Cup or league games played in mid-week will be played in the evening because fans have to work during the day.
When Aldridge arrived at the Grimsby Club, it was already dark and the brightly lit Blundell Park stadium was abuzz with noise.
Aldridge could feel the fanatical atmosphere inside the stadium both outside and outside the club.
This is not a good sign!
For the home team's fans to be so enthusiastic, it's obvious that the home team's performance is good.
Aldridge didn't have a ticket, so naturally he couldn't enter directly from the stadium entrance. He came to the club entrance and struggled with the doorman for a long time.
"I am the manager of Millwall Club. I came late. Now, I want to go in!"
"Sir, can you show me your identification?"
The doorman was a new young guy who probably didn't watch the news and didn't know Aldrich.
"Hey Jerry, let him come in, he is indeed the manager of Millwall, he was here last season."
Some members of the club staff recognized Aldridge, but their attitude was not very welcoming. After all, in League One last season, Millwall defeated Greensby with three goals on the road.
Aldridge was released, and the staff member who offered to help said calmly: "Mr. Hall, I'm afraid Millwall will not go back happily today."
Aldridge didn't bother to pay attention to him, because he had been here last season, so he had some impressions. He walked straight to the players' tunnel and looked directly at the scoreboard on the court from the exit.
2:0
International practice is that the home team goes first and the visiting team goes last.
The time shows the first half, 44:12, 44:13...
what the hell?
Millwall two goals down?
Aldridge glanced at the players on the court and counted them first. There were 22 players in total. Grimsby did not have 12 players, and Millwall did not reduce their players. Besides, except for Solskjaer and Richards, Millwall
In addition, they are all the main players, so why are they lagging behind?
He looked towards the visiting team's coaching bench. Jenson was standing on the sidelines with his arms folded and his brows furrowed. He didn't look panicked, but he looked helpless and helpless.
After the buzzer sounded at the end of the first half, Aldridge disappeared.
When the players from both teams came off the field, Grimsby's players seemed very happy, while Millwall's players were dejected, as if they had lost their souls.
They always felt that there was something wrong with today's game, and they felt that something was missing in the game.
When the players entered the locker room, Jenson walked at the back. He was thinking about how to adjust the midfield, tactics? The tactics were no problem. Millwall mainly attacked and Grimsby defended the counterattack. Most of the first half
, Millwall has been suppressing their opponents, what happened? What caused the team to fall behind by two goals?
He wanted to copy Aldridge's method of passionately inspiring players, but he had used it before the game, and the effect was not good. The players looked at him indifferently, more like an audience watching an actor perform.
Just when he was at a loss what to do, he heard someone calling him.
"Jenson, Janson!"
Jenson looked around and was surprised to see Aldrich waving to him at the corner of the corridor, looking as sneaky as a thief.
Jensen walked quickly and said urgently: "Since you are here, hurry up and enter the locker room. The situation is not good now!"
Aldrich called him in front of him, and the two of them walked around the corner. Aldrich took out a cigarette, and the two of them lit one respectively. He blew out the smoke and asked softly: "Tell me about the first half."
"We had the advantage in the first half, and Grimsby fought hard on the defensive counterattack. They first took the lead through a corner kick, and then we got a penalty kick in the penalty area. Larsson bounced the penalty kick on the goal post.
After we came out, we kept suppressing the opponent, but the opponent broke through our defense through a counterattack. Many of the current English League One teams are imitating our last season. They defended hard against strong teams and left a gap in front.
Two fast horses, when counterattacking, they will pass the ball long and engage in individual combat."
"That's not to follow us, it's just a trend. Our counterattack is to advance quickly as a whole, not to rely on individual abilities."
"Oh, it's already this time, so don't make irrelevant comments. What should we do now? We're two goals behind."
Aldrich raised his wrist to look at his watch. After he finished smoking a cigarette, he straightened his somewhat messy suit and then walked towards the dressing room with a calm expression.
The atmosphere in the locker room was a bit depressing. Everyone didn't speak. After cleaning their jerseys and shoes, they sat in their seats with their eyes closed. No one seemed to care about why Jensen didn't come into the locker room.
The captain on the field today is Nedved. He rarely speaks in the locker room. He uses practical actions to motivate his teammates on the field, but when it comes to verbal mobilization, he is much quieter. This is why Aldrich
Will hand over the first captain's position to Southgate.
The door to the locker room was pushed open, but the players were still hanging their heads.
