Chapter 40

The Aya Sumi Park stadium fell silent, and the狂欢 of Middlesbrough fans came to an abrupt halt. In contrast, the Millwall Lions fans went wild with their frenzied roars.

No one had expected Nedved to be in that position in front of the penalty area, no one!

In the first nine rounds of the league, in the eight matches Nedved played, he had always stayed around the center circle, more often retreating to participate in defense rather than boldly advancing.

Even Brian Robson, who studied Millwall's tactics, did not list Nedved as one of the game-ending players.

But when Nedved scored that brilliant equalizing goal, Brian Robson clenched his teeth and closed his eyes.

He could clearly hear the distant roar of Audrich, who was kneeling on the ground, his blond hair covering his fierce face. It was not a release, but a declaration of victory!

Brian Robson silently said to himself: Boss, you were wrong. This is not a Millwall that can be underestimated, but a Millwall that will challenge the English football scene in the future!

In the twenty minutes after Middlesbrough took the lead, Brian Robson saw a Millwall that was calm, composed, and dominant in the game.

Not only did they suddenly accelerate the pace of the game, leaving Middlesbrough struggling to keep up on defense, but they also achieved tactical superiority!

Such pressure, purpose, and tactical execution, Brian Robson, with his twenty years of experience in football, had only seen in top-tier teams.

After Nedved scored, his teammates rushed to him from all directions, but he tore his shirt and roared while sprinting towards the away team's bench.

His focus was on Audrich, who was kneeling by the sideline, arms raised to the sky, roaring. Although Audrich was soon engulfed by the coaching staff, Nedved still ran towards him.

Nedved's mind was filled with the bits and pieces of his brief time with Audrich.

Less than two years ago, when he was at Sparta Prague, the team's head coach had said he was a player with no future, one who could only sit on the bench by luck.

Those words were etched in Nedved's heart, driving him to train hard every day, but he remained a substitute at Sparta Prague.

In the summer of 1994, when a club offered over a million pounds for him, he thought it was a joke.

After arriving in London, Audrich had a heart-to-heart talk with Nedved.

Nedved had never met such a young head coach, nor had he met one as serious as Audrich.

Not only did Audrich carefully analyze Nedved's strengths and weaknesses, but he also provided a detailed training plan, clearly telling Nedved that if he trained hard, he would have a bright future.

He was not just a workhorse; he had great talent and potential. Although his position was in midfield, he could be the key player who decided the game.

Nedved patiently waited, doing whatever Audrich asked. Even though he wanted to try advancing and participating in attacks, he restrained himself until Audrich allowed it. Deep down, he knew that everything Audrich did was for his own good.

After the goal, Audrich's tactical instructions were clear: to equalize, they did not rely on attacks from the left or right flank. The final scorer had to be someone the opponent did not expect, and that was him: Pavel Nedved!

Nedved did it, and when he really did it, he forgot everything.

Rushing from Middlesbrough's penalty area to Audrich, Nedved grabbed Audrich's suit, his face filled with excitement, shouting, "Boss, did you see? Did you see? We did it! We did it!"

Audrich hugged him tightly, repeating the same words.

"Great job! Great job!"

The other Millwall players also rushed over, surrounding Nedved and Audrich in a group hug.

The celebration only ended when the referee came over to warn them.

Audrich shouted to the players returning to the halfway line, "Keep it up! Give them another one!"

Brian Robson, hearing this from a distance, was stunned.

The scoreboard showed 91 minutes, and the fourth official had just announced four minutes of added time.

With less than three minutes left, did Audrich still want to take a win away from the away ground?

But when Brian Robson looked back at his own players, he saw that the Middlesbrough players were all dejected, their morale at rock bottom.

The psychological impact of seeing victory slip through their fingers was significant.

Millwall, on the other hand, had equalized and was now full of fighting spirit, seemingly forgetting their fatigue. They were like eleven fierce lions!

Brian Robson shook his head; he did not want a quick collapse and a reverse.

He made three defensive substitutions, and Middlesbrough passed the ball around in their own half to run out the clock.

The referee blew the final whistle.

The tenth round of the First Division top clash: Middlesbrough vs. Millwall ended in a 2-2 draw, with both teams shaking hands.

