Conquering Elland Road

Aldrich appeared to be in good spirits, which pleased the journalists. After all, this meant more interesting headlines and fewer of the usual diplomatic phrases.

Giancarlo, who had witnessed AC Milan's collapse earlier in the week, was the first to raise his hand.

"Millwall had a Champions League match midweek. Will this affect tomorrow's game, especially since it's an away match?"

Aldrich replied with a confident smile, "There might be some impact, but it's part of being a strong team. We've participated in European competitions for years now, and while we struggled with the schedule at first, we've developed methods to handle the packed calendar. I'm confident Millwall will be in great form tomorrow. Regardless of the outcome, I'm not making any excuses for the team."

Giancarlo nodded and continued, "What is Millwall's goal for tomorrow's match? Leeds United may not have been on the same level as Millwall in recent seasons, but they've shown remarkable performance this year."

Without hesitation, Aldrich responded, "Our goal in every match is to win. While we don't win every game, our team always plays to claim victory."

The two exchanged a knowing smile. Giancarlo had been around Aldrich long enough to sense the intensity he carried, even in casual answers.

Sensing an opportunity, Richard from The Daily Mail decided to stir things up. He smiled and asked, "What do you think of Leeds United? Their chairman seems to view Millwall as the team they need to surpass."

On a normal day, Aldrich might have brushed this off, but today he was in the mood to engage.

"I don't find it surprising or unusual at all. Millwall has earned so many honors over the past few years, Especially after we won the Champions League. Leeds wants to surpass Millwall—that's great. It shows they have ambition. Who wouldn't appreciate a club with drive? I actually like Leeds; really, I do. They're young, passionate, and full of energy. And it's only natural that fans would want to see new forces in the Premier League. Nobody wants to watch Millwall, Manchester United, and Arsenal dominate the title race every season. It's understandable.

It's like you, Richard. You wouldn't want your boss to stay in his position forever, right? You and your colleagues would have ambitions to move up. Without that mindset, your company would stagnate. This is the basic rule of progress—competition. And I love competition. Without it, even the strongest teams would eventually grow weaker. The fiercer the competition in the Premier League, the stronger Millwall becomes—and ultimately, that strength will extend across Europe. So yes, I like seeing Leeds currently in third place, and I hope they can keep up.It'd be great to see them at the top of the standings next May."

The journalists lit up, relishing the refreshing change from the usual responses.

At first glance, Aldrich's words seemed harmless.

But on closer thought, they all realized that Aldrich was actually framing Millwall as the unquestioned powerhouse, with Leeds in the position of the challenger. It was an unspoken truth, yet to say it out loud gave his words an unmistakably condescending tone.

Richard, smiling, shot back, 'But what if next May, Leeds finishes ahead of Millwall in the standings? Would you still like them then?'

Aldrich shrugged and replied, 'Of course, why not? If that happened, it would help me identify my team's weaknesses. But I have my doubts about your scenario—unless God himself intervenes and we're hit with a wave of injuries. And if that does happen, Richard, you'll regret it—I'll burn down your office and pin the blame on you!'"

Richard and the other journalists burst into laughter.

"There are a few former Millwall players in Leeds' squad. Does that give Millwall an advantage for tomorrow's game? After all, you're surely more familiar with their technical qualities and better equipped to neutralize them."

"By saying that, you're undermining O'Leary's work. Since the summer, he's been building a stronger team. Ferdinand is no longer Millwall's Ferdinand, and Cahill is no longer Millwall's Cahill. They've changed. We'll approach Leeds with the same work ethic we bring to any opponent. Just because we know players like Ferdinand well doesn't mean we'll underestimate them or assume an easy win."

The following day, media coverage focused heavily on the Millwall vs. Leeds United match. The Times ran a headline: "Hall Anticipates the Challenge!"

Millwall traveled to Yorkshire in high spirits, with tickets sold out at Elland Road. An hour before kickoff, Leeds fans had already filled the streets around the stadium, pumped up as if they were about to go to battle.

"Anticipates the challenge?"

Leeds fans scoffed. It seemed Aldrich didn't regard their team as a serious threat.

They reminisced about the glory days under Don Revie when Millwall was barely on the football map. To Leeds fans, this wasn't a new rise but a return to greatness.

When asked on the streets, most Leeds supporters shared the same sentiment about the game.

"We beat them last year. They're not that special. We're stronger this season and at home. We'll win again!"

