Chapter 79 of 100

Chapter 79

15 min read3,742 words

The Millwall team, including the coaching staff, players, doctors, and management, had all set off on their journey back to London, except for the head coach, who stayed behind.

Ferguson's office was not very large, with a strong atmosphere of a reception room. In the middle of the room stood a transparent coffee table, surrounded by leather sofas on three sides. Above the sofas, the walls were adorned with photos and meaningful paintings.

Aurich came here as a guest. While Ferguson went to pour wine, he stood by the wall, looking up to admire a photograph: "The Construction Workers on the Beam."

It was a photograph taken in 1932 during the construction of the Rockefeller Center in New York.

The image showed 11 construction workers sitting on a steel beam high above the ground, with the bustling skyscrapers of New York hundreds of meters below them.

In a sense, this reflected the reality of the 11 players on a football field, the danger of their profession, the courage and professionalism required at such heights, and the trust and communication among teammates. Achieving all this, one could overlook the world and build a grand enterprise like the Rockefeller Center, a symbol of American spirit. This painting encapsulated the spirit of the Red Devils.

"Aurich, you almost gave me a heart attack today."

Aurich turned around and saw Ferguson sitting on the sofa at the other end of the coffee table. He held a glass of red wine, and a glass of red wine he had poured for Aurich was placed at the other end of the table.

Sitting opposite Ferguson, Aurich picked up the glass and took a sip, but he didn't have much to say about it.

"What? Don't you like it?"

Ferguson smiled faintly. The battle was over, and now the two coaches could sit and chat, a pleasant moment in the world of football.

Aurich shook his head and smiled frankly, "To be honest, my father was a street thug when he was young, and my older brother was a glass worker when he was a young adult. So, my family doesn't have a high appreciation for red wine. Sometimes, drinking red wine is no different from drinking beer, just for fun. I don't really have a preference. If Millwall had won today, I would have invited you to a barbecue, with as much beer as you wanted."

Ferguson burst out laughing. He raised his glass and said, "This is Port wine, from Portugal. It has a ceremonial quality in England. I didn't know your preferences, so I thought this wine, which students, soldiers, and nobles all enjoy, would suit you. It seems I was wrong. So, tell me, what is the best red wine you've ever had?"

Aurich thought for a moment and said, "82 Lafite. Actually, it's not the best, but I'm just a commoner. Drinking red wine is just for the fun of it."

In fact, Lafite is not the top-tier wine in Europe, where vineyards are widespread. However, in Aurich's previous life in China, Lafite was hyped up, becoming a symbol of nouveau riche pretentiousness. So, when he had money, he bought a bottle of 82 Lafite. In the 1990s, this bottle wasn't as expensive as it would be a decade later, so he could afford it. After drinking it, he found it wasn't worth the hype.

Ferguson nodded and said, "Yes, 82 is indeed one of the best vintages of the past few decades. The grape harvest that year was excellent."

"Is it related to the grapes?"

"Of course. Grapes are the main ingredient in winemaking. So, a good wine is not just about the winemaking technique but also about the mood of God. When he's in a good mood, the 82 grapes have a bountiful harvest and top quality. When he's in a bad mood, no matter how many ordinary grapes you have, you can't make a classic red wine. This is similar to football matches. Classic matches are often born by chance, not by meticulous planning."

Aurich nodded seriously. Ferguson took a sip of wine and asked curiously, "Aurich, can you tell me the secret to your success? You've never played football, but your research on football tactics is impressive. Today, the players of Millwall performed at the top level, but this is inseparable from their regular training. Even though football matches are not just about repeating training tactics, the ability to play such smooth football in an unpredictable game is closely related to the coach's guidance. Also, many of Millwall's players, after being observed by Manchester United's scouts, have been identified as having the potential to become stars. How did you select these players? Where did you get the information about them?"

Aurich agreed with Ferguson's assessment.

Football matches themselves have no set patterns, unlike basketball or rugby, where coaches can detail offensive and defensive tactics on a whiteboard, specifying each player's movements.

