The Young Lion

August 18, 1995.

Manchester, the former factory of the world, became busy after noon, and the streets were crowded with people. If you look down from the air, you can see the direction of the crowds. It is a modern stadium.

Theater of Dreams: Old Trafford!

A bus with a blue lion printed on its body slowly drove towards Old Trafford. There is no doubt that it was the bus that Millwall took after arriving in Manchester.

Starting from the new season, Aldridge has signed a contract with the car rental company. For away games outside London in the UK, the buses of Aldridge's team must bear the Millwall team logo, telling everyone in a high-profile manner: Millwall is coming!

Sparing no effort in publicity is a must for the club to increase its popularity, and car rental companies are also willing to provide such services. As long as it is a game around Greater Manchester, they will undertake a big client like Millwall, not to mention using this to communicate with fan groups. It can also be online, and it can also enhance the company's brand.

After more than 20 days of summer training, Aldridge’s team is ready to go and has made all the preparations for the new season. The players have gradually entered the game state from the leisurely state of the holiday. Before the start of the season, Millwall played Five warm-up matches, all against English football opponents, three of the four teams relegated from the Premier League last year, plus the two League One teams that failed to be promoted last year, all were away games, Millwall warmed up In the pre-season tour of the Premier League, the major media analysis and predictions, Millwall's poor pre-season warm-up performance may make their relegation prospects very pessimistic.

If they can't adapt to the Premier League faster, then when they can gain a foothold in the Premier League, they may have been left far behind by their relegation opponents.

Aldridge did not have any requirements for the warm-up match. The warm-up is to allow the players to adjust their physical condition, not to fight for victory.

In each of the five warm-up matches, he rotated the whole team in the first and second halves, so the poor results are understandable.

When the bus drove to the periphery of Old Trafford, Aldridge, like everyone else in the bus, involuntarily cast his gaze out of the window, staring at the magnificent modern stadium not far away.

There are huge crowds of people outside the stadium, and fans wearing Red Devils jerseys can be seen everywhere. They take pictures, talk and laugh, eat, drink, and play... They don’t care who the opponent is today. The lazy enjoyment revealed invisibly is from the bottom of their hearts. pride and fearlessness of any opponent.

Players like Nedved, Southgate, etc., can't help showing fascination when looking at the view of the stadium not far from the window.

Is this Old Trafford?

Carrying the legend of several generations of Red Devils, Dream Theater!

Aldridge withdrew his gaze, saying that he was not envious was deceiving himself and others. There are so many teams in the world who envy Manchester United. There is no need to pretend that their own kennel is better than Manchester United's golden kennel.

It doesn't matter, everything will be there.

This is also the driving force for the team and himself to move forward.

Under the reception of the Manchester United club officials, all the staff of Millwall, who was going to Manchester, got out of the car and came to the dressing room.

There is still some time before the game, and the players will put on their jerseys to warm up outside the court, while Aldridge visited the club casually.

After the warm-up time was over, the whole team returned to the locker room. Before the door of the locker room was closed, they could even hear the roar of fans cheering like a tsunami from Old Trafford.

The Old Trafford team song playing in the stadium is not as powerful as the fans.

When everything is quiet, Aldridge stands in front of the empty tactical board. He never takes out the tactical board to write and draw before the game, only when the midfield needs to be adjusted.

The starting XI had already changed their jerseys, and the substitute players sat in the locker room honestly in their coats, waiting for Aldridge's final instructions before the game.

Where are we?

Aldridge raised his chin slightly and asked absentmindedly.

The players looked at each other, Larson shrugged and said, Old Trafford.

Yes, we are at Old Trafford, and we are here today to challenge the most watched team in England: Manchester United. Perhaps, compared to trophies, they are not as good as Liverpool, but, in England, Manchester United Just like a favored child, from the royal family to the fans, Manchester United has received the most attention. When they come out later, you can observe the expressions of the Manchester United players. At Old Trafford they are even more majestic. I, Aldridge Hall, today is my first Premier League game in charge and the first Premier League game of your life. Tell me, tell me out loud, When we come to Old Trafford, when we come to the Theater of Dreams, when our opponent is Manchester United, will we just come to visit? Will we be in the background? We will be forgotten by Manchester United tomorrow Disdainful?

