Chapter 41

In the English Third Division, outstanding players at most attract the attention of Premier League teams. Audrich knew that if his team was to be poached, the pressure from the Premier League giants would be the greatest.

As long as they could be promoted next season, Audrich would try to use transfer fees and salaries as barriers to prevent the core players from being poached. The only thing he was worried about was the winter transfer window, during which Manchester United might miss out on Andy Cole in the summer, and no one knew if Ferguson would urgently seek a striker and target Millwall.

However, Audrich was slightly relieved that Ferguson at least respected him. Otherwise, Manchester United could just spread rumors to lure players, which would cause Audrich a lot of trouble. The strategy used to sign Andy Cole was exactly like that, except Kevin Keegan refused to let him go.

After drawing at Ayresome Park, Audrich led his reserve team to the northeast to challenge Newcastle United in the midweek.

This match was relatively dull. Audrich's first encounter with Kevin Keegan was in the League Cup, where his reserve team faced Newcastle United's first team and was completely outplayed, ultimately suffering a 2-0 defeat.

Audrich was not bothered by the elimination from the League Cup. On the way back, he continuously instilled in the young players the idea that, at this stage, experiencing the game atmosphere was far more important than the result!

If Audrich pursued results, then setting up a defensive wall and waiting for a counterattack might not lead to a loss, but what would be the point for these young players?

After the intense battle with Middlesbrough, Millwall's first team's cohesion and combat effectiveness suddenly improved by a notch. The progress in Audrich's offensive tactics was promising. Not only did the attacks from both wings become more incisive, but Nedved also demonstrated a commanding presence in midfield, and his timely forays into the penalty area were like a sharp blade that could seal the deal.

Entering October, Millwall consecutively defeated Bristol City, Stoke City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Sheffield United, and Portsmouth, securing a five-game winning streak.

The first four matches were one per week, and the away victory over the top-scoring Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Third Division was crucial. The last match in October was in the midweek, and Audrich fielded a full reserve team, which won 3-1 against the visiting weak Portsmouth at home.

Through a five-game winning streak, Millwall firmly sat atop the Third Division, leading Middlesbrough by 5 points and the group outside the promotion playoff spots by 12 points.

Less than three months into the Third Division season, Millwall had sparked a youth storm, and the media quickly changed their tune.

"Millwall Stays Top, Set to Debut in the Premier League Next Year"

"Larsson-Trezeguet: Devilish Strikers!"

"Audrich Aims for the Premier League!"

...

Audrich was not swayed by the external praise. He remained low-key in his words and actions and did not let the consecutive victories make the team's style more flamboyant. Instead, he was even more serious in his weekly training sessions, continuing to instill a defensive-based, solid tactical system.

By Christmas, Audrich believed that the team's transformation for the season had reached a stage where it could be paused.

Building a mature tactical system could not be achieved with just a few words or a short period of a week or two. Audrich used half a season to establish a pressing and defensive strategy starting from midfield, with Pires, Nedved, and Schneider as the central axis for offensive initiations. Occasionally, Larsson would drop back to support, making Millwall's attacks more varied and flexible.

By the halfway point of the season, Millwall's first team's on-field coordination had become a pleasure to watch, completely abandoning the outdated "long-ball" theory that had plagued English football for decades.

Watching Millwall play, one would not see frequent crosses from the wings or blind rushes into the penalty area. Millwall's attacks were layered, fluid, and versatile.

However, Millwall's performance took a significant dip during the Christmas period, with three winless matches, two draws, and one loss, reducing their lead over the chasing Middlesbrough from 13 points in early December to 8 points.

At this point, the media began to speculate that Millwall was on the verge of collapse.

Audrich was unconcerned; he knew where the problem lay.

Most of the players were playing in England for the first time and were not yet accustomed to the lack of a winter break. The frequent matches during the Christmas period, with no time to rest, left many players who were thinking about spending the holiday with their families feeling drained. This was understandable.