"I left London before I was 13 and traveled around the world, or rather, just in Europe—Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Portugal, and even parts of Northern and Eastern Europe. From then on, I observed the different football cultures across Europe and stored all this information in my mind. To be honest, I'm not a tactical genius. I don't spend all day studying how to make players execute complex movements on a tactical board. Have you heard of the Lagonia mindset?"

Ferguson shook his head seriously. Although he was a connoisseur of fine wine and a successful football coach, his knowledge was similar to that of an average person. This was one of the reasons he often clashed with Wenger, who always presented himself as a man of great knowledge. In front of Wenger, Ferguson would often think of his background as a dockworker in Glasgow.

"The Lagonia mindset is essentially a simplification. Simplicity is true richness because everything specific is limited. Only the simplest things can have the greatest potential and imagination. In training, I make players pass the ball simply and quickly, train their movement awareness, and team cooperation. When these skills mature, they naturally play smooth football on the field. The same goes for defense. I instill the simplest concepts, and the rest is up to them to play to their strengths."

Aurich spoke openly.

"Why are you so honest? Don't you have any thoughts about keeping secrets?"

Ferguson pondered for a moment and then asked more curiously.

Aurich laughed and said, "Secrets? There are no secrets in football. Any tactical framework is simple. The efficiency of tactical execution depends on the players' abilities. All Premier League teams know that Manchester United will play with two wingers, but why do they still get their wings broken? A significant factor is the players' abilities, not the tactics themselves or their secrecy. The direct confrontation between players on the field directly affects the game's flow. Even if you use numbers to strengthen wing defense, other areas will be exposed. For example, even if Manchester United reverted to the traditional English long-ball strategy, their performance wouldn't necessarily plummet because their long passes would be more accurate, and they could buy top-class strikers to score in the middle. The same tactics can have different effects when used by different teams. True tactical revolutions in football have occurred fewer than ten times in the past century. With the development of television broadcasts, there are no more tactical secrets in football. What matters is the match between players and tactics."

Ferguson sighed in agreement, "You're right. The key is whether the players' characteristics match the tactics. Placing the right players in the right positions can bring out the best results; otherwise, it's a disaster."

Aurich's approach to building a team was based on this principle. He needed a powerful striker, and Trezeguet was a perfect fit. Although Solskjaer was excellent, he couldn't replace the young Trezeguet. He needed a midfield commander, and while players like Ballack, Nedved, or Vieira could do the job, Pirlo would be the best. English defenders needed height and aerial dominance, and players like Stam met these requirements.

However, tactical countermeasures also existed, but they were more evident in matches between top teams. In games with a significant disparity in team strength, even if the weaker team's tactics countered the stronger team, it was hard to pull off an upset.

Ferguson got up to refill Aurich's glass and continued, "So, where did you find these players?"

Aurich chuckled and said, "Didn't I just say? I've been to many countries, watching a fixed match every week and noting many players in my notebook. Also, my older brother runs a brokerage company and has scouts all over the world."

Ferguson suddenly understood. After a moment of silence, he looked up and said seriously, "Seven million pounds for Larsson, or five million pounds for the young Frenchman, Trezeguet."

Aurich's pleasant mood vanished instantly. The old fox had finally made his move!

He was uneasy. Ferguson had inquired about the prices before, even giving up three months ago, but after today's match, he had made up his mind.

Since he had made the offer, the salary wouldn't be a problem.

Moreover, the outstanding performances of Trezeguet and Larsson today would justify their high salaries at Manchester United.

The transfer fee of seven million pounds was a very sincere offer.

It was fifty thousand pounds more than Andy Cole's transfer fee this spring but fifty thousand pounds less than Bergkamp's transfer to Arsenal. This was the second-highest transfer fee in English football history, with the latest record set by Bergkamp.

The five million pounds for Trezeguet was also a very sincere offer.

Aurich put down his glass and said calmly, "I need to think about it."

"Whether the deal goes through or not, Aurich, the next time you visit Manchester United, I'll open a bottle of 82 Lafite."

Ferguson stood up and shook hands with Aurich solemnly. Aurich gathered his spirits, smiled, and then left.

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