Declining Temptation

At a fork in the road, Aldrich said goodbye to Villa, who dribbled the ball toward the Leo Youth Training Base. Aldrich called out to him from behind, "Don't go too fast, be careful!" Then he headed toward the first team's training ground.

There were still ten minutes left before the afternoon training session was set to start, but all the first team players were already on the field. Several coaches had also arrived, chatting in small groups, while the players casually played with the ball in their jackets and shorts.

Millwall's first Premier League match not only created a huge stir outside the team but also made a significant impact within. The players who participated in the last game felt discontent, but the electrifying match kept them up all night. Today, as they arrived at the training ground, they seemed to exude a newfound confidence, elevated by their experience against Manchester United.

The substitute players had a clear understanding that they needed to work twice as hard to catch up to the first team players. Professional football was indeed ruthless; having talent didn't guarantee success. Therefore, qualities like sweat, perseverance, and determination were essential.

New players, such as Pirlo, Shevchenko, and Ferdinand, quickly realized what kind of club they had joined.

Millwall's ambitions were not merely words from Aldrich; they were genuinely reflected on the pitch!

Dressed in deep blue sportswear, Aldrich arrived at the training ground, causing the players to stop chatting and playing immediately. They lined up in three rows as usual.

Thirty pairs of eyes curiously stared at Aldrich as he stood before them, closing his eyes and bowing his head.

The players exchanged glances, confused about what Aldrich was doing—was he in silent mourning?

After about five minutes, Aldrich lifted his head and calmly said, "Your performance in the last match was impeccable, but I made an irreparable mistake. In the final moments, I should have made substitutions. Unfortunately... I just took five minutes to reflect on that. Now, let's return to normal. Everyone, let's start with a light jog to warm up."

With that, Aldrich led the way, and the three team captains lined up behind him, followed by their teammates.

As they jogged, the players looked at Aldrich's back, a hint of smiles appearing on their faces.

They already knew from the news that Aldrich had openly admitted his mistakes during the interview, which made the players feel reassured.

Everyone was not too happy with the draw, and that last goal conceded was really disappointing. But can't say that Aldrich's substitutions would definitely have prevented it. The important thing is that Aldrich didn't get full of himself; instead, he reminded everyone to stay humble and keep working hard, and that's all that really matters.

Next time, they had to conquer Old Trafford!

That afternoon's training session was relatively light. The players who played in the last match were engaging in recovery training while Aldrich and the coaching staff focused on the substitutes and new arrivals, helping them quickly integrate into the team and understand its tactical style.

The players had heard whispers about Manchester United's interest in their two top forwards but didn't question Larson and Trezeguet about it. Both players acted as if everything was normal throughout the afternoon, showing no signs of wanting to leave.

The coaching staff was certainly concerned about this issue, but since Aldrich hadn't brought it up, they didn't ask.

As the sun began to set, Aldrich dismissed the team and returned to his office to analyze the players' recovery statuses along with reports from the medical department.

Knock knock.

A knock on the door sounded.

"Come in."

Without lifting his head, Aldrich waited until the person entered and walked to his desk; he then realized it was two players—Larson and Trezeguet.

Aldrich smiled, gestured for them to sit down, and got up to pour them some water before returning to his desk. Leaning on his elbows with fingers interlocked in front of him, he softly asked, "Henrik, David, are you here to talk about Manchester United's interest in you?"

Both players nodded, and Trezeguet got straight to the point, saying, "Boss, I'm not leaving. I want to stay here. I'm not going to be a backup at Manchester United!"

His straightforwardness was firm.

Regarding the transfer, Millwall hadn't yet responded to Manchester United's offer, and United naturally couldn't approach the players yet. This was simply part of football's transfer rules; behind many transfers, the purchasing club often contacts players privately before making an official offer. Manchester United hadn't done this, which represented Ferguson's respect for Aldrich. Meanwhile, Aldrich adhered to the same principle during transfer operations. He could have taken shortcuts in the FA regulations for monetary gain, but he believed in respecting certain rules. After all, Chelsea had faced legal action and a transfer ban from UEFA for contravening such rules.

However, Manchester United wasn't sitting idly by. Earlier that morning, Andrew had sent Aldrich a text saying someone had contacted him, someone who could definitely represent Ferguson's intentions: Jason-Ferguson.

Working with Sky Sports in London, Jason met Andrew under the guise of friendship, which was subtly expressing Manchester United's offer for the two players.

Trezeguet might not have a guaranteed starting position if he goes to Manchester United, but the pay would be good. However, he feels quite happy at Millwall, especially since he holds a grateful heart; Aldrich brought him from Argentina to Europe. He firmly believes that at Millwall, he can carve out his own space. Perhaps being barely an adult, he hasn't fully grasped the difference between the big clubs and the grassroots.

Having come up through an underperforming team in Argentina, he appreciated the importance of securing a starting position far more than many younger players. Chasing after a move to a big club only to be sidelined wasn't the best route for his future.

Aldrich nodded in satisfaction. He didn't want to sell any players this season or even the next. If players wanted to stay, he welcomed that.

Larson appeared much more composed and calmly said, "Mr. Hall analyzed the pros and cons of staying or leaving. If I go to Manchester United, I'd have to prove by October that I can outperform Andy Cole and adapt to their tactical system. Boss, I don't think I need to prove anything to Manchester United. I enjoy your tactics here, and I can contribute significantly, even improving faster than I expected. So, boss, I want to stay."

"Mr. Hall" was, of course, Andrew.

Andrew wouldn't just analyze the team's tactics with Larson; he included financial aspects as well.

Manchester United had prepared an offer with a matching weekly wage of £15,000, which would make it the third highest at the club, after the legendary Cantona and goalkeeper Schmeichel, along with championship bonuses.

Furthermore, if successful at United, Larson would see his off-field earnings increase, a significant advantage of United's commercialization.

However, Larson valued his professional development more. He felt that in Manchester United's two-winged strategy, his role would be limited. At Millwall, he was always a key player in their offensive maneuvers. He could score with his head or feet and contribute to organizing plays, allowing him to become a more well-rounded forward. The atmosphere at Millwall was also excellent, and he didn't want to move to United in late August, only to fight to prove himself in roughly a month with a new tactical system and unfamiliar teammates.

If he failed, he'd likely end up on the bench. After all, no one was doubting who would be the primary forward upon Cantona's return; that position was secured. Other United forwards were merely competing to become his partners.

Larson wasn't willing to take the risk, particularly since he believed that with continuous effort at Millwall, success would come eventually. After all, it was a stable club with great ambition.

Aldrich was pleased to hear Larson say this and nodded, "To be honest, I was very afraid of losing you both. But from your perspective, an offer from a giant like Manchester United is undeniably tempting. That's why I didn't outright reject their bid, as I worried you might want to leave, and my refusal could create conflict between us. Now that you've made your decision, continue to work hard. No, let's work hard together! On our path to the peak, no one can drop out early. That's our agreement! As for Manchester United's bid, we'll publicly decline it just before this weekend's match."

The two players smiled and nodded. Trezeguet asked curiously, "Boss, why not just reject it today? Wouldn't it be better to say something earlier? Robert even asked me today if I was planning to leave. I don't want my teammates thinking I'm leaving."

Aldrich laughed, "You can tell your teammates your decision privately. I'm just creating a bit of trouble for Manchester United. Now everyone knows they've made an offer for you, but what about their forwards? What do you think they'll feel hearing this news? I won't let them have it easy for trying to poach my players. Let them be distracted for their midweek preparations!"

Larson and Trezeguet exchanged understanding looks and smiled.