"Hey, long time no see. I have some personal matters to deal with in the past two days, so I am not in the team. I apologize to everyone for this."
When Aldridge spoke, the players all looked up at him, all with incredible expressions, staring straight at him, and their dim eyes gradually glowed.
Aldrich ignored their expressions, folded his arms and continued: "I was in the stands in the first half. I watched the game. You guys performed well, but I think maybe you are tired. After all, four days ago
We just played an away game against Liverpool, and we have to challenge the defending champions Blackburn Rovers on the weekend. Let’s put it this way, I will let you rest on the weekend, but it seems that you already want to end the game early. It’s okay, I can understand.
This is just a League Cup game, don’t take it to heart, if you lose, you lose.”
The players stared at Aldridge blankly, confused by his words.
The leader surrendered on his own initiative?
And also persuade them to surrender?
Aldridge shrugged and said: "I just went to the referee specifically. I wanted him to be accommodating and let Millwall directly replace 11 people on the field in the second half. Of course, we don't have enough substitutes. It doesn't matter. Plus the coach
The number of people in the team is enough. But the referee does not agree, so I have to consider replacing three of you. Is there anyone who takes the initiative to apply for a rest in the second half?"
There was silence in the locker room.
The whole team of players became extremely nervous.
Aldrich scratched his head helplessly, said a few words and left.
"Well, since none of you have taken the initiative to apply, let me make the decision. I need time to think about it. After I make the decision in the stands, Jenson will replace three of you. Don't worry, this is not for someone.
Who, I'm satisfied with your performance, but the opponent is Grimsby, and you can't be interested or excited, right?"
Aldridge opened the locker room door and walked out.
The players looked at each other and swallowed nervously. Everyone knew that Aldridge was actually angry.
In the current Millwall, even in the main lineup, more than half of the players were unknown before, but Aldridge gave them the opportunity and paid them high salaries, allowing them to now enter the public eye in England. In their eyes, Aldridge
Qi is definitely an important mentor-level character.
From time to time, his praise or criticism has directly affected the players' mood and mentality changes.
It's just that he is not directing the game, and the players feel a completely different psychological feeling on the court.
Now that Aldridge is back and showing up, the players are completely at ease.
In the second half, after the players all took the field, Aldridge appeared at the exit of the tunnel. He leaned against the tunnel wall and watched the game with a leisurely look.
The camera caught his appearance and immediately focused on him, and the commentators began to tease Aldridge.
What Aldrich didn't expect was that there were fans of his among the Greensby Stadium staff. A slightly fat young man walked up to him and said slightly excitedly: "You are Mr. Hall, right? Can you give it to me?"
An autograph? You are amazing. You became the head coach when you were less than 20 years old, and you did such a good job. I watched all the games between Millwall and Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool. It was so exciting. This
It was the best game I have ever seen, Millwall..."
He talked endlessly, and Aldrich listened patiently to him as he poured out his admiration. Finally, he signed an autograph for him, took a picture, and asked him to help him pour a glass of water. From the moment he got off the plane to
During the several hours' journey here, he didn't drink any water and his mouth was dry.
While he was drinking water from a cup, Blundell Park fell into a brief silence.
Aldridge looked up towards the court. Solskjaer was holding the ball and running towards the center circle. He had just scored.
"Hey, Millwall is great, they really scored a goal."
The staff member was still with Aldridge, and he seemed to be more excited than Aldridge when he saw Millwall score.
It is not difficult to understand that people who work in football clubs may not necessarily be fans of this club. Liverpool has loyal employees who have been Everton fans for more than 20 years.
In the second half, Millwall's style of play did not change. The tactics were still the same as in the first half, but they were obviously more dominant. Grimsby retreated across the board, but the players' personal abilities were limited and they could not prevent Millwall's indiscriminate attack.
fry.
Only 20 minutes into the second half, Millwall equalized the score. Schneider's free kick hit the defender and bounced into the goal. There was some luck, but luck is also part of strength.
With almost everyone retreating to half-court defense, Grimsby still suffered a heavy blow in the 87th minute of the game.
Stam scored with a header from a corner kick, and Millwall reversed Greensby 3:2. No more, no less, just one more goal than the opponent.
Aldrich lied, he didn't replace anyone.
After the game, Jenson looked thoughtfully at Aldridge who had turned and walked towards the locker room at the exit of the player tunnel, and smiled bitterly in his heart: You always say that the spirit of the team's fighting spirit is Nedvěd, but you are the one who makes this team.
