The Rise of Millwal

Chapter 192: The Boss Through the Players' Eyes

After Aldrich's team interview wrapped up, the energetic Yvonne jumped into action, interviewing players during training breaks over the next few days. This invigorated the team's atmosphere. Unlike pre-match press conferences or post-match interviews, where players rarely opened up to external media, they now felt more comfortable. After getting used to the Fleet Street style, most players believed that any question from outside media was often malicious and could twist their words into unnecessary trouble.

For instance, if a player was asked about salary issues, no matter how they responded, it would be interpreted as dissatisfaction, leading to transfer rumors in the market.

After a loss or a draw, player comments would become the center of attention, which made players more cautious. Typically, they spoke in a formulaic manner, repeating a few standard phrases and attitudes.

However, Yvonne's interviews clearly stood from the club's standpoint, and players were eager to share their thoughts through these conversations—be it gratitude or ambition for the future. Only by truly considering themselves part of the team could they express their feelings.

Soutgate, as the captain, naturally took the first seat in front of the camera.

When Yvonne asked him about his choice to join Millwall, Soutgate candidly replied, "Honestly, I never thought of joining Millwall. I won't pretend it was a childhood dream of mine. In the summer of '94, I was a key player at Crystal Palace, and everyone knows the rivalry with Millwall. What I actually dreamed of was making it to the Premier League and fighting alongside Crystal Palace. However, the boss made me a top offer. Looking back, it doesn't seem like much now, but at the time, it was a significant amount. Crystal Palace agreed to that offer without discussing it with me, which made me feel abandoned. In that situation, I realized I couldn't stay at Crystal Palace. Then, the boss personally came to convince me to join Millwall—in that moment, I thought he was just a cocky guy talking big, and my rational side told me not to get swept up in his enthusiasm. Yet, he persuaded me. What moved me was a sort of irrational passion, which is what's especially needed in football and hard to put into words. This passion is essential for many successful teams, just like Manchester United, the old Liverpool, and Ajax over the past three years. Football is a unique field. Whether you're a player or a coach, if you treat it just like a job, it's tough to find success. That element of passion is one of the indispensable qualities for success, and the boss embodies that quality, deeply inspiring me."

Yvonne nodded with a smile—Aldrich indeed had that element; he made Millwall's football feel alive and wild, with players showcasing the spirit that the public admires.

"So after being here for two and a half years, what are your thoughts on life at Millwall now? What are your plans for the future?" Yvonne asked.

Soutgate smiled at the question, saying, "Since I arrived here, I've felt a rapid improvement—I made it to the England national team, and the boss appointed me captain, which instilled a strong sense of responsibility in me. That matters a lot. I'm part of a very united and competitive team, and that keeps us dreaming of great achievements. I have to admit, if I were in a mid-table team, it would be hard to maintain focus throughout the season. Sure, you could get enough league points, but the players might slack off mentally. But here? Not at all. From the first match of the season to the last, we approach every match with a winning mentality, hoping to lift trophies at the season's end—one, two, or more. Over the past two years, we've kept improving, and with so many excellent teammates, I'm motivated to keep pushing myself. Otherwise, I wouldn't be worthy of this great team. Last summer, I became a scapegoat for England; at that time, I just wanted to hide. But the boss showed up right away. He went beyond my expectations to support me, reinvigorating my belief that I could rise again after a fall. It was a tough time, but it became one of my most valuable experiences. Now I face every challenge with composure and help my teammates through tough times, fulfilling my duties as captain. As for the future? I want to stay here as long as I can—the fans, my teammates, and the boss are the three main reasons I've never thought of leaving. Millwall will win its first league title this year. Although the league isn't over, I believe we won't give our opponents any chances. We'll give our all and play each match to win, and then, next season, we'll compete in the Champions League. That's the stage I dream of, and it's what the team aspires to. We can't wait to take on Europe's best!"

Hearing his bold words, Yvonne nodded affirmatively. There were many insights reflected in players' comments, including the team's aspirations.

"You said the reason you want to stay at Millwall includes Coach Aldrich. Besides him bringing you here and cultivating you, are there other reasons?" Yvonne asked.

