The Trust That Fuels Confidence

Butt, upon understanding the note delivered by the coach, immediately focused and began analyzing the situation on the field to fulfill his responsibilities.

In the 27th minute, Greece launched another fierce attack down Lampard's side. Their winger advanced along the right flank but was intercepted after a coordinated trap by Lampard and Ashley Cole.

Lampard and Cole executed a quick one-two pass to turn and push forward. Spotting a large open space ahead and noticing that the opposing forward and winger were positioned behind him on this side, Lampard hesitated briefly. Previously, he had refrained from pressing forward for fear of leaving his side exposed, but now he observed Butt shifting slightly toward his position.

The field may be vast, but a few meters of adjustment between players can create entirely new dynamics.

Butt's movement alleviated Lampard's concerns, allowing him to charge forward confidently with the ball.

As Butt surveyed the defensive formation, he anticipated Greece's likely counterattacks down the right flank. Adjusting his position accordingly, he increased his lateral movement to expand his defensive coverage, paying close attention to where counterattacks might originate.

His sharp eyes darted across the field, unblinking, as he tracked the opponents' positioning and fortified key defensive areas. His current spot, slightly off-center to the left, was an adjustment aimed at neutralizing Greece's most threatening potential plays.

From the sidelines, Aldrich nodded subtly as he observed Butt's movements.

Butt's ability just about scraped into the "first-rate" category—barely. Still, he wasn't a lost cause. Even though he couldn't secure consistent playing time at Manchester United, right now, he remained the best option for the England national team.

Relying on Butt as the sole defensive midfielder in front of the backline was always going to leave the defense feeling exposed. Aldrich's strategy, more accurately, involved pushing Beckham and Lampard deeper during defensive phases to collectively shield the backline. However, when transitioning to attack, Butt couldn't expect support from either flank. He had to fulfill the role of a lone defensive midfielder entirely on his own. If either Lampard or Beckham joined the attack and the team lost possession, especially against opponents exploiting the full width of the pitch, one of them would inevitably need to track back to cover the spaces left by an advancing fullback.

For several minutes, Aldrich closely monitored Butt's movement, eventually nodding with approval. Limited talent, but he follows instructions well.

Had Butt not spent much of his prime years as Keane's understudy, Aldrich wouldn't have been so eager to see Hargreaves mature. After all, Butt was only 26 years old—a time when he should have been at his peak. Unfortunately, too many years on the bench made significant future progress unlikely.

With Butt stabilizing the defensive midfield, England's offensive efforts began to flourish, transitioning into the attacking rhythm they had practiced extensively last year.

Earlier, Lampard and Ashley Cole had been hesitant to press forward. Greece's defensive focus had shifted to Beckham and Neville on the right flank, paying little attention to Scholes, McManaman, and Owen in deeper positions. Apart from McManaman's dangerous dribbling, the others posed minimal threat.

Gradually, the game's tempo shifted as England began dictating play, each attack growing more menacing.

Aldrich stood with his hands on his hips, his sharp eyes scanning the pitch.

Greece was struggling to keep up.

Repeated attempts to exploit England's right flank met with resistance. Occasional switches to the left failed to catch England off guard, as their left side was adequately covered.

In contrast, England's offense gained momentum. Every coordinated play increased the danger, showing the team's growing confidence.

Ferdinand won an aerial duel against the Greek striker, calmly heading the ball to Beckham. After his success, he gestured toward the unmarked Neville on the right.

Ferdinand's growth under O'Leary at Leeds United had been remarkable. The Champions League had tested him in ways Millwall never could. His composed performances had solidified his role as England's starting center-back, relegating Campbell to the bench.

Beckham, heavily marked, didn't need Ferdinand's signal. Without turning, he played a simple pass to Neville. As Neville received the ball, his defender shifted toward him, prompting Neville to return the ball to Beckham in a seamless one-two. Beckham advanced with the ball, orchestrating England's attack.

Crossing the halfway line, he encountered another defender. Noticing Scholes tightly marked, Beckham decisively delivered a diagonal pass to the left flank.

Ashley Cole surged forward to collect the slightly lofted pass, driving into Greece's defensive third with pace.

England's left flank pierced into Greece's danger zone, triggering defensive alarms.

Cole, pushing down the wing, encountered resistance and opted for a cutback. Scholes, now free, stepped up to receive the ball and quickly redirected it to McManaman.

McManaman, the liveliest player on the pitch, had energy to spare. Although no longer a regular starter at Real Madrid, his stamina and determination remained unmatched.

Trapping the ball and turning to face the Greek defensive line, McManaman had little time to act. Hesitation would allow his opponents to seal off the penalty area completely. Skoles cut diagonally to the other side, drawing away a defender with him.

McManaman was in brilliant form today. The ball seemed glued to his feet, impossible to intercept. Facing slightly toward the goal, he nudged the ball inward. The defender in front of him followed, shifting his weight to block the path. But McManaman swiftly pulled the ball back toward the penalty area, accelerating with an explosive burst past his marker.

