The players of Real Madrid collapsed onto the turf after a minute of fierce battle and a brutal penalty shootout. Their expressions varied—so were dejected, so mournful, so in shock, and so had red-rimd eyes...
Heynckes walked onto the field, comforting each player. Although he also felt lost, his age afforded him a greater capacity to withstand the blow of that mont.
He told every Real Madrid player: "We will co again!"
Of course, Heynckes knew that his journey with Real Madrid had co to an end. Finishing third in the league and as runners-up in the Champions League ant there would be no European Cup next season. The club simply couldn't tolerate his record this year.
But he hoped the players could lift their spirits instead of leaving in despair
In the stands, Millwall fans were in a frenzy, witnessing their beloved team reach the pinnacle of European football. It was as if they were prepared to die contentedly.
It took a long mont before Aldridge breathed a sigh of relief, almost overwheld by the other ecstatic coaches. His suit jacket had already been thrown on the seat. He stood up, his shirt and trousers were ssy, and he looked like a sloppy playboy.
The joy of winning the championship did not bring him to tears. Strangely enough, while many fans in the stands, and even so players on the field, had misty eyes, Aldrich seed transford into a fresh-faced youth, wanting to exuberantly release his youthful passion in that very mont.
He hugged and shook hands with each mber of the coaching staff, expressing his gratitude in their ears. Without them, the team never would have reached this height. Millwall's success was never just his alone, and it could never be. An exceptional coaching staff is an indispensable elent in a successful team.
Over the four years, Aldrich had earned the respect and admiration of his colleagues. Now, after winning the championship, it seed in their hearts, Aldrich had gone from an ordinary person to a god.
On the field, players embraced one another. Materazzi, having hugged Pirlo, approached Aldrich from behind, gripping his calves with both hands. He ducked his head under Aldrich's legs and stood up, lifting Aldrich onto his shoulders.
Materazzi, stripped to the waist, revealed his strong muscles as he carried Aldrich to the Millwall fan section.
"Marco, you don't need to do this!" Aldrich looked down and said.
Materazzi laughed heartily, "But they love it!"
Sure enough, the Millwall fans in the stands collectively worshiped. This amazing scene took everyone's breath away and was extrely shocking.
Led by Brady, the Roar of Lions fan club suddenly began singing a joyful song. The lyrics were well-prepared—a birthday song specifically written for Aldrich.
At the end of the song, over two thousand fans shouted in unison, "Aldrich, happy birthday!"
Aldrich jumped down from Materazzi's shoulders. To be honest, hugging soone as broad-shouldered as Materazzi was a bit of a struggle, but he managed to wrap his arms around him and turned to ask with a smile, "Did you notify your friends and family to watch the match?"
Materazzi shrugged. "I didn't tell anyone. Besides, I didn't know if I'd even get a chance to play. The people who care about will watch the ga; as for whether they'll co, I have no idea."
Aldrich sighed slightly. Materazzi had a rather tough childhood; he seed fearso on the field but was a composed person off it.
"Rember this mont. And I am certain you will be a starter in the Champions League final in the future!"
Materazzi grinned and replied playfully, "How do you know I won't transfer away?"
Aldrich chuckled, "Leave? Would you really want to?"
Materazzi raised his eyebrows, watching Aldrich walk away. Perhaps he truly didn't want to go.
However, for him, back in Italy, along with many players who ca to Millwall, there was always a thought deep down before arriving here: this place would never be ho.
Aldrich approached Larsson, saying nothing, just embracing him and patting his back. Larsson, however, was filled with joyous chatter in Aldrich's ear.
Nedvěd, Schneider, Butt, Southgate... Aldrich embraced every player, and finally, he ca to Shevchenko, who was wrapped in a Ukrainian flag.
For players from less mainstream footballing nations, monts like reaching the peak of the Champions League were rare. Especially for Ukraine, though it had only been a few years since the dissolution of Eastern Europe, being able to win the Champions League ant Shevchenko perhaps was the first; Aldrich wasn't sure, but even if he wasn't, it was certainly a rare achievent.
Tears stread down Shevchenko's face as he embraced Aldrich, holding him tightly while he choked back his gratitude.
He was leaving.
Unlike Stam, who had prematurely reached an agreent to leave Manchester United, Shevchenko, despite expressing his desire to leave to Aldrich six months ago, remained respectful of his role as a player. He had never contacted AC Milan privately; it was only when Aldrich reached an agreent with Galliani that Andrew was inford.
Aldrich had beco quite open-minded regarding players leaving the team.
