The League Cup exit didn't dampen Millwall's spirit as they prepared for the next match. The players, especially those in England, were used to it by now. After all, both the FA Cup and League Cup have gradually lost some of their allure, especially for top teams. It's no secret that major clubs often regard the League Cup with indifference, while the FA Cup only receives attention if circumstances allow. If there's a chance, pursuing a title in this historic tournament is great; however, critical league or European matches will always take precedence. Besides, the FA Cup doesn't involve Premier League teams until the end of the year, and by the later stages, top clubs are usually either focused on the league title or distracted by European knockout rounds.
The likelihood of upsets in these cups is high, closely tied to how seriously top teams treat them.
That weekend, Millwall would be traveling to Stamford Bridge. During training, the mood was light, yet the players remained focused and engaged.
While taking a break, Aldrich noticed a few of them huddled together, chatting. Curious, he wandered over to see what they were discussing.
"I'm betting on Henrik."
"I'm going with Pavel."
"My money's on Thierry."
"I'll go with…"
Hearing this, Aldrich raised an eyebrow. Gambling? It didn't sound like that, though.
"Hey, what's this about?" he asked, intrigued.
Materazzi, who had just resumed training, chuckled. "We're guessing who'll win the Ballon d'Or this year."
Aldrich smiled, understanding now. Recently, his work had been light; the players were training with energy and dedication, each serving as a role model of commitment. It was clear they had a personal stake in the outcome.
Several Millwall players were on the Ballon d'Or shortlist: not only the main attacking trio but also last year's runner-up, Nedved, along with Pirlo and Schneider, who both received their first nominations.
With last season's achievements—a Champions League semi-final finish, league championship, and FA Cup victory—Millwall had become a focal point in European football, even if they hadn't defended their Champions League title. Their strong start to the new season only added to their momentum.
With the Ballon d'Or announcement around the corner, the team's stellar form was the perfect pitch. The players knew that maintaining this level of performance would earn them higher recognition in the award evaluations.
Aldrich, amused, stepped away, letting them resume their "gambling."
"What's the chat about?" Boas, curious, asked him.
Aldrich relayed the topic.
"This year's favorites are Rivaldo and Beckham from Manchester United. From our team, there's Larsson, Nedved, and Henry in the mix. It's a pity for Ronaldinho; his national team spotlight didn't match Rivaldo's."
Boas, having witnessed Nedved finish second last year, felt invested in the Ballon d'Or outcome.
Objectively, he believed if Zidane hadn't had a phenomenal World Cup performance, the Ballon d'Or would have rightfully gone to Nedved, whose consistent scoring and role in securing the Champions League were impressive.
Yet Aldrich's enthusiasm for the award had started to wane.
In the past, the club needed the Ballon d'Or's influence to bolster its growth. Now, with half of Millwall's starting lineup on the shortlist, it wouldn't be wise to promote any one player excessively. Showing favoritism could damage the unity of the team.
"Beckham doesn't have much of an edge. Besides being a Champions League winner, he doesn't have any other accolades. Rivaldo's advantage comes down to the Copa America win, top scorer, and MVP titles. Sure, he scored 24 league goals in La Liga, which none of our players exceeded last season. But so what? How far did Barcelona go in the Champions League? And how have they performed in La Liga lately? Honestly, Boas, even if no Millwall player wins the Ballon d'Or, I wouldn't mind."
"Why not?" Boas was puzzled. "Wouldn't a Ballon d'Or winner be great for the club?"
Aldrich smiled. "Because we're already a phenomenon in European football. Everyone is watching us. Millwall is seen as a unit, a team that plays an incredible and sustainable brand of football. If the Ballon d'Or can immortalize one player, I want to immortalize this team as a whole."
Boas paused, then nodded with a grin.
In truth, the Ballon d'Or's most immediate impact is publicity. Since Millwall has already become Europe's most-watched team, Aldrich was indifferent about the number of Ballon d'Or winners in their ranks. If they had one, wonderful; if not, it was no big deal.
Of course, PR efforts would still be made, but it wasn't possible to focus on a single player. Whether it was the head coach or the club's owner, Aldrich prioritized the overall interests of the club above all else.
In recent years, Chelsea had been loud, both in recruitment and in their ambitions for the Premier League. But this season, before Chelsea hosted Millwall at Stamford Bridge, they were oddly quiet, as if they sensed defeat before even stepping onto the field.
As Chelsea celebrated their 5-0 demolition of Manchester United in the tenth round, they briefly climbed to the top of the league standings. However, their dominance was short-lived, and a rapid fall followed.
In the last three matches, they faced consecutive losses: an away defeat to Liverpool, a home loss to Arsenal, and a recent away setback against Derby County. This three-game losing streak planted seeds of internal discord at Chelsea.
