The Rise of Millwal

Chapter 85: One Hundred and Ten Years of Darkness

Aldrich was in high spirits, and Wenger's charm hadn't faded. The two old friends suddenly reunited, filled with nostalgia.

"How's Japan treating you?"

"Very well."

"Are you back on vacation? No, the J-League must be in full swing at this time."

"Actually, I received an invitation from Mr. Dein; I'm just here to watch a game."

Wenger candidly stated that David Dein had long had his eye on him. After Graham was sacked over six months ago, Dein had invited Wenger. However, at that time, the newly arrived Wenger in Japan was still engulfed in the exhausting five-year period he had spent at Monaco, and thus, he politely declined.

Dein firmly believed that Wenger was the right choice for Arsenal's revival. He waited in Wenger's native France, seizing various "coincidences" to build rapport with Wenger. This sincerity touched Wenger, and as his longing for Europe grew, Dein invited him to England this summer to watch a match. Although he initially planned to arrange for Wenger to see Arsenal face Nottingham Forest at home, after looking at the fixtures, Wenger decided to attend the away clash between Millwall and Arsenal.

Aldrich smiled, "Hope you enjoy the match here. I have to take off. Let's have a quick gathering after the game?"

Wenger shook his head, "No, I'll be rushing to catch a flight right after the match. I have to return to train the team."

"Alright, looking forward to your true arrival in London."

After Aldrich finished speaking, he greeted David Dein and then left the box.

"Hello, Mr. Wenger! Long time no see!"

Arthur and Amelia also approached Wenger to greet him. David Dein, observing this scene from the side, found it somewhat strange: Could Millwall also be considering bringing Wenger in as a coach?

That thought quickly vanished as he shook his head; it was utterly impossible!

"Oh, my old friend, that trickster Dein, come here and give me a hug!"

The rotund Arthur turned around and clasped David Dein in a tight embrace, playfully squeezing his upper body, nearly taking the breath out of him. In another setting, Dein would have pushed Arthur away, but with Wenger, the distinguished guest, present, he had to grit his teeth and endure, forcing a smile to show that he was on good terms with Arthur.

Deep down, he loathed Millwall.

That damned little club was simply a parasite in the Premier League!

Run-down stadium, rowdy fans, notorious reputation, and thugs!

Originally, Dein had no interest in watching the match, even if Arsenal was visiting. But since Wenger expressed his desire to come here to watch, he hurriedly requested VIP tickets from Millwall. He couldn't possibly expect to stand in the stands with Wenger and the fans; that would be simply disrespectful.

Who would have thought that all Millwall's tickets had long sold out, leaving only boxes available? Arthur stubbornly refused to give a vacant box to Dein, insisting they share the same box to watch the game. Although the Premier League didn't have the tradition of sitting alongside rivals, this arrangement was Millwall's way of extending hospitality. With no other options, Dein reluctantly accepted; he knew Arthur, that old rascal, had his own agenda—he simply wanted to flaunt his presence at home!

We're cultured people, refined and educated—no need to lower ourselves to that of a thug!

Endure!!!

Besides, who knows who will win and who will lose yet!

After a brief "exchange" with Arthur, David Dein put aside his disdain and formally shook hands with Barnet, the eldest son of the Hall family, engaging him in small talk.

Despite his contempt for Arthur, Dein greatly respected his three sons. Barnet was a rising star in the British business world; Andrew's agency was flourishing, and Aldrich didn't need much mention, having made considerable waves.

If not for Aldrich's age and background, were he just a regular worker, Dein might even have found himself making a choice between Wenger and Aldrich.

Barnet merely followed social etiquette. He paid little attention to David Dein, having brushed shoulders with countless elites and tycoons in the British business scene. Speaking lightly with a representative from the Balayk Bank consortium didn't warrant paying special attention to this club's vice-chairman. Moreover, he had always believed that Aldrich's choice to be a football coach was a waste of his talents!

Just two days ago, Microsoft had launched the Windows 95 operating system, and stocks soared. This new product was poised to penetrate various global markets, indicating that Microsoft was on the brink of a substantial leap forward.

Since that Black Monday eight years ago, Barnet's preferred investment choice had been Microsoft stocks, thanks to Aldrich's insights. With every passing second, Barnet's fortune was swelling alongside Microsoft's rising share prices.

He regarded Aldrich as a genius who could generate income even while asleep, while his brother wished to be a football coach, toiling hard and facing challenges. Barnett felt regret about this, yet he had never counseled Aldrich against his choice. In their family, each brother had achieved his own aspirations, never interfering with one another, united only by one principle: to support each other.

Wenger stood at the front of the box, surveying the entire Den from a high vantage point.