Solskj?r, Pirès, Vieira, Stam—many great players had already left under his managent, and he could face it with a calm heart. More importantly, he could consider the players' feelings. Shevchenko dread of playing for AC Milan, and Aldrich wished him well without any barriers on his dream path.
The Millwall fans and players looked on curiously as Aldrich and Shevchenko embraced for an unusually long ti. Shevchenko's emotion was beyond imagination.
So players might have guessed sothing but chose not to ask; this was not the mont for sad farewells.
Once Aldrich finished embracing the players, he stood alone in the center of the field, hands on his hips, gazing at the podium where the awards would be presented. Surrounding caras zood in on him. This young head coach had written a legendary Chapter in football today, reaching the heights of European football on his 22nd birthday!
The awards ceremony quickly began, and Aldrich walked toward the back. As he stepped onto the stage, the audience on either side applauded in unison for him and his team, with excited female fans hugging him and planting kisses...
"Son! Son! Son!"
Arthur, his family and Rowling stood at a corner of the podium. Arthur did not hide his love for Aldrich. When Aldrich approached, he grabbed him, put his arms around his neck, and repeated like a madman: "Son, you are too Aweso! You're aweso! You're aweso..."
Finally, Andrew and Barnett had to exert considerable effort to pry Arthur away, or else Aldrich would have been delayed from receiving his award.
The UEFA guests were mostly unfamiliar faces to Aldrich, but that didn't prevent him from politely exchanging a few words with them. Eventually, UEFA's Johnson bent down for a long conversation with Aldrich before draping the dal around his neck.
"Head, co over here!"
Southgate and Nedvěd stood on either side, and Southgate suddenly wanted Aldrich to lift the trophy with them.
However, Aldrich smiled and shook his head, "If you don't want to lift it, many would be eager to take your place."
Southgate glanced over at the eager teammates and then exchanged glances with Nedvěd. The two of them lifted the trophy high, surrounded by a shower of confetti, as they excitedly shouted, "Millwall, Kings of Europe!"
The players took the trophy below for photographs. After participating in the first group photo, Aldrich headed to the post-match press conference.
As the players celebrated this milestone mont with their families on the field, Aldrich stepped into the press conference room, greeted by thunderous applause.
The reporters stood up, applauding and gazing at Aldrich while nodding repeatedly—a gesture of respect.
Aldrich smiled and sat down, when suddenly a reporter asked, "Mr. Hall, shouldn't you be in a suit? To be honest, your current appearance does not do your image justice."
Aldrich shrugged with a wry smile, "But my suit got lost."
"Lost it?"
"Yeah, I left it on my seat during the match. I looked for it just now, but I don't know who took it. In any case, it's gone."
"Uh... Were there any important items lost?"
"None, just what you ntioned—my image might have taken a hit."
His appearance indeed looked a bit shabby, with noticeable dirt stains from being pressed into the grass.
Aldrich sat down, and the reporters asked their questions in an orderly fashion.
"Let's talk about the tactics in the final. Before the match, we predicted that Millwall would utilize a defensive counter-attacking strategy, but during the ga, we saw an aggressive attacking style. Why the change?"
Aldrich remained calm, able to joke and laugh.
"I've reiterated nurous tis that I'm not a rigid coach. For different matches and different opponents, I choose tactics I believe are most suitable. Maybe they work, maybe they don't. I'm satisfied with today's tactics as they played well and helped us win the championship."
The reporters nodded, believing that if it hadn't been for Millwall's bad luck, the match should have ended in 90 minutes.
"Could you evaluate Real Madrid's performance?"
"They are a great opponent, and I must admit that they have stronger finishing ability. We created more threatening chances, yet after one minute, the score was 3-3, and we ultimately won through penalties."
"Millwall won the Champions League in its debut season. Does this an you will start dreaming of the next trophy? With such a young squad, there are opportunities to contend for a second, third, or even more Champions League trophies."
Aldrich pondered for a mont before shaking his head, "I'm not thinking about a second Champions League trophy right now, that would be disrespectful to the players. Though we won undefeated, this achievent ca from their imnse effort and seriousness. If I talk about a second Champions League trophy, it might imply that winning was too easy. No, I don't think that way. Right now, my team and I need to focus on just one thing: celebrating this honor earned through a season of hard work. This is what the players deserve. As for the future, I'll think about it when the ti cos to discuss it."
...
Aldrich didn't elaborate on future matters during the press conference, leaving the reporters with plenty of speculation.
Regardless of what others thought, Aldrich proudly led his jubilant team back ho as heroes!
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