The Final Countdown
It was already late at night when Aldrich returned to London. As he stepped out of the airport, he disbanded the team and hugged each player one by one, repeatedly whispering in their ears, "Go home and rest well."
However, many players wouldn't be able to sleep immediately upon returning home. The adrenaline was still pumping through their bodies, and they needed a significant "cooling-off period."
On his way home, Aldrich pulled out his phone to respond to the congratulatory messages from friends. Among them, Smith-Carter sent five messages in a row, each filled with excitement.
Whether he was reaching out as a friend or as a representative of Standard Chartered Bank, Aldrich graciously accepted their congratulations.
Millwall's advance to the Champions League final excited not only the fans but also the sponsors.
When they reached the semifinals, the sponsors banded together in action. Even though Millwall didn't guarantee a spot in the final, preparation was essential. If they waited until the results of today's match were in to start planning the promotion, they would surely miss the best marketing window.
Puma had planned to launch a new kit at the start of the season, which Millwall had officially declined. However, now they proposed to rush the production of a special Champions League final kit, and Millwall gladly agreed. By the time of the match today, the samples for the final kit had already been created. If they eliminated Monaco, they would immediately go into mass production and be sold, with players wearing the specially designed final kits in the match.
The fans were very satisfied with Millwall's performance, and even if they failed to defend their league title this year, they seemed even happier than last year.
After a brief surge of excitement, Aldrich suppressed his joy at reaching the final. He knew that if he let himself get carried away now, it could lead to an unforgettable regret.
The next day at training, most of the main players were given time off. They had returned home late, and when they would fall asleep was still uncertain. Even if they showed up for training the next day, their performance would likely be ineffective. Aldrich always emphasized the balance between work and rest, and he never hesitated to give his players time off when it was needed.
The outstanding performance in European competitions had inadvertently raised the pressure on the younger players in the team, but perhaps it also motivated them. They were particularly focused and serious during training today, hardly exchanging casual words, fully immersed in their practice. The league match this weekend would be their opportunity to shine.
With three league matches remaining, Aldrich already had a plan. He decided to let the substitutes play in this weekend's match and the ending game, while the main players would start in the middle game to keep their rhythm and maintain match fitness. This way, the main players would have nearly half a month to prepare for the Champions League final. Although they could typically let the main players play in the final game, Aldrich didn't want to take risks; the unpredictability of that match could lead to huge setbacks, and he couldn't risk injuring his starters.
When the players trained diligently, the coaches had a significantly easier time.
Dressed in sports gear, Aldrich chatted with Benítez at the sidelines. It was a bright, sunny afternoon, and both were in good spirits. Aldrich looked up at the azure sky with pride and murmured, "Just one step away from the peak of Europe!"
That was a legendary height, a place only a few select managers could reach—a football hall of fame. Had Aldrich never dreamed of it? No, he had yearned for it day and night!
Now, they were just one step away!
"But that step may not be as close as it seems," Benítez replied with a smile.
Aldrich nodded, sighing, "Yeah, so near yet so far. The outcome will be decided in two hours. Rafael, you're leaving, right?"
Benítez answered, "Your insight is impressive. Yes, I plan to return to Spain this summer and take over a second division team."
"Without you, my workload will increase again."
"With Millwall's reputation, you could easily hire plenty of capable assistant coaches."
"Here at the club, everyone has their role, but it's not just about work. I will miss the time we spent meticulously preparing for every match together."
"So will I."
Aldrich had anticipated Benítez's plan to leave. He wasn't one to be trapped in this role; over the past two years, Benítez had broadened his horizons, gaining experiences he could never have witnessed with Real Madrid's B team.
He had also regained confidence after a rocky start to his coaching career, developing his own football philosophy; in this industry, simply copying others wouldn't lead to great success. Top figures in coaching each possess their unique style, even among those who come from the same football lineage, and each successful team leaves its distinct mark.
Aldrich would wish Benítez well in his return to Spain, while also secretly wondering: where would they meet again?
The time and place may be uncertain, but it would surely be as rivals, and that scene would be particularly interesting.
In the weekend league match, Millwall effortlessly defeated a Southampton team that had just secured survival, with a score of 2-0. In the same round, Arsenal beat Barnsley away 2-0, and Manchester United triumphed over Crystal Palace with a 3-0 victory. Millwall's chances of winning the championship had become nearly negligible, and hopes for a more realistic second place were also waning, especially as Manchester United extended their goal difference.
At the end of April, with no games scheduled, Millwall officially called a press conference. Reporters from Fleet Street crowded in, eager to see what news Millwall might announce.