True, Leeds had managed a victory against Millwall last year in the league.

On paper, it wasn't wrong. A quick check of past results would confirm Leeds' 1-0 home win against Millwall last season.

But everyone seemed to overlook Millwall's condition back then—stretched thin by multiple competitions, missing two key players, with Henry still recovering.

Leeds might be stronger than last year, but was Millwall the same team, or even weaker?

As Millwall arrived at Elland Road, they were met with a resounding declaration of war from the Leeds United fans.

In the stands, banners were everywhere—some supporting Leeds players, some cheering for O'Leary, but the vast majority were directed at one thing: defeating Millwall.

Aldrich sat silently in the locker room, waiting. When the players returned from their warm-ups, he stood, taking a moment of silence before speaking. Once everyone was ready, he walked up to Henry, looked him straight in the eye, and asked, "Thierry, tell me, what's our goal today?"

Henry lifted his head, answering with confidence, "To win."

"Wrong."

Aldrich then turned to Ronaldinho, asking, "What's our goal today?"

Ronaldinho grinned, replying, "To make Leeds remember us forever."

Aldrich snapped his fingers and moved on, turning to Makélélé. "Claude, what's the goal today?"

With a cold, expressionless face, Makélélé replied, "To destroy this stadium. To turn it into hell, so that Leeds' players, fans, coaches—anyone remotely connected to them—remembers this day with pain and never wants to recall it."

Who relishes facing Leeds the most?

Makélélé.

Aldrich looked around the room. Players like Southgate and Nedvěd, who had followed him through countless battles, stood tall and resolute.

"I'm not going to tell you Leeds is some mighty force—that if we let our guard down, we'll be punished. That's a lie even a child wouldn't believe! Who are we? Millwall. We've won more trophies in recent years than Leeds has starters! We are champions. We are kings. We're the team everyone wants to take down, and Leeds? They're just another challenger."

The players nodded, their confidence growing with every word.

To them, Leeds was no different from opponents like Tottenham or Aston Villa. Sure, Leeds might be in the spotlight lately, but when compared to Millwall's perfect record this season, there was little to boast about.

Aldrich continued, "Leeds is the challenger here. Imagine if they beat us today. Think of the boost it would give them, especially to their players' confidence. It'd be just like when we took down Manchester United, Arsenal, Barcelona, and Juventus a few years back. But if we lose, we'll leave Yorkshire with our heads hung low. In front of their fans, would we still have the pride of champions? Would we still have the strength of kings? With that thought in mind, there's only one option. Tell me, loudly, what is it?"

"Win!"

"Exactly. Win. Keep winning. I refuse to accept dropping points to Leeds again today. If any of you can accept that, take off your shirt and walk out now. We need to show every challenger that the throne isn't for anyone to just sit on! A championship? It's not something to be handed over! Leeds? Ha! In what way are they stronger than us? Experience in top-tier matches? Team cohesion? Unity and determination? We're not here for an ordinary league game. No, we're here to teach Leeds a lesson—to show them reality. Leeds is far from the level of true strength; they've got a long, long way to go. We're here to conquer Elland Road, to show their fans what a real top team looks like, to make their players feel the full weight of a championship team's dominance! Challenge us? Leeds' little fantasy ends today!"

Aldrich's intensity was contagious, and the players grew fiercer, rallying with shouts to teach Leeds a lesson.

As Aldrich left the locker room, he took ten seconds to calm himself, then walked through the tunnel with a composed smile. Leeds players like Ferdinand and Cahill barely had a chance to greet him as he passed; today, Aldrich wasn't here for pleasantries.

Stepping onto the field, Aldrich felt the sunlight, and heard the roaring Leeds fans. The packed stands were like a stage, ready for the players to make their entrance.

In past seasons, Millwall would sometimes falter in the league while focused on European competition. But this year, at least through the group stages, Millwall had room to breathe. With relaxed qualification requirements and a less intense group-stage competition, they could bring their best form to this league battle with Leeds.

In front of the home bench, O'Leary received cheers from the fans nearby.

Standing by the visitors' bench, hands clasped behind him, Aldrich could hear the fans' love for O'Leary. It reminded him of his early days with Millwall, when the Den field was filled with the same fevered support. Now, the passion at the Lion King Stadium had become almost routine, as Millwall fans had come to see Aldrich as more than just a coach—as a friend, family, a part of their lives. Perhaps the day he's no longer there will be the day they realize the impact he's made.