Chapter 57

As the English League Two championship match was about to conclude, the Den was packed to the brim. The stands, which had been buzzing with excitement since before the game, were filled with fans who were clearly in high spirits. Even though the outcome of the match was not crucial, it was still the team's final home game in the League Two season, and the fans were here to show their support as a form of appreciation.

Most of the Millwall first-team players were seated in the stands behind the substitutes, with Larsson, Nedved, Southgate, Pires, and others dressed in suits, chatting leisurely in a relaxed manner.

After the match, Audrich had no interest in a championship celebration. A League Two title was not worth making the players overly proud. Instead, he would convene the team for a season summary after the game and then give the players a break.

When Audrich walked out from the players' tunnel, the entire crowd stood up and applauded, with cheers echoing throughout the Den. The takeover of Millwall by the Hall family and the young coach Audrich's first season in League Two had won the hearts of all the fans.

The league points were about to set a record, with 119 goals scored, averaging over 2.6 goals per game. The players Audrich had brought in quickly became heroes in the hearts of the fans.

The Millwall fans were filled with anticipation for the upcoming Premier League season.

Audrich raised his arm and applauded the stands as he walked to the coaching bench. He noticed a huge banner on the south stand.

"To our beloved Audrich: Keep Larsson!"

The Lion Roar fan group was not Audrich's personal property. At most, he provided some ticketing conveniences for the group, but he had no time to manage other aspects. However, the group had a soul of its own.

Just before the match, when the British media reported that Manchester United was interested in Larsson, the Lion Roar fan group wrote an open letter to the club, hoping that the club would keep Larsson and avoid a repeat of the departures of Teddy Sheringham and Chris Cascairino.

Cascairino had only played for Millwall for three seasons but formed an unstoppable attacking partnership with Sheringham. Even now, Cascairino was still the top scorer for Marseille.

Sheringham was a source of pain for Millwall fans. He joined the Millwall youth team at the age of 16 and played for the team for eight years before transferring to Nottingham Forest and then returning to London to play for Tottenham Hotspur.

Millwall fans wanted to forget Sheringham but always remembered the good times he brought to the club. However, Sheringham was now the top scorer for a North London team, and Millwall fans could only watch with a heavy heart.

Would Larsson leave the team?

Audrich had not made any public statements, but he had already done the necessary work with the players internally.

For example, Audrich had talked to Larsson. If Larsson wanted to leave, Audrich would not stop him, especially for a club like Manchester United. What reason would Audrich have to block him? The appeal of Manchester United and Millwall was incomparable.

However, Audrich analyzed the situation from Larsson's perspective.

Manchester United had spent £6 million six months ago to break the transfer record and bring in Andy Cole to replace the Welsh legend Mark Hughes. After Cantona's suspension, would Larsson definitely have a starting position at Manchester United?

At Millwall, as long as there were no injuries or attitude issues, Audrich would guarantee Larsson's starting position and status in the team.

As for other English clubs, the transfer fee and salary were significant hurdles, and considering the team's competitiveness, Audrich convinced Larsson to stay.

At the end of the season, the news of the players' contract renewals would be announced collectively, and with Audrich's cold handling of media inquiries, Millwall would not face any turmoil this summer.

On the pitch, the players from both teams had already entered, and Audrich sat down on the coaching bench, chatting happily with Jensen.

The atmosphere within the team had been good over the past season, perhaps due to the young players' enthusiasm. The coaching staff had also been rewarded for their dedicated work, and everyone felt a sense of pride seeing the team dominate in League Two.

Swindon was determined to win this match to secure their survival, so they had a fighting spirit from the start.

Audrich fielded a 4-3-3 formation with the substitutes, with Phillips leading the attack, Glenoar and Solskjaer on the wings, Gattuso and Vieira as the double pivot, and Ballack as the central midfielder. In defense, Lucas Neill continued at left-back, Matri and Richards formed the center-back partnership, and Zambrotta was increasingly solid at right-back.

Swindon played a traditional 4-4-2, using long balls to create threats from the start.

The Millwall substitutes were not afraid of this tactic.

As the English football legend Brian Clough once said: If football must fly through the air, why not build the pitch in the sky?

The higher the ball, the more Millwall's ground-based counterattacks became effective.

The entire coaching staff was relaxed, chatting and laughing. Audrich occasionally glanced at the game, knowing that the young players cherished every match experience and did not need to be urged from the sidelines. The players naturally gave their all.

However, at the two-minute mark, a shocking scene unfolded on the pitch.

Swindon launched a long ball into the Millwall penalty area, which Matri easily headed away to Vieira. Vieira then organized a counterattack.

But just as the ball reached Ballack, the referee suddenly stopped the game and ran toward Millwall's backline.

Everyone's attention turned to Millwall's backline.

Matri was seen angrily berating a Swindon forward who was rolling on the ground!

The Swindon forward was clutching his face, screaming in pain.

"What happened?"

Audrich frowned and turned to ask, as he had not seen it.

Coach Bab from the coaching staff leaned in and said, "It seems Matri slapped the opposing player, Robbie Gates, to the ground!"

Audrich stood up from his seat, and the Den erupted in boos as the referee showed Matri a red card!

Matri had hit someone without the ball?

Audrich thought it was something Matri would do.

But why?

A verbal altercation?

Provocation?

Matri couldn't have been racially abused.

"Matri, what happened?"

As Matri walked off the pitch with a grim expression, Audrich calmly asked. Matri looked terrible, his mouth moved, but he only shook his head and walked into the tunnel.

Audrich felt helpless; clearly, Matri did not want to talk.

With Matri sent off after just two minutes, Swindon immediately had a numerical advantage. Robbie Gates, who had been rolling on the ground, rubbed his face and stood up, going to the sidelines for medical treatment. Apart from some redness and swelling on his face, he seemed to be fine.

Audrich glanced at the Swindon coach, who was waving his arms, urging his players to take advantage of the situation. He sighed and made a gesture on the sidelines, pointing to the double pivot and then to the penalty area.

The Millwall players were waiting for Audrich's instructions. After the gesture, Gattuso and Vieira understood: they needed to drop deeper in defense to form a numerical advantage in the penalty area.

Since Swindon was playing long balls, they would not exploit the numerical disadvantage in midfield. Gattuso and Vieira could cover each other, and one of them could sweep in front of the penalty area, with Ballack naturally dropping back slightly.

After making the adjustment, Audrich returned to the coaching bench, frowning in frustration. "What exactly happened? Damn, this small stadium."

The Den had no big screen, so there was no way to see a replay.

Craig, like many fans in the stands, pulled out a radio to listen to the commentary.

Soon, the fans in the stands began to boo every time Swindon had the ball.

Craig explained to Audrich with a wry smile, "The radio commentary reconstructed the entire incident. It seems that after Matri headed the ball away, he walked forward, and Robbie Gates walked up to him and committed a foul."

"Foul? What kind of foul?"

Audrich's brow furrowed, not understanding. If Matri was the first to be fouled, given his cunning on the pitch, the red card should have gone to the other player.

Craig hesitated, "The broadcast captured the moment... Robbie Gates, he, he seemed to use his finger to... poke Matri's buttocks."

Audrich and the entire coaching staff were stunned.

The substitutes sitting behind them also heard and couldn't help but laugh.

Matri had been violated!

Audrich used great effort to suppress his laughter and said to Jensen with a strange expression, "Go comfort him, make sure he doesn't destroy our dressing room..."

Jensen immediately stood up but couldn't help smiling as he walked into the tunnel.