After settling Messi and Aguero into their rooms, it was time for dinner. Aldrich decided to leave first, hoping these two youngsters would adapt to their new environment on their own.
Without adults leading them, they would instinctively blend in.
Aldrich descended to the first floor and passed by the indoor training field, where he saw Cristiano still kicking a ball against the wall. He approached and said, "It's time for dinner. Take a break."
Cristiano paused his practice, already sweating and looking somewhat frustrated. "Meulensteen told me to kick against the wall with my left foot for an hour every day. I don't see the point."
Aldrich understood his complaints. Training could be monotonous, and coaches often racked their brains to design engaging drills that not only kept players motivated but also achieved training objectives.
However, some fundamental exercises, no matter how dull, had to be completed.
"Do you know who Ronaldinho is?"
Cristiano bent to pick up the ball, responding nonchalantly, "Yeah, that Brazilian. He's incredible, but I'll definitely be better than him in the future."
Aldrich shook his head. "If you don't stick to this training, you can't surpass him. When he first joined the team, he displayed amazing talent, but his footwork was unbalanced. You might not understand the importance of using both feet right now. If you can only kick with your right foot in the future, then defenders will find it easier to limit your performance, forcing you to rely more on your left foot. If that's the case, they'll be waiting for you to mess up when you try to control the ball with it. Ronaldinho overcame that. Aside from a noticeable skill disparity in shooting, during dribbling, ball control, short passes, and other techniques, you could hardly tell which foot was his dominant one. That unpredictability significantly increased his threat with the ball because opponents couldn't anticipate his next move."
Cristiano furrowed his brows and pondered Aldrich's words. Maturing beyond his years, he calmed his restless spirit before asking, "How long did he train like that?"
"An hour and a half with his left foot every day for a whole year. Not a single day off. You're still young, so don't overdo it with training. Listen to your coach; Meulensteen will help you become excellent. Just follow his guidance—no questioning it, just work hard."
Cristiano nodded solemnly, then left the indoor field with Aldrich, heading to shower before getting dinner.
Aldrich returned to his office, where Andrew was waiting for him.
"Did everything get sorted out with Spain?" Aldrich asked pointedly with a smile.
Andrew put down a magazine, sitting cross-legged on the couch. "Yes, Rivaldo's personal terms are settled. The next step is negotiating the transfer fee between Barcelona and La Coruña."
Ronaldo transferred to Inter Milan over a month prior, and Barcelona had set its sights on Rivaldo as a replacement. Although they hadn't agreed on a fee yet, personal terms had already been discreetly discussed, awaiting consensus between the clubs.
The brothers left the club together, heading for an upscale restaurant in the city for dinner.
While discussing recent events over the past two months, Aldrich shared his experiences from various European countries. Andrew laughed heartily when he heard about Aldrich getting robbed on the streets of Rome.
Andrew then divulged the details about bringing Aguero and Messi aboard.
Aguero's transfer was straightforward, though an Argentine giant wanted him to undergo training in a lower-level squad.
However, that club clearly wouldn't offer much for nine-year-old Aguero, as "child-level" training usually presented opportunities without high salaries for youngsters.
Aguero's family, with over ten members, lived in a slum, certainly lacking the patience to wait for him to become a star to lift them out of poverty.
Moving from a slum to London was like ascending from hell to heaven. Moreover, Andrew had extended an extraordinarily generous offer: immigrate to the UK without financial worries. Five years later, if they wanted to sell a UK bond worth £200,000, they could do so anytime; if not, they could keep it. It would be entirely theirs!
Messi's situation was more complicated. Andrew had a contact pose as a Boca Juniors scout and "stumbled across" Messi, intending for him to join training. However, after a medical check, they discovered Messi suffered from growth hormone deficiency, causing Boca Juniors to lose interest.
After half a month, while Messi's family searched for medical help, Andrew approached them openly with an invitation. They accepted without hesitation, eager for Andrew to swiftly arrange their relocation to the UK for the best treatment for Messi.
Although some of his methods might not be transparent, Aldrich saw no issue with it. In the end, Messi receiving treatment and targeted training for his growth was beneficial.
As their conversation ended, they mentioned their older brother Barnett, whom they hadn't seen in almost six months.
He'd been in the U.S. for that long; for over a month, not even a phone call home. He was extremely busy and shrouded in mystery.
Andrew's tone hinted at his grievances, and Aldrich guessed part of the issue: the Asian financial crisis was unfolding, and their older brother was likely profiting from the financial turmoil in the U.S.
The day before the Community Shield match, after an early training session, players lined up in their crisp, clean jerseys.
Led by Aldrich, the coaching staff donned deep blue tracksuits. The coaches sat together, facing the players standing behind them, all smiling and standing tall for the camera.
