The post-match interview was very solemn. It was not just a hurried interview in the mixed zone. Anfield had a press conference style.
After Aldrich attended, the reporters in the audience immediately took pictures of him, and the flash made people's eyes uncomfortable.
"That's almost it. Gentlemen, I don't want to miss the leaving bus, so if you have anything to ask, please do it as soon as possible."
"Echo" is the mouthpiece media in Merseyside. It is not particularly inclined to Everton or Liverpool. Any new policies or news about the two clubs will be disclosed in "Echo" first, or to test the fans. reaction, or exclusive news.
The reporter from this media was full of hostility towards Aldridge and asked directly: "Why did you do that? Provoke the Anfield fans! Your team won, yes, but you should show some grace, right? ?”
Aldridge blurted out without thinking: "The stadium is a bit noisy. Obviously Liverpool doesn't welcome me, and I don't mind. Just like when they go to London, no one welcomes them. Okay, next question."
The reporter of "Echo" was choked and wanted to continue asking questions, but his colleagues were very embarrassed. They were happy to hear some headlines from Aldrich, which he just did.
Who made me so red now?
Before the season, it was predicted that Millwall would have a difficult start to the Premier League. It was a devilish schedule from the beginning, but three of the five most difficult games have been played. Millwall has two wins and one draw. Among the three traditional giants in England, only Manchester United is at home. A hard earned point from Millwall.
After the interview, Aldridge led the team back to London. That night, he was at the club waiting for the team doctor's diagnostic report.
He received some disturbing news.
Southgate is injured and will be out of the game for 5 to 7 weeks, while Trezeguet has a sprained ankle and will need at least 6 to 8 weeks to recuperate.
With the two main players absent, he began to adjust his lineup. Four days later, in the League Cup, although the match was against a weak team, cup matches are often a breeding ground for upsets. In order to be sure, Aldrich will use the strongest lineup in the cup matches this season, regardless of the opponent. who.
Dean Richards replaced Southgate, and Solskjaer replaced Trezeguet, but one after another, the strength must have declined.
After training on Monday afternoon, Aldridge returned to his apartment to take a shower and change into a neat suit to prepare for the dinner.
It was Halliwell's birthday at the beginning of the month, but the Spice Girls had just debuted at that time and attended some commercial events. She planned to hold a make-up birthday party tonight because they would start working intensively on recording their first album. , so, finally relax.
Aldrich was invited to go, and Melanie sat on the sofa downstairs in his house, playing the Spice Girls' singles on a loop in the house. She listened to it with gusto and felt quite accomplished.
The neatly dressed Aldrich went downstairs. Melanie looked up and down and frowned: "Isn't this too formal?"
Aldrich shrugged and said, "What if? Should I wear something hip-hop? Don't be kidding me. If I get photographed like that, how can I still work?"
Melanie thought for a while and agreed with his statement.
She took Aldrich's arm and walked out. As soon as she opened the door, she saw Andrew standing outside the door, about to knock on the door.
"Hi."
Andrew was stunned for a moment, then raised his hand to say hello.
Aldrich asked: "You have something to do with me?"
Andrew raised the letter in his other hand and said, "It's okay. I'm going home today. I have an international letter from you at home. I'll send it to you. Is it your friend abroad?"
Aldrich took the letter and looked at the mailing address, his expression a little more solemn.
He walked back into the room and opened the letter. The more he read, the uglier his face became.
"What's wrong?"
Melanie was startled, and Aldrich's expression was as if it was the end of the world.
"Andrew, do me a favor. I want to go abroad. Please help me get a visa as soon as possible to go to Hungary."
Aldrich's chest heaved up and down after reading the letter, and Melanie and Andrew even saw tears in his eyes.
He turned to Melanie and said, "Sorry, I can't go to Halliwell's birthday party. Say sorry to her for me."
"Hey, what happened?"
Melanie was infected by Aldrich and also looked anxious.
"I don't have time to explain, I have to pack my luggage."
"Wait, I'll go with you. Your current state makes me very worried, so I'll go with you."
Aldrich looked back at her, hesitated for a few seconds and nodded.
Andrew watched Aldrich run up the stairs and spread his hands to express his helplessness. He took out his phone and started to contact the network in the city.
That night, Aldrich and Melanie boarded British Airways and flew directly to Budapest, the capital of Hungary.
Before leaving, Aldrich called Jenson and told him: If I can't come back before Wednesday, you can direct the game for me.
