Thanks for the reward of "Death of the Thief"! ——

When it was dark when he returned to London, Aldrich returned to his community apartment, parked his car in the garage and walked straight to Evan's house opposite.

There was no light in the living room, there were flickering candles on the table, and she set her elaborate and precise dinner on the table, and when she saw Aldrich coming, she smiled happily: "It's just right, it's just past the time to decorate." ”

As she spoke, she poured out two glasses of mellow red wine from the decanter.

Aldrich pulled out his chair and sat down, suddenly looking a little distracted, obviously thinking about something.

Evan sat across from him, chin propped up and smiling, "Let me guess what you're thinking." ”

Aldrich came back to his senses and raised his glass in greeting, saying, "Thank you." ”

"Are you worried about the team's form? Is it possible to be reversed by Manchester United? ”

Aldridge scoffed, shook his head and said: "Manchester United may indeed be able to play a complete winning record at the end, but if you want Millwall to lose five of the last seven games, this kind of miracle thing for Manchester United can happen?" ”

The league drew again today, the sixth league draw since the second half of the season.

"You're really not worried?"

Evan seems reluctant to let his guess come to naught.

Aldridge raised an eyebrow and said: "I'm actually happy with the situation at the moment, even if I lose points in the next game, maybe I'll laugh when I get home." ”

"Huh? How can it be? This lie is so lame. ”

"It's true."

"Anyone would believe you'd be happy that your team couldn't win?"

"Only now and in the league."

"For what?"

"Because I don't want the team to win the championship before mid-April."

Evan looked puzzled, the man in front of him was always different from what others thought.

Seeing the confusion in her expression, Aldridge smiled and explained: "There is a voice in the outside world that Millwall can make a more glorious history. Criticism was issued to me. They think as long as Millwall play with the strongest squad in all competitions. I don't deny that there is some truth to this statement, but I can't let the team win the title before mid-April, no, fortunately, Manchester United have been playing well lately, if they give up. It's not good. ”

"What's wrong? Was it wrong to defend the title early and shift the focus to the Champions League and FA Cup early? ”

"Theoretically yes, but the league is the main arena after all, and if we defend the title in mid-April or even earlier, it will inevitably relax mentally, and when we need it most, we will be physically fine, but we may not be able to reach the best state of excitement, and I need to maintain a certain sense of urgency and crisis. Something is better than nothing, and something is better than nothing. Let this fighting spirit not be interrupted, there is continuity, think about it, they have worked hard from August to April, and the league successfully defended the title, won't they relax mentally? ”

Yiwen nodded thoughtfully, sounding like he had some point.

"And what the hell were you thinking?"

Aldridge was silent for more than ten seconds and then sighed: "Bert and Earl, they have reached the stage where their cognitive abilities have begun to improve, and I don't want to be strangers in their eyes because I can't always see them. ”

This is the nature of human beings, and it is the instinct of almost all living beings, at the stage of cognitive ability at birth, who is close to them, frequently appears in front of them, and deepens the cognitive impression, there will be a sense of closeness and trust.

After thinking for a moment, Evan said, "Maybe you should talk to Chisholm, she can't be with Bert and Earl all the time, from a child's point of view, at least you don't have a long time to do concerts or publicity abroad like she does." ”

Aldrich was silent for half a minute and then cheered up and said with a smile: "Don't mention this, if you continue to talk, you will waste your carefully prepared dinner." ”

The two toasted and smiled at each other, and then enjoyed dinner

In the last round of the second group stage of the Champions Cup, Aldridge not only sent all substitutes to the Netherlands, but the starting list was criticized by many people.

Lazio has 7 points, Bordeaux 5 and Feyenoord 4.

Feyenoord has been eliminated.

Lazio had a direct meeting with Bordeaux in the last round, with Feyenoord hosting Millwall.

So it's a battle of honour for Feyenoord and their final season in the Champions League, as they look to take on the mighty Millwall once again.

But Millwall didn't cooperate, the other side was out, but Millwall still had to prepare for the ensuing round of 8.

Millwall had just one player over the age of 21 in their starting line-up.

Goalkeeper: Bout.

Defenders: Ferreira, Barzagli, Metzeld, Cole.

Midfielders: Pedreti, Alonso, Joe Cole.

Forwards: Vicente, Villa, Joaquin.

In such a Champions Cup match where the outcome does not matter, Aldridge has trained a little outrageously.

But he just wants to use this kind of big-eyed game to train the young players, stimulate their growth, give them the opportunity to experience it firsthand.

In the pre-game dressing room, Aldridge watched the ten players in high spirits, plus a silent and calm Bout.

These heroic youngsters are full of fighting spirit, and they never dreamed that they would start in a competition of this level!

