A Day Out in Shanghai

After arriving in Shanghai, the third stop of Millwall's Asian tour, Aldrich gave the team the afternoon and evening off. Under the club's arrangements, the players were free to explore the city. Keeping his promise, Aldrich changed into casual attire and led Ronaldinho, Klose, and Schneider on a relaxed outing. Together, they roamed the city streets, savoring authentic Chinese cuisine.

Most ordinary Chinese citizens were not familiar with football stars. Taking advantage of this, Aldrich devised a clever ruse. He let the main group, accompanied by sponsors and club staff, leave the hotel first, drawing away the waiting fans. Only then did he discreetly slip out with Ronaldinho, Klose, and Schneider.

However, their peaceful exploration didn't last long. They were eventually recognized, either by fans or persistent reporters. This led to a game of cat and mouse through the city. Every time a crowd began to gather, they quickly relocated, sometimes escaping in taxis.

Amid this mix of training and commercial activities during their Asian tour, Millwall's star players remained in the spotlight. But as the team prepared for their third friendly match in Shanghai, the atmosphere within the squad shifted.

Two days of training sessions were scheduled, with only half a day open to fans and media. The audience, hoping for more skillful displays, left disappointed as Millwall focused on intense preparation. The previous weeks had been relatively light due to an incomplete squad and recovery training. Now, the team pushed forward with full-fledged sessions, focusing on building fitness and restoring competitive form.

As the media criticized Millwall's lack of fan engagement, Aldrich delivered a stunning surprise during the press conference before their match against Monaco.

"Any questions?" Aldrich began nonchalantly as he took his seat, leaving the Chinese journalists stunned.

"Huh?" Many responded with startled murmurs.

"Did I not make myself clear? Don't you have any questions?" Aldrich asked again, his face lit with a playful smile.

The reporters' eyes widened in disbelief, and one hurriedly asked, "Mr. Hall, do you speak Chinese?!"

Indeed, Aldrich had spoken in Mandarin.

At least, that was his opinion. While most understood his words, the tone was undeniably peculiar.

Language skills require practice, and though Aldrich rarely had opportunities to speak Mandarin throughout the year, his encounters with Chinese communities in Europe had given him some chances to polish his ability.

"Yes, I can speak Chinese. What's so surprising about that?" Aldrich replied with an air of nonchalance, his tone carrying a hint of playful arrogance.

The reporters on-site were thrilled. Aldrich's multilingual skills were well-known—he was proficient in Portuguese, Spanish, French, and German, which was essential for communicating with players. While such linguistic prowess wasn't uncommon among football coaches, given the demands of the job, the ability to speak Mandarin stood out.

After all, mastering Mandarin required significant effort, and for foreigners, achieving fluency to the point of seamless communication was no small feat.

What began as a routine press conference for a football match quickly turned into a discussion about Chinese culture, with reporters bombarding Aldrich with questions:

"When did you start learning Chinese?"

"How much do you know about Chinese culture?"

"What interests you about China?"

Of course, Aldrich wasn't about to reveal the truth: he had only a superficial grasp of the language. If anything, he joked inwardly, "If the world hasn't gone mad, then it must be me who's crazy."

One reporter asked why Aldrich hadn't used Mandarin during his interviews in Hong Kong. He candidly responded, "Because I don't understand Cantonese, nor can I speak it."

The reporters, captivated by his linguistic skills, showed far more interest in this unexpected revelation than in questions about the upcoming match.

However, Aldrich couldn't help but feel slightly irritated by the reactions around him. The excitement generated by his speaking Mandarin felt akin to the amazement at a monkey suddenly speaking human language.

The Chinese sponsors surrounding Aldrich were eager for him to 'say a few words.' When he spoke fluent Mandarin, their reactions ranged from shock to admiration, followed by endless praise for his language skills.

With no language barriers, Aldrich's workload quickly grew, as interview requests started pouring in far beyond expectations.

Doing interviews in English? That's normal for a foreign coach.

But a foreign coach conducting interviews in fluent Mandarin? That's something new—it adds appeal to the show, connects Aldrich more closely to China, and captivates viewers.

How many foreign coaches in the world of sports can do that?

How many foreign coaches in any sport could conduct an interview in fluent Mandarin? The thought alone made Millwall's commercial prospects in China even more promising.

Aldrich decided to accept one Mandarin interview, limiting it to Shanghai. When CCTV-5 proposed a feature-length program, Aldrich passed the opportunity to Klinsmann. This decision wasn't made lightly.