Almost a year ago, he had come to this stadium to watch a game, sitting in the stands without feeling that there was anything particularly special about it. But today, as he looked out, it was a magnificent sight.

Apart from a small corner of the north stand where the away fans donned a few inconspicuous red shirts, the entire stadium had transformed into a sea of blue, with the south stand being the most eye-catching.

That was the pre-match display by the Lions' Roar fan group. They had spent over half a month creating a large mural that covered the entire south stand.

The content of the mural was actually quite simple; it was a reproduction of the official promotional poster for Millwall's first team for the new season.

It was almost identical to last season's poster, with Aldrich at the center, dressed in a suit, giving off a confident smile that seemed a bit wild, standing tall with his hands in his pockets.

Behind Aldrich, thirty first-team players were lined up in their dark blue home jerseys, forming a V shape, exuding an intimidating aura!

The Lions' Roar fans had turned the promotional poster into a massive mural, raised high by everyone in the south stand, creating a thrilling atmosphere that shook the stadium!

The live broadcast kept replaying this scene before the match started.

As the players began to enter the field, Aldrich had already returned to the coaching area. He stood calmly by the sidelines, patiently waiting for the game to begin.

Not far from him, the opposing team's coaching area was occupied by Arsenal's new head coach, Bruce Rioch. He wore a serious expression, clearly showing that he took this match very seriously.

Having taken over from the interim coach Houston in the summer, Rioch felt the immense pressure. He wanted to change Arsenal but lacked the decisiveness; especially as a new head coach, his priority would normally be to erase the influence of the previous coach on the team. However, Arsenal's situation was somewhat special. Houston had only been in charge for four months and wasn't particularly noteworthy, while Graham's dismissal stemmed from off-the-field factors. The imprint left by Graham during his eight years was not something that could be wiped away in a day.

Especially since this group of players had already achieved great success, Rioch could only adjust the internal dynamics rather than implement sweeping reforms. Otherwise, he would surely find himself ousted by the more dominant figures in the locker room.

Thus, Arsenal's tactical approach this season still reflected the foundation laid during the Graham era, adhering to a 5-3-2 formation.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Den, the home ground of Millwall. I'm Martin Taylor, and once again joining me to commentate on the match is our familiar face, Andy Gray."

"Martin, what do you make of today's London derby?"

"It's going to be a battle between offense and defense, haha. Millwall's attack has already left a deep impression after their last match, while Arsenal has been known for their defensive solidity over the past eight years, maintaining a suffocating record of just 18 goals conceded this season. However, Arsenal isn't in great form right now. In less than a year, the team has seen its third head coach take over—Graham, Houston, and now Rioch. I think Rioch will play it safe at the Den, especially after failing to secure a win at home against the newly promoted Middlesbrough. The pressure on him is enormous."

"But if Arsenal only manages to leave the Den with a draw today, I believe neither the fans nor the management will be satisfied. I don't mean to underestimate Millwall; it's just that there's a deeply rooted perception about Millwall's fighting spirit. This year marks the 110th anniversary of Millwall's founding, yet they haven't won any significant titles. Of course, if you count the Southern League championship from a hundred years ago as a title, then it's nearly been a century since Millwall has tasted victory. On the other hand, Arsenal remains a historic powerhouse in English football."

"You're not wrong. It's precisely this sense of repression and longing that has fueled the passionate frenzy of Millwall's fans for 110 years, a phenomenon that's quite understandable. Could Aldrich be the key to ending Millwall's long wait for a trophy? If they can keep the current squad together, winning a championship shouldn't be out of reach for them."

"Yes, everyone is watching Millwall closely. The entire football scene in England is speculating about this squad with an average age of just 23. They've yet to hit their peak, but in three to five years, they could challenge for the title as long as they retain their players without being poached by other teams."

"The retention of Larsson and Trezeguet is a positive signal. It shows that the club is not swayed by financial temptations to abandon their ideals. With a transfer fee of twelve million pounds for each player, many Premier League teams would have rushed to seal the deal and count their profits."

"Alright, let's take a look at today's starting lineups. Millwall's starting eleven is the same as in the last match: goalkeeper Keller, defenders Thuram, Stam, Southgate, Neill; midfielders Schneider, Makélélé, Nedvěd, Pires; forwards Larsson and Trezeguet. Arsenal's starting lineup features: goalkeeper Seaman; defenders Winterburn, Adams, Bould, Keown, Dixon; midfielders Mason, Jensen, Platt; forwards Wright partnering Bergkamp. Millwall's 4-4-2 formation against Arsenal's 5-3-2."

Watching Bergkamp, who was ready to kick off, Aldrich remained unperturbed, silently thinking to himself: The Ice Prince? Today I'll freeze you in place!

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