When the plane disappeared from the sky, Melanie sat next to Aldrich and noticed that Aldrich's right leg was shaking. He was obviously in a state of anxiety. She put her hand on his leg and said softly: "Now
It's useless for you to be anxious. The plane has already taken off and we will arrive in Budapest soon. Can you tell me what happened?"
Aldrich closed his eyes and took a deep breath, put his right hand on the back of her hand, and said in a slightly heavy tone: "Last summer, before I returned to London, I served as a football coach and worked for the Hungarian national team.
There, I met a mentor who taught me the soul of football."
...
Budapest has gradually become the world's largest black market since the disintegration of Eastern Europe. It is filled with black gold of unknown origin and stolen goods traded by criminals. The rich will always send their agents here to buy rare treasures that are impossible to buy on the market.
Aldrich obviously did not come here for shopping. After getting off the plane, he and Melanie got into a taxi and went to a hospital in the capital.
After asking about the ward at the front desk, Aldrich hurried upstairs. In the corridor outside the ward, he saw an old woman with gray hair and plain clothes.
The old woman had a sad look on her face. After hearing the footsteps, she looked up. When she saw it was Aldrich, she immediately stood up and the two hugged each other.
"Elizabeth, how is he?"
Aldrich's voice was full of tremors.
"I don't know. He suddenly fainted at home. Aldrich, thank you for coming. He will be very happy."
At this time, the nurse came out of the ward and said that the patient was awake.
"My child, go and see him. He will definitely be surprised when he sees you."
Aldrich nodded, collected his emotions, and walked into the ward.
Melanie took the initiative to hold the old woman's arm, and the two stood by the door of the ward, watching everything in the room.
Aldrich put a smile on his face. After walking into the ward, he saw an old man with white hair lying quietly on the bed. He opened his eyes and seemed to be adapting to the surrounding environment.
"Huh? Aldrich, why are you here? What's wrong with me?"
He struggled to sit up, but Aldrich hurried over and gently pressed his hand on him, saying: "Hey, hey, what do you want to do? Lie down, you are sick, take a good rest, you are no longer a young man."
, don’t be brave. Just like you told me, on the training ground, I have to listen to you, and in the hospital, you have to listen to the doctor."
The old man sighed and lay down. He asked curiously: "Didn't you go back to England? Are you coaching the team now?"
Aldridge sat down with his butt on the edge of the bed and said with a smile: "Well, I've coached. My team is called Millwall."
"Millwall? Never heard of it."
"Of course it's not as famous as Real Madrid, but maybe it will be in the future."
"Haha, you are so confident, but no team can surpass Real Madrid, no."
"Yeah?"
...
Melanie, who was by the door, whispered: "They have a good relationship."
"Ferenz treats Aldrich as his own child. In the past, Aldrich would always be angry with him, and he would criticize him severely."
"What's wrong with him?"
"The doctor said it was Alzheimer's disease."
Melanie didn't understand, so she didn't ask any more questions.
However, a strange scene occurred in the ward.
In just a blink of an eye, the old man on the hospital bed looked out the window, then turned his head and said to Aldrich, who was sitting beside the bed: "Aldrich, why are you here?"
Aldrich's expression was greatly shaken, he smiled with difficulty and choked with sobs: "I came to see you."
"Has your dream come true? Has a hometown team asked you to coach? Those who don't ask you will regret it."
"I already have a job and coach a small team."
"What's your name? I also know a lot of British football teams."
"Millwall."
"Uh, I haven't heard of it."
...
Melanie by the door was stunned. She looked at the old woman Elizabeth in confusion. The old woman smiled bitterly as if she had seen through the vicissitudes of life and said: "Alzheimer's disease is Alzheimer's disease."
Melanie covered her mouth with one hand and looked at the repeated scene in the ward. Behind Aldrich's smile, the pain of the struggle was heart-wrenching. Tears filled her eyes and she covered her mouth for fear of crying.
Come.
Half an hour later, Aldrich sat on a chair outside the ward. He lowered his head, put his hands on his thighs, and shed tears on the floor.
Just now, he had the same conversation three times with the old man in the ward.
"Aldrich, you and Ferenc have been friends for many years, right?"
With a sad look on her face, Melanie held Aldrich's hand tightly. When she saw the true nature of this man, she no longer felt that he was fragile, but that he was so real.
Aldrich straightened up, raised his head, closed his eyes and choked out: "His name is Ferenc, and his last name is: Puskas!"
ps: Thanks to "Take off your slippers" and "lala, I'm a big piece of wood" for the tips!