A photographer captured their "family portrait" for the new season.
The youth team was also getting pictures taken, with each age group posing together, followed by a group shot.
It wasn't over yet; Aldrich asked the photographer for one more group photo with all the Millwall players.
The young players from the youth team arrived at the first team training pitch. Those lively kids, usually full of chatter and exuberance, fell silent, probably intimidated by the first-team stars. Their gazes frequently drifted toward Larsson, Nedved, and Southgate, filled with both awe and admiration.
Due to the large number, the queue was rather casual.
Aldrich stood among the crowd, a smile on his face with arms crossed, surrounded by eager faces.
At the front of the line, Cristiano sat cross-legged on the grass, resting his chin on his hand with a serious expression. Messi and Aguero stood at the edge of the front row, arms around each other, both looking intensely focused.
With the photographer giving a thumbs-up, this photo taken in early August 1997 would become the classic "family photo" for Millwall and the football world.
At that moment the photo was taken, Aldrich felt a surge of ambition.
Millwall not only possessed the present but also held the future. He was unwavering in his belief that Millwall would become the most powerful super club on the planet!
---
**Millwall 1997-1998 First Team Roster:**
**Goalkeepers:** Butt, Keller, Wright.
**Defenders:** Schneider, Mills, Elgrä, Southgate, Ferdinand, Materazzi, Zambrotta, Capdevila, Neil.
**Midfielders:** Makelele, Gattuso, Pirlo, Ballack, Lampard, Nedved.
**Forwards:** Larsson, Trezeguet, Shevchenko, Gronkjaer, Van Nistelrooy, Gudjohnsen, Klose, Duff, Ronaldinho, Van der Meyde.
**Total: 27 players.**
---
**Millwall Youth Team Star Roster (U18, U16, U14, U12):**
**U18:**
David Dunn,
Francis Jeffers,
Paulo Ferreira,
Sebastián Squillaci,
Miguel,
Darius Vassell,
Paul Robinson,
Tim Cahill,
Marco Bresciano,
Christian Paulsen.
**U16:**
- Philip Mexes
- Vicente
- Xabi Alonso
- Benoît Pedretti
- Andrea Barzagli
- Ledley King
- Brede Hangeland
- Joe Cole
- Michael Carrick
- Ashley Cole
- Scott Parker
- David Villa
**U14:**
- Daniele De Rossi
- Jermaine Jenas
**U12:**
- Sergio Aguero
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Lionel Messi
---
In London, Wembley Stadium.
Millwall's entire squad arrived here for the final warm-up match before the league opener. At least in Aldrich's mind, this was just a warm-up.
After Millwall clinched last season's league and FA Cup titles, this match was seen as a showdown between the domestic champions and the runners-up.
**Millwall vs. Manchester United.**
An hour before the match, with over eighty percent of the stands still empty, players were warming up on the pitch.
Aldrich remained in the locker room preparing for his pre-match speech, looking quite relaxed, when someone knocked on the door. When Jensen opened it, he found a Manchester United player standing there. He didn't think it was a case of mistaken identity; instead, he smiled and said, "Good to see you, Ole. How have you been?"
The baby-faced Solskjaer had come to visit Millwall's locker room, respectfully greeting each coach who had once guided him. When he reached Aldrich, the former teacher and student exchanged pleasantries about each other's lives, with Solskjaer congratulating Aldrich once more.
Even though he now wore the red jersey of Manchester United, he maintained a good relationship with the Millwall coaching staff. Whenever he excelled at Manchester, Aldrich would privately text him to offer congratulations. Conversely, if he suffered an injury or had a poor performance, Aldrich would reach out to check on him.
Even players like Pires and Vieira, who had a bit of a spat during the transfer, arrived at Millwall's locker room before a match last season, mostly expressing gratitude. No matter what, Millwall had nurtured them. Though Vieira didn't get much playing time in official matches, it didn't equate to him being treated unfairly at Millwall.
Players like Phillips, who had transferred to Sunderland, also kept in close touch with Aldrich, often reaching out for advice on issues he encountered at Sunderland.
While Aldrich wouldn't offer unsolicited advice to players from other teams, he was more than willing to spend time helping his former students who sought his guidance.
After chatting with Solskjaer for about ten minutes, the baby-faced striker left the Millwall locker room content.
Such pre-match visits of courtesy weren't to happen too close to kickoff—within a half-hour was too soon, as it could be seen as espionage. Hence, Solskjaer arrived early and left early as well.
When Aldrich appeared at the sidelines of Wembley Stadium, the Lions' fans gave him a warm welcome with loud applause.
The Community Shield match heralded the arrival of the new Premier League season.
Aldrich took his usual position in front of the coaching bench, his sharp gaze seemingly declaring: The 1997-1998 season has begun!