Before arriving, journalists exchanged rumors and whispered inquiries.
Is a player being transferred?
Like last year's Stam incident!
Unlikely.
What player would dare to communicate privately with other clubs at this time? That would surely attract public outrage. Last year's Stam incident left a deep impression; there wasn't a player who wouldn't want to partake in the Champions League final. Even those who weren't regular starters would want to travel to the Netherlands with the team; if they were relegated to the reserves, they might miss out!
Everyone guessed but couldn't pinpoint the actual news.
So, filled with curiosity, they hurried to Millwall's offices.
At the press conference, Aldrich was absent, leaving Yvonne to take the stage.
The setup for the conference was different from before; after the journalists sat down, they faced a large television screen mounted on the wall at the front of the room.
Yvonne stood beside it, smiling charmingly as she announced, "Today's press conference is themed around the launch of Millwall's Champions League final kit and two promotional videos for the match, as well as the announcement of the Millwall Youth Charity Cup."
The reporters exchanged glances, suddenly feeling they had been duped.
It turned out Millwall had called them in to help with their publicity.
But since they were there, they thought they might as well see it through; after all, it was still news. Jotting down notes would suffice for their bosses and add some substance to the newspapers.
The Champions League final kit was a deep blue, as Real Madrid would sport their traditional white kit. Millwall wasn't concerned; their home and away kits this year were deep blue and black, so there simply wouldn't be a clash.
This special edition Champions League final kit altered the collar style, and had the image of the famous trophy embroidered on the sleeves, indicating the year: 1998.
There weren't any major changes, but adding the Champions League elements could generate profits for the club and excite the sponsors.
The journalists snapped photos of the special edition kit, and then Yvonne used a remote control to operate the screen, introducing, "This is the first promotional video for the Champions League final, enjoy!"
Most of the reporters wore uninterested expressions, just going through the motions for Millwall's sake. However, when the promotional video began, they instantly perked up: this was a grand production, definitely not some low-quality small project!
The video opened with a quick montage of scenes showcasing Millwall's East London community, featuring clips of children playing football, fans watching matches, and players training… The final shot was an aerial view of The Den, enhanced with special effects that subtly displayed the blue lion from Millwall's crest, creating an awe-inspiring visual.
After the first part ended with a black screen, stirring music erupted, and the scene shifted to thrilling shots of goals being scored, presented in a stunningly dramatic fashion.
The goals were edited together perfectly, with hardly a second passing before a new goal flashed on screen, like a machine gun firing, stirring emotions among viewers.
As the goal montage came to an end, slow-motion footage of players celebrating appeared, vividly displaying their facial features and showcasing their unique masculine charms through special effects.
Larsson, Trezeguet, Nedvěd, and Shevchenko were the four main characters.
Then the video shifted to a fast-paced series of highlights showcasing Pirlo and Ballack's brilliant passes, Makélélé and Gattuso's tackles, Schneider, Capdevila, and Zambrotta's sharp assists, as well as Southgate and Helguera's fierce defense, and Butt's spectacular saves, with additional stunning moments from some substitutes.
This kind of highlights, done with a slightly faster speed, was particularly eye-catching.
Next, the video returned to The Den, this time shown from a flat angle. Shadows began to appear on the field; it was Millwall's starting lineup, arranged in a V-shape, wearing the special edition Champions League final kits. Behind them were the substitute players, forming a large V formation.
The scene shifted again to a dark space where a man was depicted from the chest down, neatly tying his tie before grabbing a suit, shaking his shoulders as he slid into the jacket.
The scene changed once more to the player tunnel at The Den, where this well-dressed, blonde-maned man emerged from the shadows, standing at the front of the V-formation, turning around with a serious expression and keen eyes—Millwall's young manager: Aldrich.
Following this, the footage switched back to fans cheering from the stands, showcasing a montage of classic support moments, featuring the crowd in slow motion as they passionately rallied behind the team.
Finally, the video returned once more to The Den, with Aldrich leading the team in a V formation, as fans gradually appeared in the empty stands, waving Millwall flags, filling the entire frame with energy and impact.
On the pitch, bold, shimmering words emerged.
**Final Showdown in Amsterdam!**
After the promotional video ended, there was a moment of silence in the venue, followed by applause from the reporters who began discussing excitedly.
Millwall's production of this promotional video was incredibly exhilarating!
Moreover, from the community culture at the beginning to the fans appearing as the "twelfth man" at the end, if you removed the "Final Showdown in Amsterdam" title, this promotional video could easily serve as Millwall's season trailer—of course, provided that the players featured wore the Millwall jerseys.