Millwall's private team plane was en route back to London.
Aldrich had already fallen asleep onboard.
Lately, his sleep had been severely lacking. His workload had returned to the grueling intensity of his early days as Millwall's manager. Long hours of dedication were compounded by his responsibilities at home, where he cared for Bert and Earl. Even with Yvonne sharing the burden, Aldrich still struggled to sleep soundly at night.
A couple of dropped matches weren't a big deal. From the UEFA Super Cup to the Charity Shield, Millwall's elite form remained evident. Even in a tough away match against Chelsea, their performance revealed no cracks.
But against weaker teams, a noticeable decline in their fighting spirit and desire to win had become apparent.
The overwhelming success the team had enjoyed brought overconfidence and arrogance to this young squad.
Youth was the team's strength, but for young players who achieved success too quickly, it often bred a sense of invincibility.
Aldrich knew that if this issue couldn't be resolved and the players didn't adjust their mindset, it would lead to a vicious cycle, sending the team into a downward spiral.
But he couldn't just fly off the handle.
Overreacting to a couple of bad matches? That would only make things worse. You can't pile on pressure and expect magic to happen.
The real problem here was their fighting spirit—or the lack of it.
And in football, calling out a player for lacking fight is no small thing. Unless someone's mentally soft from the start, accusing them of slacking off is like calling their professionalism into question. If they can give 100% and are only giving 60%, that's not just effort—that's a breach of what it means to be a pro.
In chaotic times, harsh measures are justified. During the ascent to greatness, tough and sharp tactics could motivate players. But now, in an era of stability and success, Aldrich chose a more nuanced and gentle approach to resolve this problem.
His primary goal was to ensure unity—keeping the bond between the players and coaching staff intact.
What he said to them ultimately mattered less than maintaining harmony.
Would he really gamble a whole season on this?
Absolutely not.
A year is priceless, and Aldrich couldn't tolerate squandering such valuable time.
He trusted his players because he understood them.
Aldrich's confidence in his players came from knowing them deeply.
He understood that there were issues the players themselves avoided or refused to address, but he needed them to face these problems head-on, communicate openly, and self-correct.
Whether or not it was truly a matter of fighting spirit didn't really matter anymore—not to the players, at least.
Aldrich's words were, in fact, a cleverly laid trap.
Fight, or don't fight.
Which was the right answer?
Did they even need to discuss it?
He had simply chosen a gentler approach to push the players, reminding them of their responsibilities, with an undertone of warning.
In the future, they would undoubtedly display greater determination and fighting spirit on the pitch. What other choice did they have? To blatantly give up? If the team lost again or dropped points in the league, wouldn't that just prove Aldrich right, vindicating his warning as accurate?
While Aldrich slept, the players held a serious internal meeting on the plane. What they discussed, he didn't know. Aldrich never involved himself in the locker room's private matters, nor did he feel the need to plant informants to eavesdrop on discussions that belonged solely to the players.
When they landed, the players' expressions were somber and resolute. Southgate, speaking on behalf of the team, promised Aldrich that moving forward, they would treat every match with equal importance, striving to win and showcasing the pride of The Lions.
Aldrich couldn't resist teasing them.
"You all look like you just lost a match and desperately need some rest. Don't walk around looking like you're heading into battle already. The schedule's off—you've got three days until the next game. Go home and get a good night's sleep."
Back in London, the storm surrounding Millwall was only beginning to brew.
Three consecutive league draws. A defeat in their opening Champions League group match.
The media was quick to declare the collapse of The Lions' dynasty, fueling rumors of disarray.
Aldrich, as manager, naturally became the primary target of criticism and ridicule.
Pundits claimed that taking on the additional role of national team manager had made Aldrich arrogant, leading him to underestimate opponents. Now, before even coaching a single national team match, his club was in crisis. Millwall's dominance appeared to be crumbling.
In the midst of a media storm, Millwall faced a formidable opponent in Liverpool during the sixth round of the Premier League.
Aldrich was at the center of public scrutiny. Reports from The Liverpool Echo had seemingly confirmed the untouchable status of Owen and Heskey in the England national team, while another Liverpool striker, Fowler, was deemed surplus to requirements.
As usual, Aldrich avoided commenting on any national team matters.
On match day at the Lion King Stadium, the stands were packed. Millwall's loyal fans stood steadfast, their unwavering support masking the media's relentless criticisms swirling around the team.
Before kickoff, Aldrich exchanged a few polite words with Houllier before retreating to his seat to observe the game.
Liverpool indeed lived up to their reputation as a Premier League powerhouse. They began the season looking capable of mounting a serious title challenge, boasting a record of three wins, one draw, and one loss from five matches, the same points tally as Manchester United, and one point ahead of Millwall.
"Three draws and one loss in their last four matches—Millwall's dominance seems to have hit a ceiling! Liverpool has come at the perfect time. Although the game isn't at Anfield, breaking Millwall's 53-game unbeaten streak here would still be a monumental achievement. Yet, looking at the atmosphere in the Lion King Stadium, it's clear that the Lions' fans are unfazed, brimming with confidence in their team," remarked the commentator.
The players lined up, and the starting XI for both teams were announced.
