not read the next day's newspaper, or even turn on the TV. Even if it was turned on, they should not watch football news or programs.
One day ago, predictions about Millwall's prospects of winning the Triple Crown were overwhelming. A day later, the entire Millwall team was criticized to pieces.
Overall, this team is not mature and stable enough.
Individual players were also pulled out and criticized one by one.
Pires dribbling error: too independent and selfish.
Nedved didn't score a goal: he doesn't deserve to be a spiritual leader.
Larsson and Trezeguet didn't have many chances: their performance was abnormal, with no highlights except a penalty kick and a goal in open play.
Schneider: In addition to passing the ball, you can't have a beautiful shot?
The young Spaniard Herguera on the back line was even more bombarded: both counterattack goals conceded were related to him. Although he is more of a complete central defender than Southgate, Southgate's maturity is
He can't compare!
Keller has also become the target of media bombardment. The outside world has always felt that Millwall's goalkeeper is a weakness, because you cannot expect him to perform at a higher level. He will definitely concede the goals that should be conceded, and those that should not be conceded.
When he conceded a ball, he would occasionally miss a few goals.
Needless to say, head coach Aldrich was naturally ridiculed and ridiculed by all parties. Like a drowned dog, every passing spectator would pick up a stick and hit him on the head.
Players will naturally feel resentful after seeing the news, and no matter how rational a person is, they cannot maintain a psychological balance.
Aldrich was the most open-minded, this was just the way Fleet Street was done, nothing to make a fuss about.
British entertainment media naturally has their own secrets of success.
To put it bluntly, it is flattery and suppression.
If you are popular, I will flatter you, make you feel elated, and let the outside world focus on you.
If you are evil, I will step on you and make you miserable and make the outside world even less sympathetic to you.
No one can make mistakes without being a sage. Fleet Street is well aware of this, so it has no scruples. Behind the hype, countless reporters and editors showed a sinister sneer: You will fail sooner or later anyway!
No player will be perfect, there will be times when performance is abnormal, and there will be times when the team encounters a Waterloo battle. This is all news. And Fleet Street is trying to make this ordinary football rule into explosive headlines with impact.
Fair, objective and normal? Go away.
Football is also a part of the entertainment and cultural industry. It is not something that newcomers can adapt to quickly in the UK.
Aldridge gave the main players a holiday, and it lasted for a week. It was equivalent to the last two rounds of the league, and the main players would not play. After they recovered from the fatigue in April, they would go all out to attack the last game of the season and enter Wenzhou.
Bully points to FA Cup.
In the last league game at the end of April, Aldridge held a regular pre-match press conference before heading off.
There are also many reporters here today. In the past two days, the outside media has been like a scourge. The reporters all want to see if Aldrich will give them some news.
For example, making a mistake, or revealing some inside information about the locker room.
What disappointed Fleet Street was that after the draw with Leeds United, the Millwall dressing room was surprisingly calm.
Even when the players were interviewed, they just said in an official tone: Our performance was not good enough, Leeds United played very well, congratulations to them for successfully avoiding relegation.
After the draw with Millwall, combined with the results of other games, Leeds United has firmly landed.
This result makes Manchester United laugh, because this round, it is their turn to face Leeds United. Although the two teams have a grudge, Leeds United will obviously relax mentally.
"In recent days, many of the main players have not been seen on Millwall's training ground. I heard that you gave them a day off. So which players will you send to the guest game at St. James Park tomorrow? Theoretically,
Millwall still has hope of winning the title."
Faced with this question, Aldrich stared at Daily Mail reporter Richard.
The other party is also an old friend. He has followed and reported on Millwall since last season and has never missed a press conference.
In the past two days, the "Daily Mail" even made fun of Millwall. But none of the articles were written by Richard. Precisely because he is familiar with Millwall and Aldridge, there is no need to make the relationship tense.
While breaking the news, he also has a tendency.
Anyway, anyone can do the job of adding insult to injury, Richard doesn't have to do it himself, and besides, he wants to continue to hear the news from Aldrich.
Aldrich was silent for a moment.
Is there still hope for winning the championship?
have.
Millwall has won both games.
Newcastle United has at least one loss and one draw, which means they cannot beat Tottenham at home in the final game.
Manchester United has scored a maximum of 4 points in two games, and Manchester United plays Leeds United at home and the final game away from Middlesbrough.
An expert analyzed Millwall's probability of winning the championship. I don't know how he analyzed it. In short, he gave a relatively pitiful result: 2.78%.
Pretty accurate.
Aldridge said lightly: "Since the first round of the league, Millwall has never been in the leading position, so we don't have a strong psychological gap. I have said countless times that we are a young team.
, we focus on every game, the growth and improvement of the players is the most important task,
Regardless of the outcome of the season, I am satisfied with the team's performance. Also, let me reiterate, from the beginning to the end, it was you who were shouting that Millwall would win the championship. Now, it is you who are pretending that the situation is not good for Millwall to win the championship.