Although both teams earned a league point, the spirit and morale of the Millwall players gained from this match were more than those of Middlesbrough.

Brian Robson and Audrich walked towards each other, shook hands, and leaned in to whisper in each other's ears.

"Mr. Hall, this match has made me look at Millwall and you with new respect. Your team has a promising future."

"Brian, today you taught me a lot. Thank you. I'll be waiting for you at the Den next year, and we can have a drink then."

"It's a deal."

"Good luck."

The two managers smiled at each other and then parted ways, though Robson's smile was slightly bitter.

Audrich could not say he was basking in glory, but he had just experienced a thrilling match and achieved the result he wanted, feeling a sense of satisfaction.

As he passed through the interview area, the post-match TV interview was waiting for him.

Although Millwall was the First Division leader before the match, the public did not expect much from their away trip, thinking they would suffer a defeat like they did against Tranmere. However, after 90 minutes of intense play, Millwall fought back to a draw, maintaining their First Division lead. Although the gap to the teams behind them had narrowed, it was clear that Millwall was the team with the most momentum in the First Division.

"Mr. Hall, what are your thoughts on the draw at Aya Sumi Park? Can you comment on the performances of Middlesbrough and Millwall?"

Audrich smiled and shook his head. "Unbelievable, truly unbelievable. Millwall's performance today was impeccable. We played a great game. Although it's just the First Division, remember that Millwall is still young. Middlesbrough? They played very well, showing their strength at home. They didn't make mistakes and controlled the game well, except for the two goals they conceded to Millwall. They are still the best team in the First Division, and I'm sure Middlesbrough will be the top contenders for the title this season."

Audrich almost forgot himself in praising his own team but remembered his media approach: generously praising the opponent, which is actually a better way to praise himself.

"Schneider's own goal put the team behind. What do you have to say about that?"

"That was just a regular goal. Nothing else matters. Schneider was undoubtedly one of the best players on the field today. He assisted his teammates in both halves and his performance at the end of the game deserves a round of applause from the whole team."

After a brief interview, Audrich returned to the away team's dressing room, where the players had already changed and were ready to leave. Seeing their joyful faces, Audrich loudly said before leaving, "Hey, your performance today deserves praise. Keep playing with confidence and determination like today!"

"Sure, boss!"

The players laughed and responded, then followed Audrich out of Aya Sumi Park.

On the way back, Audrich listened to music with his headphones on, feeling very good.

He kept reflecting on the team's performance in the match. Although it was just one game, the fighting spirit and resilience Millwall showed in adversity were truly precious. A player like Nedved, Audrich really wanted to keep him forever. There was no doubt that among the current Millwall players, Nedved could become the king of the Lions!

On such a beautiful day, Audrich was disturbed by a phone call that night.

"Audrich, congratulations on your draw away from home. I watched the match, and Millwall was impressive."

Audrich lay on the sofa, holding the home phone.

The Scottish accent on the other end of the line annoyed him, but he couldn't hate it.

"Why aren't you saying anything?"

"Alex, just get to the point. Which player's transfer are you interested in?"

There was a silence on the other end.

"Bryan heard that Larsson might be on the transfer market."

"You want Larsson?"

"Manchester United needs a new striker."

"How long can you give him?"

"What do you mean?"

"Larsson has only played in the First Division and in the Netherlands. Adapting to the Premier League and Manchester United will take time, won't it? How long can you give him to adapt?"

There was another silence on the other end.

Audrich did not outright refuse Ferguson. Instead, he tried to make Ferguson reconsider.

Manchester United needed a striker who could play immediately. This season, Blackburn was on a roll, and Shearer was continuing his godlike performance from last season.

"Are you refusing me?"

Audrich looked at the ceiling, smiling bitterly.

"If Manchester United offers five million pounds and a contract with a weekly salary of over twenty thousand pounds, what use would it be to refuse? Keeping him forcefully would only create problems within the team, wouldn't it?"

"Five million pounds? You really have the nerve to ask for that!"

"What? I bought him for over a million pounds, would I sell him for two or three million?"

"Fine, for five million, I'd rather be ripped off by Keegan."

"That's right. Andy Cole has already proven himself in the Premier League. Manchester United can sign him without hesitation."

......

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