Millwall clinched the Premier League title with five rounds to spare, sending East London into a frenzy of celebration. Fans packed the streets, exuberantly sharing the news and reveling in the moment, while the night sky was illuminated by dazzling fireworks.
In the pubs, supporters could hardly contain their excitement. It was destined to be a sleepless night, even with the UK's midnight drinking ban still in effect.
The Millwall players were throwing a party as well, inviting their families to join in the festivities and celebrate the season's achievements together.
Taking a moment to reflect, they had not only established an impressive record of 18 consecutive wins in the league but also an unbeaten streak of 31 matches.
Inside the dimly lit office of Millwall's head coach, Aldrich worked away. After the interviews, he chose not to join the players in the locker room; instead, he went straight to his office to continue reviewing footage of Paris Saint-Germain. He wanted to bury himself in work to numb his thoughts.
He didn't want to think about Richards' fate or Stam's impending transfer...
Both matters weighed heavily on him.
"Aldrich, come out and watch the fireworks with me! Haha, Brady texted me—they're having a massive party in the East End with fireworks!"
Yvonne breezed through the door, excitement overflowing, but her enthusiasm faded when she saw Aldrich's vacant expression as he stared at the TV screen. In his left hand, he held the remote, while the right was gripped around a pen, with tactical notes scattered across the desk resembling a chaotic mess.
As her initial enthusiasm faded, Yvonne softly closed the door and stepped behind Aldrich, placing her hands on his shoulders. The TV showed nothing but static, yet Aldrich stared at it, his teeth gritted, his eyes filled with bitterness.
"What's going on?"
"United wants Stam. He's decided to leave this summer."
"Are you upset?"
"No, I'm angry! Damn it! Compared with Ferguson, what do I lackIn what way is Millwall worse than Manchester United this year? Damn it! Damn it!"
With a bang, Aldrich slammed the pen against the opposite wall, then buried his head in his hands, eyes closed as he wrestled with rage.
He had put in the effort!
He had truly given everything he could!
While others his age were caught up in romantic entanglements, he dedicated all his time to the team, only stepping back when he needed some rest. He poured his heart and soul into the club.
This season, his team dominated the Premier League, and the club had shown great ambition, with the new stadium under construction. In less than five years, Millwall would shine as London's most prominent club and perhaps even the most notable team in England.
Yet some still chose to leave; some turned their backs without a second thought!
Aldrich wished he could confront Stam directly: What could you possibly gain by going to United? Aside from damn money, everything else Millwall could offer you!
Unlike Solskjær, Vieira, or even Phillips, who had asked for transfers this season, Aldrich felt a sense of responsibility towards those players, knowing they had the talent but no place at Millwall. He wanted to help them further their careers, wishing them well as they moved on.
Even when Thuram left last year, Aldrich felt no sense of frustration at all, because Serie A and the Premier League are simply not comparable. They are two distinctly different leagues, and it's undeniable that Serie A is currently stronger.
But with Arsenal and Manchester United in the same league as Millwall, the comparison is pretty straightforward. When Pires left, Aldrich felt that the other side lacked respect for the club. Stam's departure made Aldrich feel humiliated.
It wasn't just him—it reflected poorly on the entire Millwall club.
What did it matter that they won the title five rounds early?
The moment United extended an olive branch, it seemed all their key players were ready to pack their bags for Manchester. It sent an undeniable message to the world: Even with a championship, Millwall was still just a small club compared to the likes of United, where the best players aspired to play—even without any titles.
Were it not for Yvonne at his side, Aldrich might have spiraled even further into despair.
Yvonne leaned over and took his face in her hands, cheeks puffed in annoyance, "Aldrich, if someone is bullying us, what are we going to do?"
After briefly venting his emotions, Aldrich regained his composure. Seeing Yvonne's beautiful yet fierce expression brought a slight smile to his face. "Whoever is messing with us will face the consequences!"
Yvonne raised her fist and glared, "Then let's send United to hell! Let those ungrateful players regret their decision for the rest of their lives! Leaving Millwall isn't our loss; it's the biggest mistake they'll ever make! Aldrich, you can do it. I believe in you because you're the smartest of them all."
In those final words, her lips curled into a captivating smile.
Aldrich looked up at the ceiling, closed his eyes, and chuckled softly. "Sounds a bit like an insult."
"No, it's the highest compliment!"
Yvonne stood up and helped Aldrich fix his suit, grinning as she said, "Don't let this ruin your mood; come on, let's grab a drink."
Aldrich adjusted himself and tidied up his desk, then left the club with Yvonne. They drove to East London, where Brady was hosting a barbecue party for over a hundred people. Aldrich's arrival instantly uplighted the atmosphere, with every member of the Lion's Roar asking to take pictures with him. Music filled the air, fireworks erupted, and everyone dreamed about Millwall's bright future.
