The Joyful Genius

Celtic, with its shared Commonwealth heritage, enjoys a stronger fan base in Hong Kong compared to other parts of Asia. Though not overwhelming, this support adds a layer of commercial appeal to the upcoming friendly match at the Hong Kong Stadium between Millwall and Celtic.

However, Celtic could not overshadow Millwall's spotlight. Even Millwall's training sessions could make headlines, with the antics between Aldrich and Ronaldinho during their sprint race becoming a media frenzy across Europe.

Appearing at the press conference with a small bandage wrapped around his arm and a band-aid stuck on one side of his chin, Aldrich presented a somewhat "battered" image. If the public were unaware of the incident, his appearance might have sparked speculation about fights with players or some other mischief. But every journalist present knew exactly how he ended up in this state.

Internally, the room was filled with suppressed laughter and a unanimous sentiment: Serves him right!

After all, he had cheated during the race, even pulling down Ronaldinho's shorts. Fortunately, the underwear stayed intact; otherwise, the scene would have been even more of a spectacle.

The press conference resembled a casual group discussion more than a formal briefing. The first topic journalists broached was the juggling competition Ronaldinho, Thierry Henry, and the others had during their downtime.

"If any of you have ever followed Millwall's first-team training sessions, you wouldn't find it surprising," Aldrich said with a smile. "At our London training ground, we have specific drills that focus on players' ball control skills. Machines assist during these drills, challenging players with difficult aerial balls, which they must control, pass, or shoot under pressure. Over time, it sharpens their technique. However, yesterday's activity wasn't part of our structured training; it was just the players amusing themselves."

Aldrich's explanation left the journalists both impressed and astounded, offering a glimpse into the terrifying prowess of Europe's elite football teams.

Such high-level juggling may be nothing more than a game to them!

In truth, it is limited to the realm of "play." During actual matches, successive aerial passes are rare. Successfully handling one aerial ball often creates a golden opportunity that could decide a game.

The journalists soon moved on to Aldrich's sprint race with Ronaldinho.

Aldrich, far from embarrassed, chuckled and said, "If I had won, he'd be in serious trouble. The coaching staff would've pushed him to his limits to get him in shape."

"Do you often compete with him?" someone asked.

"Ronaldinho loves challenging me. Shooting, juggling, weaving through cones—you name it, he's tried it. But I'm not stupid enough to fall for it. Here's the deal: if I ever beat him, it wouldn't just be about bragging rights. It'd mean something's seriously off with his form, and trust me, the coaches would drag him straight into boot camp from hell.

Klinsmann, though? Oh, he took the bait—three times! Three shooting contests, three embarrassing losses. Now? He won't go near a challenge. Instead, he pulls the 'wise veteran' card, using his experience to outsmart the players."

For most of the Asian journalists, especially those from Hong Kong, Aldrich's off-pitch anecdotes were far more engaging than tactical breakdowns, match preparations, or game objectives.

"Ronaldinho seems to be not just an on-field star but an off-field personality as well," one journalist observed.

Aldrich laughed and replied, "Yes, he has this innate innocence about him. When he first arrived at the club, he was about this tall."

Aldrich stood up and gestured at a height.

"I tried talking to him, but he seemed distracted, his eyes glued to the youth team's training match on the field. It was as if nothing else mattered to him but football. I told him to give it a try on the pitch. Ten, maybe fifteen minutes later, he had everyone on that field captivated. He dribbled past one player, then another, and another, eventually scoring a goal. The look in his peers' eyes—it was as if they'd just witnessed a phenomenon. The most stunned reaction came from the youth coach, Nagy. It's rare to see him lose his composure, but he declared Ronaldinho would either become an unparalleled genius or a disruptive force to the team. Over the next two years, Nagy dedicated himself to developing Ronaldinho, teaching him how to channel his talent into teamwork, to act as a catalyst that transforms the squad. Ronaldinho exceeded all expectations, as you can see today. He's like a joyful sprite, adding a unique element to Millwall's football. We adore him, the fans adore him, and it's hard for anyone watching him play not to."

Aldrich's words brimmed with heartfelt admiration. Ronaldinho's contribution to Millwall wasn't merely his skill but his infectious spirit—the joyful samba style he brought to the team. His approach to football, one of pure enjoyment, profoundly impacted the club's internal atmosphere, public image, and even its footballing philosophy. Ronaldinho's influence was undeniable.

When people tirelessly "militarize" or "demonize" football matches, Ronaldinho's unique style stands out as a soothing balm. His football strips away hostility and lets people simply enjoy the game, offering pure visual and sensory pleasure. His artistry transcends, reaching a higher realm.

At the press conference, Aldrich provided the journalists with plenty of juicy stories, sending everyone off in high spirits.

That evening, the Hong Kong Stadium was packed to capacity. The majority of fans were clearly rooting for The Lions.

Dressed casually, Aldrich maintained a sense of formality as he entered the pitch and extended a handshake to the Celtic manager.