Aldrich's face was a bit ferocious, and he was not hysterical, but there was a deep roar in his words.

Do not!

The whole team shouted loudly in unison.

Aldridge nodded and said in a deep voice: Remember that our opponent is Manchester United, remember that this is our theater of dreams, and remember that today will be our moment to become famous all over the world! Tell the arrogant Manchester United, Old Trafford Duh, we love it here! Because we're going to take the win here! It's you, it's me, the big day of life! Come on, break 'em, put Manchester United under my feet without mercy! Milwaukee Run, lions of Er!

With a big wave of his hand, the entire Millwall team opened the door of the locker room and walked out in high spirits, as if murderous.

The coaching staff and colleagues looked at each other and smiled after the players were all gone. They have long been accustomed to Aldridge's inspiring passion, but every time they experience it, they will be shocked from the bottom of their hearts. If they can play football , will forget everything and go desperately!

Old Trafford has been remodeled several times in its nearly 100-year history, and the era of Ferguson also left behind his impressive strokes in the transformation of this special stadium.

The biggest change is that the player channel is rebuilt on the side of the top of the corner flag of the stadium. This change will give full play to the home court advantage. Whether it is entering or leaving the field, halftime, etc., the players and referees on both sides will Passing here, even the head coach of the visiting team has to walk dozens of meters from the sidelines to enter the player tunnel. In this way, the Manchester United fans on the sidelines can collectively put pressure on the players, coaches, and even the referee!

The substitute players and first-team coaches have already walked out, Aldridge is at the back, and the starting players of the team lined up to wait to play. They are really looking at the starting players of Manchester United, just as Aldridge said, The Manchester United players held their heads high and their eyebrows showed that they were sure of winning, which was completely different from other opponents.

This is a kind of temperament, which is the Red Devils' temperament cultivated by playing for Manchester United for a long time. It is not innate, but it is enough to last a lifetime.

Ferguson's appearance also seemed to be delayed for some time. The two coaches met in the player tunnel. The two bypassed the players and then met outside the player tunnel.

Ferguson walked to Aldridge with a smile on his face, and the two walked side by side to the coach's bench.

The lads at Millwall were very motivated today.

No way, the relegation team, if the strength is not good and loses momentum, then next year it will really return to League One.

Aldridge replied with a smile.

The fans on the sidelines cheered Ferguson's name, but Ferguson turned his head and smiled at Aldridge: I think Millwall can rank in the top ten this season, and relegation will definitely be no problem.

I hope so, hehe.

Drink after the game?

Then Manchester United must be merciful, or they will lose badly. My wine taste is very poor.

Hahaha, Aldrich, has anyone ever told you that you are a little fox?

Aldrich raised his eyebrows with a smile, and said nothing.

Ferguson patted him on the shoulder, then raised his hands and applauded, and walked onto the home team coach's bench.

The coaching bench at Old Trafford is very strange. It is not set up on the sidelines, but is integrated with the stands.

Aldridge did not go to the visiting team's bench, he stood on the sidelines, his hands in his pockets, watching the field, waiting for the game to start.

The stands on the south, west and north sides are covered by a sea of ​​red. The fans of the visiting team are arranged in the east stand, which happens to be in opposition to the traditional group of Manchester United fans. It is also for safety reasons that the most loyal fans of each team are separated. .

The Lion Roar fan organization came to Old Trafford with the team, and now more than a thousand fans of the visiting team used Millwall's traditional dark blue jerseys in the East Stand to form a small and exquisite but meaningful picture: The blue lion, that is the team emblem of Millwall!

In the east stand near the stadium, two beautiful women in their prime were sitting there. Melanie looked towards Aldridge with a telescope in her hand, and saw him standing there calmly with his hands in his pockets. She curled her lips and said, Hmph, it's cool!

Victoria looked around boredly, she seemed not interested, and could only talk to Melanie about her relationship with Aldrich.