Laughter in Hong Kong

Millwall's lineup for this friendly in Singapore didn't show much sincerity.

It was an all-reserve squad. Kirkland started as goalkeeper, Alonso was in the lineup, and Lampard? He was on the bench, chatting and joking with Southgate.

Ajax, on the other hand, approached the match with far greater seriousness, fielding most of their first team. As the Eredivisie's top club—despite finishing sixth last season—they were eager to test themselves against European elite, even if it was just a friendly.

The crowd in attendance, however, felt utterly deceived.

Clutching their expensive tickets, they stared at the promotional posters featuring names like Pavel Nedvěd, Ronaldinho, and Thierry Henry, only to realize they'd been duped.

Behind Aldrich's seat in the stands, a group of passionate fans repeatedly chanted his name, as if willing him to take to the pitch himself.

Aldrich, now a fan favorite, remained firmly seated on the touchline, engrossed in conversation with Jürgen Klinsmann.

Klinsmann struck up a conversation with Aldrich, diving into the struggles of German football. England's group-stage exit from the Euros was painful, but they weren't alone—Germany suffered the same fate, crashing out early in what many considered an embarrassment.

Although Germany reached the World Cup final two years later and claimed the runner-up spot, most in Europe saw that period as the lowest point for German football. The disastrous performance in this year's European Championship sparked a wave of reform across German football. The World Cup run that followed was seen as little more than a fleeting resurgence.

Interestingly, Brazil and Germany—the finalists that year—faced almost no top-tier teams throughout the tournament. If England is considered a top team, Brazil's win against them was anything but easy.

And that World Cup? It became infamous, as several top teams were controversially eliminated, allowing South Korea to claim the highest World Cup finish ever achieved by an Asian team.

Aldrich admired the Germans deeply. Failure wasn't the end; the real danger lay in refusing to learn from it. Be it in war or football, the Germans' meticulous approach to addressing mistakes and striving for progress was something Aldrich respected profoundly.

Though relaxed, Aldrich remained thoughtful during his conversation with Klinsmann.

Meanwhile, on the pitch, the "friendly" match turned into a barnburner!

Ajax meant business, and Millwall's young players weren't about to roll over. On the contrary, they seized the chance to prove themselves and earn more minutes on the field.

Millwall played boldly, never resorting to defensive tactics. Ajax's signature 4-3-3, embedded in their DNA, set the stage for an explosive, end-to-end game. Goals came thick and fast.

The crowd, initially disheartened, soon realized that a starless match could still be electrifying.

Millwall 0:1 Ajax.

1:1.

2:1.

3:1.

3:2.

3:3.

4:3.

4:4.

4:5.

In the final ten minutes, Aldrich made his last substitutions. Having already made two rounds of changes, swapping in three or four players each time, he now sent on Ronaldinho, Nedvěd, and Larsson.

Finally, the stars took the stage, and the crowd erupted.

Six minutes later, Ronaldinho set up Larsson for the equalizer. Nedvěd narrowly missed a game-winning chance in the dying moments, and the match ended in a thrilling 5:5 draw.

Though it lacked star power for much of the game, the match's intensity and spectacle left the crowd thoroughly entertained.

After wrapping up their first friendly, Millwall immediately departed for Hong Kong.

Upon their arrival, they were met with a reception even more overwhelming than in Singapore. The streets seemed deserted as the city buzzed with anticipation for the team's arrival.

As the "backyard" of English football's international promotion, Hong Kong was steeped in Premier League fandom. Before 1997, it had been a British colony. With local football plagued by scandals and decline, fans turned their gaze toward European football, with the Premier League becoming the default choice.

Now, thanks to five stellar years in the Premier League and Europe, Millwall had cultivated a massive Hong Kong fanbase.

The arrivals of Pirlo, Henry, and other stars in Hong Kong pushed the excitement to a fever pitch.

The players were taken aback by the fans' fervor.

Fans thronged the training ground and hotel, making it nearly impossible for players to venture out.

"Hey, are you two on vacation or what?"

Catching Ronaldinho and Henry whispering during training, Aldrich sternly reminded them to stay focused.

Henry's first act upon rejoining the team was to apologize for the negative impact his transfer saga had caused within the squad.

With his contract extension finalized, the matter was put to rest. His teammates, now at ease, simply laughed it off, showing no hard feelings.

Ronaldinho turned away and pulled a goofy face at Henry, a gesture only visible to the Frenchman. Henry rolled his eyes in return.

The two resumed training, with Ronaldinho's mischievous creativity on full display. Surrounding the training ground, journalists and fans observed with curiosity.

During a brief rest, Ronaldinho gathered Henry, Larsson, Schneider, and Pirlo. Whatever they discussed remained a mystery, but soon after, the five began an impromptu passing game.

The rules were simple: keep the ball in the air and maintain a steady sequence of passes. However, they added a twist—gradually increasing the distance between them, raising the difficulty of their challenge.

Initially, the players stood just two or three meters apart, passing the ball with their feet, legs, heads, shoulders—and in Ronaldinho's case, even his back—without letting it touch the ground. As the gap widened, they couldn't rely on single-touch passes anymore. They began cushioning the ball, adjusting its trajectory before sending it to a teammate, ensuring it remained airborne.

At first, the reporters and fans didn't think much of it. But as the game progressed, excitement grew.