He slipped past the defender and broke into the box!

It was a half-breakaway opportunity, angled at 45 degrees toward the goal.

McManaman's expression was resolute, a stark contrast to the fluid elegance of his dribbling.

At some point, he had begun yearning for the upcoming FIFA international matchdays.

Why?

Was it because he couldn't tolerate sitting on the bench at Real Madrid any longer?

Or was it the sting of being repeatedly snubbed by Hoddle and Keegan, driving him to seek redemption and recapture the glory of his performances at the European Championship five years ago?

He didn't know.

All he knew was this: there was a place for him in the national team.

That man, who had become his coach, was someone he had once seemingly crossed paths with as an adversary, without exchanging a single word. That man was Aldrich Hall.

In the 1995/96 season, Millwall made their Premier League debut. Liverpool's reputation still carried significant weight across Europe, but at Anfield, The Lions stunned the continent by trampling the Reds underfoot. That performance laid the groundwork for their clash in the FA Cup final later that season, where The Lions hammered another nail into Liverpool's coffin of shame. McManaman and Fowler, leading figures of Liverpool's "Spice Boys" era, became symbols of infamy on that dark day for the club.

Time had passed, but McManaman never imagined he would one day play under Aldrich's command. When Aldrich took over the national team, McManaman had even considered retiring from international football.

After all, that man definitely didn't like him. Absolutely not!

Yet, from the moment he was called up to the new squad to three days into training camp, McManaman was deeply moved.

What do players need most?

First, trust.

Second, a role that suits them.

Aldrich had given him both.

McManaman still remembered his shock from six months ago.

The man who had mercilessly criticized the "Spice Boys" had told him this:

"Steve, you have the best ball control and dribbling skills among this generation of national team players. You're a crucial part of my tactical design. If you play well, we'll win easily. If you don't, our chances become slim. I want you to play an important role in this team."

Aldrich said this during his first one-on-one conversation with the national team players. Not a single word felt insincere.

In terms of technical abilities, England's national team couldn't find a player with better dribbling and ball control skills than McManaman. From a tactical perspective, such a player, with his exceptional dribbling, could create opportunities in tight spaces through sheer individual brilliance. A sharp breakthrough might deliver a golden chance to score, an impact far more direct than intricate team coordination.

McManaman was deeply moved. Aldrich's trust stirred an unstoppable desire in him to repay that faith.

Moreover, the role and position assigned to him on the field were exactly what McManaman enjoyed most.

Unbelievable—he's practically being reduced to a utility player at Real Madrid!

But honestly, it's not surprising. With an ever-growing roster of superstar players demanding the ball, he's been pushed to the sidelines. He can't even secure a guaranteed starting spot and spends most of his time focusing on defensive duties.

Perhaps in today's Premier League, every summer brings familiar names to the top scorer predictions—Henry, Larsson, Yorke, Ibrahimovic... And when it comes to the assist charts, it seems almost inevitable that Manchester United's golden wingers plus Ronaldinho dominate.

Yet, just a year and a half ago, when McManaman left the Premier League, the assist charts were a two-horse race between him and Giggs. Each season, the top three assist leaders were McManaman, Giggs, and Beckham. When he departed, he ranked second in total career Premier League assists, only behind Giggs. If one calculated assists per game, he was number one! Although Beckham had now surpassed him, he still held second place.

McManaman was undoubtedly a cerebral player. Whatever one said about his off-pitch demeanor, on the pitch, his style was always team-oriented, focused on contributing to the bigger picture. If only he had Scholes' level of professionalism, his club achievements would have been limitless.

"Oh, McManaman's through! He nudges it forward to leave the defender in his dust, then slides a clever pass across. Owen's there—he gets a toe on it, beating the defender to the punch! The ball sneaks past the keeper at the near post. Brilliant finish!"

"England scores! A brilliant breakthrough by McManaman! That assist set up Owen, who showed quick reflexes to fire past the Greek goalkeeper! A former Liverpool star and Liverpool's current standout player combine to give England the lead!"

After the goal, Owen broke into a grin and ran off to celebrate. McManaman backpedaled toward the sideline, a broad smile spreading across his face.

At that moment, his eyes wandered to the touchline. From a distance, he saw Aldrich swinging his arms in a modest celebration. Lifting his right arm, McManaman gave him a thumbs-up.

It was an unfamiliar feeling. Playing for the national team without pay made him happy, fulfilled, and proud. It made him not want to return to his club!

He mimicked a gesture Ronaldinho often made at Millwall. After assisting or scoring, Ronaldinho would raise a thumb toward the sideline as if to reassure Aldrich: "Relax, I've got this!"

Aldrich saw McManaman's gesture and returned it with a smile and a thumbs-up of his own.

"Well done, Steve!"