A young team needed to adapt to new things to gain experience. Audrich did not harshly criticize the team's poor performance, especially since two of the three winless matches were played by the reserve team, for which he had no expectations.

At the beginning of January, the Third Division had a nearly two-week break, mainly to accommodate cup competitions. Millwall had been eliminated from the League Cup early and would not join the FA Cup until the end of the month, where they drew a tough local rival, Arsenal.

During this ten-day break from matches, Audrich announced a four-day holiday for the team, allowing the players to relax.

Meanwhile, Audrich began preparing for a short trip.

In his second chance at life, Audrich had ample time and wealth. He always reminded himself to cherish time and see more of the world.

Over the past six years, Audrich's travels had taken him across Europe. Besides watching a match every week, he spent a significant portion of his time traveling, capturing the landscapes and cultural charms of various places.

If he stayed in London all the time, he would feel he was letting down the heavens that had given him this second chance.

Before leaving, Audrich received a call from the club's CEO, Adam, who mentioned that some teams were interested in Millwall players.

Upon inquiry, Audrich discovered that several Premier League teams had made offers for Millwall players.

These included Makelele, Thuram, Nedved, Larsson, Pires, and Schneider, all of whom had attracted interest.

However, none of these offers came from true top clubs.

Upon further inquiry about the offers, Audrich found it both amusing and ridiculous.

Clubs like Aston Villa and Leeds United had made offers without doing their homework.

Makelele's offer was only £1.5 million, Pires £800,000, and Larsson the highest at £1.8 million, while Nedved was offered just £1 million.

There were reasons why the top clubs did not make offers—they simply could not afford it!

Thuram had cost Millwall £3 million, and no one in their right mind would take him away for less than £5 million and a top Premier League contract.

The same applied to Larsson and Makelele.

Most of the clubs making offers had simply been excited by the prospect and had not thoroughly investigated Millwall's significant transfer activities the previous summer. Otherwise, they would not have made such hasty and insulting offers.

Audrich told Adam over the phone, "Reject all offers for first-team players and declare them non-transferable. Also, you mentioned a few reserve team players, right?"

"Yes, boss, mostly from the Fourth Division and Third Division. The transfer fees are not high, with the highest being £10,000."

Audrich thought for a moment. The players who had not left Millwall in the summer and were now in the reserve team had likely hoped that Audrich would still use the veterans if the first team's performance declined. However, Millwall's unexpected success meant that they had no such expectations during the winter transfer window. The best choice for them was to quickly leave and continue their careers.

"List the players who want to leave, even if it means no transfer fee. This will save on wages and avoid hindering their futures."

"Understood, boss."

Many of the reserve team players were either starters or substitutes from the previous season when Millwall finished third in the Third Division. They were not without talent, but they lacked potential and were not yet ready to retire. Audrich did not want to waste their talents and believed that letting them go would be beneficial for both parties.

After making the transfer decisions, Audrich put on a tailored coat, slung a backpack over his shoulder, and embarked on a short winter trip to Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland.

Strangely, over the past few years, Audrich had visited France, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, and even Scandinavia, but he had never been to Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, perhaps because it was too close to home and did not pique his curiosity. Additionally, the essence of Scottish football was in Glasgow, which is why he had overlooked it.

With a relaxed tourist mindset, Audrich toured the historic sites in Edinburgh, a city that, despite its small size, was a powerhouse of Scottish culture. He admired the magnificent architecture, a testament to the creativity of the Victorian era.

For three consecutive days, Audrich wandered the city, stopping at a café to rest when tired, enjoying the serene views outside.

On the day he decided to return home, Audrich entered a café called Neilson's, where he would take a brief rest before heading back to London.

Little did he know that his sudden decision to give the team a holiday, his spontaneous short trip, and his casual stop at this unassuming café would leave an unforgettable memory, one that would make him marvel at the incredible nature of his second chance at life, even in his old age.