Soutgate chuckled, "There are countless reasons; I can't list them all right now. Maturity—he seems young, but his approach is entirely out of line with his age. It's hard to see him ever getting flustered. When we win, he'll praise us with restraint; when we lose, he makes sure we forget the shadow and pressure of defeat. One phrase he often says is: 'Everything remains the same.' I think that's why we firmly believe we can succeed. When we win, everything remains the same; we continue to push for victory. When we lose, we don't dwell on the past; we focus our energy on the next match. The belief in pursuing victory won't waver."

...

In her subsequent interviews with other players, Yvonne found that most expressed gratitude for Aldrich's guidance and offered their interpretations of Millwall's culture. This was especially true for the foreign players, who were captivated by the fans' passion here.

When asked about Aldrich, players had varied reactions.

Nedved said, "The boss is an excellent coach with immense patience; he never yells at players without reason, even when the team loses. He coolly analyzes what went wrong. If he scolds a player, there's definitely a reason for it. Our coaches use a reliable statistical system. After every match, the first-team coaches score each player's performance, which isn't a rigid standard. For instance, against teams we are better than, the expectations are higher; they might think you should score an 8 or 9. But against stronger teams, if you perform well enough for a 6, the coaches will be satisfied. If you score 7 or 8, you'll get praise. However, if you only get a 6 against weaker teams, the boss will criticize you, and there's really no arguing against that. The boss's diligence and intelligence are what impress and motivate me to keep serving him. His professional attitude subtly encourages us to keep moving forward; that's crucial."

Larsson added, "Incredible! Yes, he redefined my role and ability on the pitch. I used to think of myself as merely a poacher, but here, I have more freedom. I can do so much more. Each season, I keep improving, and our performances have been awesome. As a forward, I've combined beautifully with my teammates to score many goals, many of which are timeless classics that we enjoy watching on replay. I see outsiders talking about how easily Millwall scores, but I think that's shallow. I don't believe other coaches could create such a varied and rich attack for a team. Why am I amazed? Because he's only twenty!"

Trezeguet expressed his gratitude towards Aldrich during his interview, singing his praises.

"He's an unparalleled coach; he will undoubtedly become one of the greatest in history. Yes, that's how I feel! Let others scoff at me for being na?ve, but I believe that given time, the boss will transform into a legend in coaching. Playing under him gives me pressure, but it's also joyful because I don't feel lost. When some teammates arrive and seek my advice, I tell them: If you don't know what to do, just go talk to the boss. Don't think about anything else; just do what he tells you, and you'll find your value. I don't mean to suggest the boss is unreasonable; on the contrary, he prefers to reason with me, sometimes to the point of irritation. There was a time he said to me, 'David, I need you to provide help to your teammates on the front line.' I started working hard on defense, but the boss still wasn't satisfied. Then he said, 'You also need to assist your teammates in the attack.' I didn't understand why because as a forward, my job is to score goals. Yet the boss explained many tactical principles to me. Honestly, I didn't grasp it at first, but after following his instructions in several games, I started to understand. Now, I'm able to set screens for my teammates while also surpassing my previous goals from last year. The boss happily tells me why and how the threat from my attacking partners gives me more space. I tell him: Just tell me what to do, and I'll do it; that's enough."

Through a series of interviews, Yvonne realized she had overlooked many qualities in Aldrich; after all, each player's perspective is unique. For instance, Makelele expressed his gratitude towards Aldrich more from a sense of being appreciated.

He believed his defensive role was key to the team's success; Aldrich tirelessly recommended him for the national team, which deeply moved Makelele. Recently, signs also indicated that the French national team was calling him up. He felt he was a vital figure in Millwall, which instilled a strong sense of ownership in him.

Schneider, Phillips, and other players expressed heartfelt gratitude for recognition; the former thought he was bound for the German regional league in the summer of '94, while the latter was discarded by an English Premier League youth academy, left to languish at a low-level amateur club.

The other staff members in the team, when interviewed, expressed optimism for the club's bright prospects. As witnesses to Millwall's rise, they were motivated every day to help transform this formerly insignificant club into a giant.

The video recording of the team interviews hadn't yet been released on the official channel, but it was expected that Millwall TV would officially launch this summer. The written record had already sparked wide interest upon its official release.

This directly led to the server crashing in the first week of the official website going live...