An old acquaintance.

Martin O'Neill.

Historically, this year saw rumors of Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement, with O'Neill being one of the favorites to succeed him. However, Ferguson ultimately shelved those plans, and O'Neill took the reins at the Scottish powerhouse Celtic instead.

O'Neill's Premier League record was nothing short of remarkable. Known for working miracles, he had added a League Cup trophy to Leicester City's collection before departing in the summer.

Now reunited with Aldrich abroad, O'Neill was in good spirits. Still, his opening line carried a hint of guilt.

"Aldrich, I hope you understand—I couldn't stop Leicester's board from making that decision."

"Ah, don't worry about it. It's nothing," Aldrich replied nonchalantly.

O'Neill was referring to Eidur Gudjohnsen's transfer from Leicester City to Chelsea. The player, who had once donned Millwall's jersey, had now ended up with their bitter rivals.

Aldrich genuinely didn't care. Chelsea wasn't on the same level as Millwall, and Gudjohnsen had never made a lasting impression on Millwall fans. Since he didn't move directly from Millwall to Chelsea, even the supporters were unlikely to hold any grudges. When they crossed paths again, Gudjohnsen would likely be regarded as just another passerby.

Things turned sour between Martin O'Neill and the board after they bypassed him to sell Guðjohnsen. With no prospects left at Leicester City, he took up Celtic's invitation. And, of course, he didn't leave alone—Tony went with him to embrace the next challenge.

For those unfamiliar with Scottish football, it might seem that Celtic wouldn't face much competition in their league. However, this was far from reality.

Last season, Rangers had claimed the Scottish Premier League title in a dominant fashion, leaving Celtic as the runners-up in utter humiliation.

With 10 teams playing a 36-game quadruple round-robin schedule, Rangers amassed a staggering 90 points, bulldozing their way to the title. Celtic, meanwhile, trailed by a whopping 21 points, finishing with just 69.

Under such circumstances, Martin O'Neill's arrival in Glasgow was seen as a mission to restore Celtic's pride and reestablish their dominance in the city. This was his new challenge.

Aldrich and O'Neill chatted for quite a while on the sidelines, exchanging a few jokes. One was about how Leicester City's diminished strength after O'Neill's departure meant one less tough Premier League opponent for Millwall in the upcoming season.

Though Leicester was a small club, they had often been a thorn in Millwall's side. Over the years, the Lions had found them a tough nut to crack, sometimes even risking "breaking their teeth" trying. While O'Neill himself wasn't a direct nemesis for Aldrich, his Leicester City team had proven to be a formidable challenge.

As the crowd's cheers filled the air, the friendly match between Millwall and Celtic kicked off.

Scottish teams are renowned for their emphasis on teamwork and passing play. Being the pioneers of short-passing football, Celtic continued to uphold this tradition. In the first half, Millwall fielded a mostly substitute lineup against Celtic's predominantly starting XI. Unsurprisingly, Millwall struggled to keep up.

O'Neill, a coach known for his defensive strategies, ensured that Celtic's approach was methodical and patient, unlike Millwall's free-flowing match against Ajax earlier. Celtic controlled the tempo and advanced their attacks with calculated precision.

Aldrich approached this Asian tour with a clear purpose. The match against Celtic was an opportunity to assess key players such as Alonso, Joe Cole, Villa, Metzelder, and Ferreira. He wanted to see how they coped against a disciplined and well-organized short-passing team.

Would they lose focus or composure under pressure? Would they abandon tactical discipline and make errors that could cost them the game?

The first half ended 0-0. Millwall had been outplayed in possession but managed to keep their goal intact.

In the second half, Millwall brought on players like Ronaldinho, Lampard, Larsson, and Nedvěd, while stars like Henry and Pirlo—who had gone deep into the Euros—remained on the bench, saving their energy for the final friendly against Monaco.

With the inclusion of some regulars and key substitutes, the tide shifted. Millwall began to dictate the game and control the tempo.

While it was only a friendly, players refrained from overly aggressive play. Millwall patiently built their attacks through short passes, albeit with a higher error rate and reduced passing accuracy compared to competitive matches. Still, they maintained the upper hand.

Ronaldinho's flair was on full display when he executed a scissor-kick cross, setting up Klose for a thunderous header that sent the crowd into raptures.

Near the end, Larsson's close-range shot was blocked, but Nedvěd followed up with a stunning long-range strike to seal a 2-0 victory for Millwall in this warm-up match.

Aldrich, as always, didn't dwell on the win. After the game, he noticed O'Neill's slightly exasperated expression and walked over to share a few more words before they parted ways. "Let's hope we meet in the Premier League again someday."

O'Neill adjusted his glasses, furrowed his brow, and replied, "Why not meet in the Champions League instead?"

Aldrich chuckled at the comment and gave him a thumbs-up. But inwardly, he mused, Martin, do you know how many top European clubs are hoping to avoid Millwall in the Champions League right now?