For Chinese fans, Klinsmann wasn't just Millwall's assistant coach; he was a vital part of their success story and a legendary footballer with a strong following in China. While his appearances might not generate the same level of buzz as Aldrich, they would still have a significant impact.

Additionally, Aldrich's schedule was too tight. His focus remained on his primary duties as head coach. Klinsmann, meanwhile, welcomed the chance to represent the team and traveled directly to Beijing. As a global football icon, Klinsmann understood his personal brand extended beyond Millwall.

However, he remained committed to his role at Millwall, believing his work there was only halfway done. He wanted to see how Aldrich would defend the empire he had built when faced with new challenges and opportunities.

While Aldrich prepared for his interview, the immediate task at hand was leading the team in their third friendly match.

Millwall's final match of their Asian tour pitted them against Ligue 1 champions Monaco. Compared to the struggling Ajax and the underwhelming Celtic, Monaco posed a much sterner test, boasting both a stronger reputation and lineup.

With two warm-up matches under their belts, Millwall's form was sharpening, and the team took this match more seriously than ever. They fielded their full-strength lineup today.

Monaco, no longer under the guidance of Tigana—who left the club 18 months ago—was now managed by Claude Puel. Tigana, coincidentally, had become Aldrich's new neighbor this summer after taking charge of Fulham, a First Division club. A future clash in the Premier League seemed inevitable.

Puel, a Monaco loyalist who spent his entire playing career at the club, climbed the coaching ranks step by step. After Tigana's departure, he was promoted from reserve team duties to lead the first team. In his first full season as manager, Puel led Monaco to the Ligue 1 title. Following in the footsteps of Wenger and Tigana, Puel seemed destined to uphold Monaco's tradition of nurturing coaching talent.

This match marked the first meeting between Aldrich and Puel. Their initial exchange on the sidelines was polite and professional, laying the groundwork for mutual respect.

Aldrich has become a hot topic among Chinese football fans, largely because of his fluent Mandarin, which in turn has drawn attention to Millwall. With their star-studded squad and charismatic, multilingual coach, Millwall captivated a growing fan base in China.

Ninety percent of the crowd today cheered for Millwall, and the team did not disappoint.

The starting lineup featured the likes of Ronaldinho, Henry, Pirlo, Nedvěd, and Larsson. With Makelele's departure, Gattuso filled the defensive midfield role, solidifying what would likely be Millwall's main squad for the upcoming season.

Despite not being in peak form, Millwall's dominance over the past three years in European football was evident. Their control over the match was absolute, demonstrating the gap between Monaco and Europe's elite.

For the first 60 minutes, Millwall suppressed Monaco completely. The Lions dictated the pace, their attacks flowing seamlessly.

By the 60th minute, the scoreboard read 3-0.

Henry netted all three goals, with two surgical through-balls from Pirlo captivating the crowd. A brilliantly orchestrated team goal involving 15 passes had the audience on their feet, applauding the artistry of Millwall's play.

Watching Millwall live was nothing short of a visual spectacle.

Ronaldinho attempted a few flashy individual moves that didn't quite come off, drawing a restrained but clear gesture of disapproval from Aldrich. The message was delivered, and Ronaldinho immediately toned down his approach.

After all, it was just a friendly. There was no need to humiliate the opposition, even in victory.

At the 60-minute mark, Aldrich subbed off several starters, giving the substitutes a chance to shine. However, without the first-team's caliber, the high-press tactics became less effective.

Monaco capitalized, scoring twice within 10 minutes, exposing the dangers of high pressing when it fails.

The situation echoed last season's Champions League semi-final, where Millwall's starters couldn't overpower Real Madrid's press, forcing Aldrich to adjust tactics.

This time, the coach observed the struggles of his younger players. While mixing them with seasoned starters might obscure deficiencies, deploying them collectively revealed a significant drop in quality.

Aldrich promptly shifted to a balanced, counter-attacking strategy, suiting the squad's current abilities. The adjustment stymied Monaco's attack and reignited Millwall's offensive rhythm.

In the 88th minute, Klose broke past the opposing defender and finished with a clinical strike.

Aldrich, clearly delighted, rose to his feet and applauded the effort. Over the past two years, Klose's technical skills have noticeably improved, a testament to the coaching staff's dedicated technical training.

The 4-2 victory marked the conclusion of Millwall's Asian tour, with the entire squad exiting to rapturous applause and cheers from the crowd.