"I'm a young manager, I like young players, Capdevilla, Elgra, Pirlo, Ronaldinho, Trezeguet and so many of your seniors or players who have played here, who have been the main players of the team when they were about your age and have won honours for the team, time waits for no one, the world waits for no one, I won't ask you if you're ready, even if you don't know the bottom of your heart, you have to lie now. Deceive yourself. Tell yourself countless times in your heart: now. Our time has come! ”

Aldrich's words made the group of young people with slightly young faces hold their heads high, as if they were invisibly expressing their determination.

"However, I won't ask you to do anything other than your ability, but you have to show the level you are training with, stay calm on the pitch, apply what the coaches have taught you to the game, and show your best self as much as possible. I'm going to rate you at half-time, the three worst guys, I'm going to take them off at half-time, now, go. ”

Aldrich was the first to leave the locker room.

Of the 11 people in the starter, Bout will definitely not be replaced, and the remaining 10 people have a raging fire in their hearts, whether they show themselves or not, they don't want to be replaced. This is very effective for their mental stimulation.

The Dutch triumvirate are known for their youth training, so from time to time you can see a youth army emerging in Europe.

Today. Aldrich arrived at Feyenoord with his youth army.

The Netherlands is the home of Millwall, having won two European titles, but the fans of the big three are not fond of Millwall, and only neutral fans will welcome them.

When Millwall's youth team walked into the pitch, the home fans erupted in boos.

In their opinion, it is a humiliation for the other party to send this lineup.

I didn't even have the idea of competing with Feyenoord, it was purely "entertainment" with Feyenoord.

Feyenoord will want to repay the fans with a win at home, and even if they leave this glorious stage, they will leave with their heads held high!

Therefore, Feyenoord attacked at home, which is in line with the tradition of Dutch football, and it is unimaginable for a Dutch team not to attack.

Millwall's youth army is not yet capable of competing with the seasoned Feyenoord, but they are bridging the gap in other ways.

Under the influence of many years of tacit understanding of playing together, the overall team football concept instilled, the extremely high tactical literacy and discipline cultivated, and other factors, although Millwall has been passively beaten since the opening, the youth army is orderly on the field, and the formation has not been disrupted because of passivity, and the mentality has become agitated.

Attack, defeat, attack, defeat, again and again, Millwall's lads filled Aldrich's eyes with appreciation.

Because he saw the tenacity of this group of young players, the mentality remained stable and kept trying, and there was no sign of collapse in the face of continuous failure.

Pedretti and Alonso defended the middle in front of the penalty area, and occasionally showed embarrassment, but a good sense of complementing and tacit understanding can always save the day.

It wasn't until the 37th minute of the game that Joaquin played a one-two with Joe Cole after three failed breakaways in a row, and finally showed his power on the wing, he dribbled down the ball and pretended to cross, then cut inside the opposing full-back, and when Villa was targeted, he passed back to the top of the penalty area, where Vicente appeared.

When the Feyenoord defender rushed up, Vicente relied on nimble footwork to break through into the penalty area and volley directly into the goal from a 45-degree angle.

The goalkeeper blocked the ball, but Villa followed up with a follow-up shot and sent it into the back of the net.

After the goal, Villa ran wildly around the sidelines, and except for Bout, who raised his fists in front of the goal to cheer for Villa's goal, the other young players rushed to Villa.

This goal is a great encouragement for them, because they are no longer hiding under the wings of the mainstays of teams such as Nedved and Southgate.

Their 10 young players, through tireless efforts, stubborn defence and successive setbacks, tirelessly pursued victory, and now, they are at least standing in front of the winning goal, which is a goal that can make them feel self-assured, and it belongs to them at a young age.

Aldridge lied to them and didn't make any substitutions at half-time, which had nothing to do with the scoreline, and it was an outright lie to say that the substitutions were made before the game.

In the second half, Feyenoord finally equalized after a long attack.

When the score became 1:1, Aldridge sat in the coach's seat and was still indifferent, but he silently said in his heart: Resist, resist, let me see more!

What kind of team makes people look forward to it?

This is the case with Aldridge's youth, who are still in disarray after being equalised, patiently waiting for the opportunity to deliver the fatal blow to their opponents, and will not squander any precious opportunity easily.

In the 69th minute, Joe Cole received the ball back from Villa in front of the penalty area and fired a long-range shot to put the score back in the lead.

This time, Aldridge burst out of the dugout and jumped up, throwing punches in the air in celebration.

The energetic lads have given him hope, a future for Millwall, a reward for his efforts, and in a game where victory doesn't matter, he thinks he has gained more so far than too many.

More than just military training, its significance is by no means so superficial. (To be continued......)