In Vialli's second year as head coach, the Chelsea locker room grew tense. The root of the issue? The club's tendency to recruit seasoned stars. These veterans, already established and successful, saw themselves as Vialli's equals. With little immediate success to prove his authority, Vialli struggled to gain respect among the players.
This situation was precisely what Aldrich had sought to avoid in recent years by steering clear of big-name stars. Despite his youth, Aldrich had now solidified his authority within his team, and few would dare question him. However, with his established position, he no longer felt the need to spend extravagantly on star players.
Leboeuf openly criticized Vialli's coaching abilities on his personal blog, while new signing Deschamps appeared discontent. Negative reports swirled around Stamford Bridge like a dark cloud. Betting agencies adjusted their odds for Premier League managers likely to be sacked, with Vialli topping the list.
On the upcoming matchday, Chelsea would face Millwall, who were riding a thirteen-game winning streak, while Chelsea languished in a three-game slump. The outcome seemed predictable; everyone knew which side to favor, even with Millwall playing as the away team.
At the pre-match press conference, Fleet Street seemed to think Chelsea's drama needed a bit more heat and tried to get Aldrich to stir things up. But he refused to comment on any questions about Chelsea's internal matters.
Sure, Millwall and Chelsea are bitter rivals, but Aldrich knows better than to throw mud at Chelsea's inner turmoil. Stirring up that kind of mess might seem like a chance to kick a rival when they're down, but he's got more class than that. He's got boundaries, and he knows stepping over them would backfire.
It's like when Smith spit at him—he may have hit Aldrich's shirt, but who in the stands was actually cheering for him?
On Sunday, the North London Derby between Arsenal and Tottenham took place ahead of Millwall's game. As Aldrich waited at Stamford Bridge, he heard the final result over the radio broadcast.
2–1!
Arsenal used their strongest lineup to beat Millwall in midweek, but suffered defeat in the derby at White Hart Lane.
You can't have everything, after all.
Wenger managed to win a League Cup tie, which somewhat salvaged Arsenal's reputation against Millwall, but soon found himself on the losing side against Spurs. With a crucial Champions League match looming, his challenges were far from over.
Satisfied with the score, Aldrich turned his focus back to Stamford Bridge, standing on the sidelines to lead his team.
Chelsea—Bates has poured money into this team year after year, and now he's probably watching in agony from the stands.
Having good players isn't enough, especially when they're as talented as this bunch. They want trophies, recognition, a bigger stage. If Chelsea can't offer that, the tension will be impossible to stop.
Vialli stands at the sidelines, looking lonely and downcast.
With three straight losses, Chelsea's morale is at rock bottom. Facing a Millwall on a 13-game winning streak, they're aware the odds aren't in their favor. At home, they're playing it safe, focusing on a solid defense.
Despite Chelsea's lavish summer spending, the players on the pitch were familiar faces to Aldrich. Take Sutton, the £10 million striker—he had scored just once, padding Chelsea's scoreline in their rout of Manchester United. For the rest of the season, he left everyone wondering, "Will he score again?"
Then there was Deschamps, the World Cup-winning captain, whom Millwall had encountered years ago in a clash with Juventus. Meeting again at Stamford Bridge, he still carried an undeniable aura, despite his age.
Chelsea successfully held off Millwall until the 65th minute when Henry finally broke through their defense. That goal seemed to deflate Chelsea instantly. The recent string of defeats, coupled with internal discord and a fractured locker room, created a fragile state. As soon as they conceded, their demeanor shifted.
Between the 65th and 80th minutes, Millwall netted three more goals, firmly seizing control. In the final ten minutes, Millwall slowed the tempo, baiting Chelsea into a counterattack. Yet Chelsea didn't advance.
Even Chelsea's own players seemed to have lost faith in Sutton. Why push forward if the only striker was ineffective? Zola was tightly marked, and pressing too far up would leave them vulnerable to Millwall's counterattacks.
"Four losses in a row—20 days, four consecutive Premier League losses for Chelsea. They need to recover fast, and there's much to address, especially the striker's inability to score. Sutton, whom the club spent £10 million on, has disappointed every Chelsea fan. Millwall's Henry, also a £10 million transfer, now leads the league in scoring, averaging nearly 1.1 goals per game. Sutton, after fourteen league matches, has only scored once.
If Chelsea can't resolve their striker issues, relying solely on Zola, it's nearly impossible for them to improve on last season's standings. And congratulations to Millwall, who have extended their winning streak to fourteen games this season. Including the four victories at the end of last season, they now boast eighteen straight league wins, tying their 1996/97 top-flight title-winning season record. It's also a record for Europe's top five leagues. Now, we can anticipate them surpassing their own record!"