It’s a pity. My team and I just want to play every game well, that’s all.”
"In tomorrow's away game against Newcastle United, is your plan to train young players?"
"My plan is for the players to go to St James' Park and have a good game and show their quality, that's the goal."
Nistelroi, Shevchenko. Do you also need the substitute list?"
"That's enough. That's enough. Well, with all due respect, who is Capdevila, Van Nistelrooy?"
The reporters in the audience were a little confused. They couldn't remember who these two people were for a moment, and they had no impression in their minds.
Aldrich shrugged and said: "Capdevila is the full-back we introduced from Spain last summer. In the past season, he adapted to the team and integrated into our tactical system. I decided to give him a chance to perform tomorrow.
, Ruud van Nistelrooy came to the team the year before last and he didn’t play many games. But recently his performance is getting better and better, I think
He has the ability to become a regular player in the first team to enrich the forward strength, and tomorrow is also an opportunity for him to perform. Let me make it clear that I only included these two young players after confirming that their ability and mentality are enough to compete in the Premier League.
"Starting list, please don't presume that my formation is fake, that is a lack of respect for Millwall."
Aldridge's formation was not a whim or a temporary decision. It was originally according to his plan. Both Capdevila and Ruud van Nistelrooy were supposed to enter the rotation list in early April, but this plan was "crazy" by the team.
blocked by the situation.
For young players, it is impossible to buy them today and directly enter the starting lineup tomorrow, such as Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Capdevila, Mills, etc. Aldrich gave them a season.
To integrate into Millwall, because Millwall's tactical system is completely different from the mainstream 442 in England. To adapt to the football philosophy here, it requires a series of processes such as learning, understanding, adaptation, training, etc.
The youth team and reserve team are a necessary process for them to go through before entering the first team, not to mention they are not very old.
After the press conference, Aldridge returned to the office to sort out the documents and reports given to him by various departments of the club, and planned to go home and rest. He will lead the team to Newcastle tomorrow.
His cell phone rang.
After answering, a voice with a Scottish accent came, with a somewhat dissatisfied tone.
"Aldridge, what are you doing? Have you given up tomorrow's game?"
In addition to focusing on his own team, Ferguson is more concerned about the trends of Newcastle United. In the standings, Manchester United is 3 points behind Newcastle United. Ferguson has pinned his hopes on Millwall's away game against Newcastle United.
.
But Aldridge announced the starting list one day in advance. Obviously, Millwall did not come up with the strongest lineup, and there was no one in the main eleven!
"I think it has nothing to do with you how I arrange the starting players!"
Aldridge's harsh tone made Ferguson silent for a moment.
"You can watch Keegan win the championship? He has never looked down on Millwall."
"Inciting the generals? It doesn't work for me! My main players need to rest. If they are sent on the field, my injury list will definitely increase. Alex, if you respect me, don't ask me how to direct the team.
You have crossed the line! Tomorrow, when Millwall loses to Newcastle United, it is not because I want to give Keegan a championship. If Millwall defeats Newcastle United, it is not because I sacrifice my life to help Manchester United win the championship!"
There was silence on the other end of the phone for a long time.
"I apologize to you for what I just said. Aldrich, can you give me an answer to the deal we discussed earlier?"
"Nedvěd has no interest in moving to Manchester United, and I won't sell him no matter how much you ask. Stam and I have reached an agreement. If Millwall does not win the league title this season, then Stam will return.
Stay for one season. If you ask for the price next summer, I will talk to him again. If he regrets and wants to stay,
Next, I can only say sorry. Solskjaer can leave, but please give Manchester United a decent offer. You said that he went to Manchester United to play the main team. He played as a substitute at Millwall this season, but he is better than Manchester United.
The main striker Cole has scored more goals. If you want to reach a deal as soon as possible, let's be more relaxed."
"What's your psychological price point?"
"Can you negotiate? My psychological price? I told you directly. Is that still called a psychological price? Without further ado, it's 8 million pounds."
"What a joke!"
"A joke? How many goals has Cole, who you bought for 6 million, scored this season? There are only two rounds left in the league, and he has scored 11 goals. Bergkamp cost Arsenal 7.5 million, and he has scored 11 goals so far this season.
How many goals did he score? 10. My Solskjaer scored 12 goals in the league as a substitute, and he also scored 4 goals as a substitute in the cup. Do you think I’m kidding?”
"One price, 5 million."
"Then we can't reach an agreement. Selling away a forward who can score close to 20 goals a season for 5 million? Haha."
"Six million, it can't be higher."
"If you don't want 7 million, let's just say goodbye. We will still be friends when we meet in the future, but don't mention this deal again."
"make a deal!"
As he hung up the phone, Aldridge could hear Ferguson gritting his teeth.