Millwall was missing three key players due to injuries. Neal, Joe Cole, and Klose stepped in as replacements. Liverpool, on the other hand, employed the now-trendy 4-5-1 formation that had frustrated Millwall into three consecutive draws recently.
Once the match kicked off, the game quickly devolved into an intense midfield battle.
Millwall retained the upper hand in possession but struggled to break through in attack. However, this couldn't exactly be classified as a siege, as most of the action remained in the midfield zone.
The match frequently saw Millwall attempting intricate passes to penetrate the opposition, only to be thwarted and forced to recycle possession back to the defense. This allowed them to relieve the pressure of Liverpool's pressing in midfield and reset their offensive structure.
Aldrich sat on the sidelines, his eyes fixed on the pitch, observing every detail.
From a tactical perspective, gaps in Liverpool's setup were evident to Aldrich. However, it was up to his players on the pitch to spot and exploit those opportunities, a process requiring both experience and synergy. Expecting perfection was unrealistic.
As the game wore on, Millwall adapted to Liverpool's pressing rhythm and began finding their stride in attack.
The breakthrough came from an unexpected source—the fullbacks.
The gaps Aldrich had identified were now being exploited by Millwall's wide defenders, who tore into Liverpool's defensive vulnerabilities.
Pirlo increased the tempo of his lateral passing, stretching Liverpool's defensive shape. Amid the shifting focus, Millwall unleashed a devastating move.
In the 41st minute, Pirlo's incisive forward pass found Klose. Without taking a touch, Klose squared the ball to the left flank.
Aldrich couldn't help but praise the youngster's progress. "What a pass! He's improving faster than I expected."
Zambrotta surged forward to receive the ball, perfectly positioned to capitalize. Joe Cole had dragged Carragher out wide, leaving Zambrotta free to drive into the half-space.
Carragher scrambled to recover but was half a step too slow.
Zambrotta fed the ball to Henry, who had dropped deep to receive with his back to goal.
Henry's deft first touch and lateral dribble set up a quick burst of acceleration, followed by a perfectly timed reverse through-ball back to Zambrotta.
Timing his run perfectly, Zambrotta broke Liverpool's defensive line and found himself one-on-one with Westerveld.
Without hesitation, Zambrotta unleashed a powerful shot.
The ball struck Westerveld's glove but deflected into the net.
The Lion King Stadium erupted in cheers as Millwall took a crucial lead.
"Zambrotta has scored! An unbelievably surprising goal! He broke into the box and scored!"
The fans erupted in a frenzy of cheers at the Lion King Stadium.
Experienced commentators, however, were baffled.
Zambrotta, known for being a supporting fullback, usually posed a threat outside the penalty box even when pushing forward. But this time, he surged up from the flank, executed perfect coordination, decisively broke into the box, and finished with a goal. It was a crushing play that left Liverpool completely stunned.
Aldrich stood up with clenched fists, giving a small celebratory pump.
Millwall wasn't simply waiting around to be dissected by their opponents—not by rival teams, pundits, media, or analysts endlessly studying them.
Absolutely not. Millwall evolved, adapting to new challenges. Training sessions were packed with adjustments and preparations, and when circumstances called for change, their strategies were activated immediately.
Zambrotta's unexpected brilliance was just one example. It wasn't about the fullback position or Zambrotta alone; it was about seizing the moment. And in this instance, Zambrotta was the ideal weapon.
Why? Because Liverpool's right flank had a glaring weakness: Jamie Carragher.
It's not to say Carragher was completely inept as a right-back, but against an opponent of Millwall's caliber, his defending on the flank left much to be desired. Earlier, he misjudged the play, rigidly assuming Zambrotta was there solely to assist. He failed to anticipate Joe Cole acting as a decoy, allowing Zambrotta to fulfill both the roles of a winger and a fullback single-handedly.
Liverpool truly had bad timing.
Had they faced Millwall in their previous league match, with their squad depth arguably stronger than Tottenham's, they might have pulled off an upset.
But this was a different Millwall—one nursing the sting of their midweek loss to Spartak Moscow, carrying a chip on their shoulder, and sharpened by Aldrich's stern wake-up call.
Today was Millwall's declaration match, a chance to prove to Aldrich that their fighting spirit was never in question.
The second half showcased a Millwall team playing with unorthodox brilliance.
As Liverpool clogged the midfield with aggressive pressing, Millwall countered with precise long balls, launching attacks with overlapping fullbacks that left spectators awestruck. Their timing, impact, and execution were flawless.
"Full-time whistle! Millwall halts their streak of three consecutive draws with a commanding 3–0 victory, signaling their resurgence. Zambrotta is likely the man of the match, with one goal and one assist, relentlessly tormenting Liverpool's right flank alongside Joe Cole. Klose also deserves praise, connecting with Schneider's cross from the wing to head home a brilliant goal. Let's hope Liverpool doesn't let this defeat derail their season again. They now trail Millwall by two points and Manchester United by three."
After the game, Aldrich maintained a nonchalant attitude during interviews. Despite recent criticism targeting him and Millwall, he refrained from gloating. The journey ahead was long, and his true challenges were yet to come.