When their distances stretched beyond 10 meters, the precision of their chest and thigh controls became mesmerizing. The ball danced through the air with a rhythm so captivating it seemed to inspire movement in the crowd.

Their Millwall teammates watched in awe. Klose's eyes sparkled with admiration. "When will I have such incredible ball control and technique?" he muttered.

"You could totally use this for an ad."

Jansen said with a laugh, standing next to Aldrich.

The crowd erupted as Ronaldinho, standing still, used a backheel scorpion kick to pass the ball accurately to Henry. Henry deftly cushioned it with his shoulder, flicked it into the air, and headed it to Larsson.

Aldrich chuckled as he watched Ronaldinho, Schneider, and the others showing off their skills. "Ah, to be young," he murmured.

Ronaldinho's flashy moves weren't uncommon during training, though he typically didn't involve others in his antics. Many of his tricks lacked practicality in actual matches, making them more a spectacle than a skill. Today, however, it was clear he was putting on a show for the crowd.

Even as the break ended, Ronaldinho and his group refused to let the ball touch the ground. Their distance now exceeded 15 meters, and with every pass, the stands erupted in cheers.

Blowing his whistle, Aldrich signaled the team to move on to the next training drill. Ronaldinho brought the ball under control with his chest, then launched it toward the goal with a powerful strike.

The ball ricocheted off the crossbar and returned without hitting the ground. Larsson seized the opportunity, smashing it into the net with a breathtaking volley.

The fans were dumbfounded. They assumed Ronaldinho had aimed for the crossbar intentionally. When he high-fived Larsson afterward, it looked like a planned assist.

But while the crowd marveled, the players and coaches knew better—it had been pure coincidence.

Millwall's open training session in Hong Kong left the spectators spellbound.

Yet the drama wasn't over.

During a sprint test, Ronaldinho was paired with Gronkjaer. The Brazilian was utterly outpaced by his teammate.

Aldrich, noting Ronaldinho's subpar results, called him over for a symbolic "pep talk." Ronaldinho promised to focus on regaining his fitness and, with a grin, issued a challenge to his coach.

"Hey, time to prove it! Aren't you always claiming to be the ultimate athlete?"

Klinsmann jumped in, stirring up more excitement.

Aldrich could only roll his eyes and accept the sprint challenge against Ronaldinho.

Though the team regularly measured players' 100-meter times, this would be a test of explosive 30-meter sprints.

It's a common misconception that a player like Klose, whose 100-meter sprint speed isn't particularly impressive, is slow. The truth? He's far from it! His short-distance acceleration, especially over 30 meters, is exceptional. With a sharp burst of speed and impeccable timing, Klose can gain half a second or even a full second on his opponent, creating an eye-catching lead in mere moments.

Aldrich, knowing he'd stand no chance against Ronaldinho in a 30-meter sprint, cunningly proposed extending the distance to 50 meters. Ronaldinho protested, but Aldrich refused to budge.

When the two lined up at the start, Klinsmann stepped in as the referee. Aldrich leaned over and whispered, "Go easy on me."

Ronaldinho quipped back, "What's in it for me?"

"I'll treat you to the best Chinese food."

"Deal!"

The moment Klinsmann's arm dropped, Ronaldinho sprang forward like a cheetah, leaving Aldrich stunned at the explosive start.

"Go easy on me?" Aldrich thought bitterly. "This is what you call going easy?"

Ronaldinho's start was terrifying—far superior even to when he had raced Gronkjaer earlier. The result was obvious within the first 30 meters. Ronaldinho had pulled ahead by at least four meters.

But Ronaldinho wasn't content with just winning; he had to add some flair. Glancing back, he winked and slowed down slightly, maintaining just enough of a lead to tease Aldrich all the way to the finish line.

Aldrich was seething with frustration.

Just before the finish, as Ronaldinho prepared to cross the line, Aldrich resorted to desperate measures. He reached out to grab Ronaldinho's shirt. But in his haste, he tripped, tumbling forward. His outstretched hand managed to grab hold of… something.

Ronaldinho's triumphant smirk froze. Losing his balance, he fell to the ground—and felt an unsettling chill. Looking back, he was horrified.

Aldrich had pulled down his shorts.

Lying face down, Aldrich buried his head in his arms, shaking with laughter but too embarrassed to stand.

For a moment, the scene was silent. Then the stadium erupted in laughter. The fans went wild, the reporters' cameras clicked furiously, and Millwall's players doubled over with laughter.

Only the team doctor rushed onto the field, concerned about potential injuries.

Both men had sustained minor scrapes but nothing serious.

Ronaldinho stood up, holding up his shorts with one hand while glaring at Aldrich. Approaching the still-seated Aldrich, he wagged a finger at him. "Boss, that was shameless!"

"You have no sportsmanship!" Aldrich retorted weakly, covering his forehead with one hand. "You could've just won, but no, you had to humiliate me!"

Ronaldinho rolled his eyes, half-laughing and half-indignant. "You embarrassed yourself, and dragged me into it for good measure!"

Aldrich, not in the mood for further argument, raised a hand. "Help me up, you trickster."

Ronaldinho pulled him to his feet. Remembering their pre-race agreement, Ronaldinho shamelessly added, "I let you win, really."

"Liar."

Aldrich chuckled and cursed playfully. The two walked off with the team doctor to have their scrapes tended to, as the crowd's cheers and jeers grew even louder.