...
As the European battle reignited, Millwall had their title secured, freeing them to concentrate on the key challenges ahead: the domestic FA Cup semi-final and a two-legged face-off against Paris Saint-Germain. After those three games, if all went well, they would be on to the final in May!
In the first leg of the European Cup Winners' Cup semi-final, Millwall arrived early for their match in the City of Light, with 44 players from the first and youth teams, along with the coaching staff and support personnel, landing in Paris on Tuesday evening.
The youth team had experienced a mixed bag during their recent trip to Norway, suffering a heavy loss to the Brann youth team in their opener but bouncing back strongly in subsequent friendly matches. In preparation for their clash with Paris Saint-Germain, Aldrich arranged for the youth team to have more friendly matches, giving the young players more opportunities to develop and experience different environments.
Unlike last month's rushed European journey, Aldrich organized the trip to Paris a day in advance. Once they landed, he let the team leader handle the luggage while he took the players for a leisurely walk through the streets of Paris. Having visited before, he had fond memories of the dazzling city and thus didn't need a guide.
They enjoyed a meal at a high-end restaurant Aldrich remembered fondly. In the evening, they toured the historic sites, with players buying souvenirs for their families, while the youth team was especially cheerful, taking photos along the way.
After a fabulous night of exploration, the players returned to the hotel to rest, knowing they had a light day ahead before familiarizing themselves with the game venue in the afternoon, and a simple training session to warm up in the evening before the match.
On the eve of the match, Aldrich took the team to the Parc des Princes to get acclimated to the pitch. He also attended an official press conference organized by PSG.
Fluent in French, Aldrich navigated the press conference smoothly, helping to bolster his image. Having direct conversations with players speaking different languages left no barrier, and reporters felt at ease engaging with him.
"Millwall won the Premier League with five rounds to spare, securing a record of 31 unbeaten matches. Will your focus now shift to European competition? Do you believe Millwall has what it takes to lift the trophy?"
Addressing a French journalist, Aldrich humbly replied, "We take every match one at a time. Right now, it's only the semi-final. Although the trophy feels within reach, it can all change in 90 minutes, especially as we face the defending champions. They have outstanding coaches and players; they are favorites because their experience surpasses ours."
"I hear you know Coach Fernandes and he had high praise for you in a previous interview, claiming you shaped Millwall into a top Premier League side. He warned PSG players not to underestimate you, or they would say goodbye to the finals. Do you think he is playing mind games?"
Aldrich responded, "That's correct. I respect Coach Fernandes greatly; he is simply doing his job well. His team is formidable, and he must prevent any complacency. If I were in his position, I would do the same."
"How do you see yourself compared to him? We've seen UK media refer to you as a tactical innovator or a visionary, suggesting that you bring creative ideas that secure victories. Who would you say is stronger in that sense, you or Fernandes? You must be aware of PSG's tactical setup, right?"
Faced with the biting question, Aldrich smiled inwardly. Journalists would always be journalists.
"I won't comment on my peers; that's a matter of respect. A great coach should know how to adapt strategies to individual players and circumstances. Comparing coaches based solely on their actions is ignorant and superficial. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's match, but the result won't change my admiration and respect for Coach Fernandes."
...
After maneuvering through the media, Aldrich stood by the hotel suite's floor-to-ceiling window as night fell. From this vantage point, he could catch a glimpse of the Parc des Princes.
In today's era, PSG was a key player on the landscape of French and European football.
Three years ago, PSG was ranked first globally by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics!
Two years prior, they set a record for the first French team to win all matches in a Champions League group stage.
In recent years, they consistently ranked among the top three in European competitions and even topped the charts at times.
Last year, PSG edged out Bayern Munich to be named the UEFA's Team of the Year! They also became the first and only French club to win the European Cup Winners' Cup! Their investments, particularly from Qatar, heralded a new era of capital influx, sustaining PSG's financial dominance in Ligue 1. However, it marked the beginning of a downward spiral that wouldn't see a resurgence for nearly 15 years.
As Aldrich gazed at the illuminated Parc des Princes in the night, a sense of genuine envy filled him—not of the stadium itself, but of the natural environment that PSG enjoyed.
Paris Saint-Germain was Europe's only major club boasting a population of over ten million. Who were their rivals? There were no properly matched local adversaries, just Marseille.
It was hard to imagine that prominent teams from this enchanting city would later fall out of the spotlight in Europe—and even in France—due to internal conflicts over the next fifteen years.
Sigh... what a waste of potential, Aldrich couldn't help but lament.