Chapter 81

When the first round of the 1995/96 English Premier League concluded, the match between Millwall and Manchester United caused a sensation.

The Fleet Street media unanimously made this match their headline news. Not only the tabloids, but major newspapers such as The Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Independent, and The Guardian all featured the match on their front pages.

Among them, The Independent's front page was the most satisfying to Audrey.

The entire page featured two photographs. On the left, Audrey was shown kneeling and sliding in celebration, while on the right, the scene of Millwall's players leaving the field after the match was depicted. The robust and handsome players, with Nedved at the center, and Southgate, Larsson, Makelele, Pires, and others on either side, had their jerseys draped over their shoulders, revealing their perfect upper body muscles, which almost drove all female readers into a frenzy!

It must be said that Audrey's team, led by him, was truly a gathering of handsome men.

The strong and resolute Nedved and Trezeguet, the artistic Pires with a French flair, the handsome and sunny Schneider, the boyish Solskjaer, and so on. And this list didn't even include Pirlo and Shevchenko, who were not on the matchday squad...

Manchester United has always been a news focal point, and after this match, Millwall quickly caused a sensation in English football.

It seemed everyone was asking: Is this the notorious hooligan team, Millwall?

However, fans who watched the match footage found paradoxically that the dirtier play seemed to come from Manchester United!

Because Keane's many rough actions were more obvious, while Millwall displayed the spirit of indomitable fighters, lions relentlessly pursuing victory.

Especially given the controversial penalty awarded to Manchester United.

Commentators offered their opinions, analyzing the match, and the BBC's Premier League highlights program, which had the highest viewership, even invited many football legends to comment and review the tactics of the game.

After this dazzling Premier League debut, Millwall quickly made an impact across England. Although it was just planting a seed, it was a very good start.

Audrey was very grateful to the English Football Association for scheduling Millwall's milestone Premier League debut against a traditional powerhouse like Manchester United.

And his efforts to build a team that played a simple and fast style, making the team's offense pleasing to the eye, were also aimed at attracting attention.

In fact, there was another fatal reason that made Audrey waver in his first season's effort to replicate the Nottingham Forest miracle: he needed Millwall's Premier League debut to be stunning!

Playing a conservative counter-attacking style might increase the chances of winning the title, but it wouldn't be enough to make Millwall famous.

During Wenger's sixteen years at Arsenal, he didn't win many more significant titles than Graham did in his eight years. Wenger won one more league title than Graham, but he didn't have Graham's European Cup Winners' Cup. He only had two more domestic cup trophies than Graham's Arsenal.

However, Wenger's Arsenal was undoubtedly more successful than Graham's Arsenal.

Graham's Arsenal matches were mocked by fans as being like a library, leaving even their own supporters feeling hopeless, while Wenger's Arsenal made the capacity of Highbury insufficient to meet the growing number of fans, and countless neutral fans eagerly awaited the chance to watch Arsenal's matches, even with the most expensive tickets in the Premier League, Arsenal's home attendance was nearly always full.

Therefore, Audrey wanted the team to play beautifully, but this beauty had to be based on practicality and efficiency. He firmly believed that the two were not contradictory.

Now, neutral fans began to pay attention to Millwall, the fans in East London could hold their heads high, and the club's jersey sales were booming. All signs indicated that Millwall was rapidly rising in English football.

The day after the match, the team had the morning off and conducted recovery training in the afternoon. Audrey walked out of his apartment at noon, preparing to walk to the training ground, which was only about a fifteen-minute walk.

But as soon as he stepped out, he found three people blocking the door.

Brady, Fred, and Yvonne, dressed casually, stood solemnly at his doorstep. Audrey was startled and asked, "What's going on? Why do you look like you're here to seek revenge?"

"Audrey, why hasn't the club responded? Please tell us honestly, whatever it is, we'll keep it confidential. We won't betray our lifelong friend," Brady said, word by word.

Yvonne pursed her lips and handed him the newspaper she was holding. Audrey took it and looked at it. It was a Manchester tabloid, and he didn't know where they got it from.

The news not only reported the big match between Manchester United and Millwall but also carried a major piece of news: Manchester United will sign Larsson and Trezeguet! Millwall's dual stars will lead the Red Devils' attack!

Audrey laughed, surprised. News spread so quickly?

This was indeed a characteristic of the British media, which was always quick to report.

However, the news was somewhat inaccurate.

Ferguson had said either Larsson or Trezeguet, and he knew it was impossible to sign both at once because he couldn't have both as starters. One of them might replace Cole and partner with Cantona.

"There's nothing to say. The matter hasn't been decided yet."

Audrey casually handed the newspaper back to Yvonne, noticing that she seemed distracted, her bright eyes sneaking glances behind him. Audrey found it odd: What's so interesting about my apartment?

"Audrey, is that your answer? Do you think we're journalists? What do you mean it hasn't been decided? Are you going to sell the club's hope?"

Fred called out, agitated. Although he was an immigrant, he had lived in East London since he was very young, just like Brady and the others, growing up watching Millwall matches. It was hard to see Millwall return to the top flight with a promising future, only for history to repeat itself, like the departures of Sheringham and others.

Audrey disliked baseless accusations and frowned. "Can you stop guessing? Yes, I can decide whether to accept Manchester United's offer, but I don't want to sell. What if they insist on leaving? Should I force them to stay? What's the point? Should I not play them in the future, or let them stay and cause trouble? I haven't decided, and I'm not a club dictator. To be honest, if Larsson or Trezeguet want to go to Manchester United, I won't stop them. Why should I? If I were them, and Manchester United was offering me an olive branch, how many reasons would Millwall have to keep me? The only things a club can offer players are money and trust. If Manchester United offers them the same, and better conditions, what can Millwall offer that compares to Manchester United?"

The three of them looked disappointed and lowered their heads. They hoped the players would have loyalty to the club, but in the world of football, loyalty often became worthless in the face of material desires. How many could resist the temptation of fame and fortune? Not just ordinary stars, but even superstar legends, how many could stay until the end?

"I'm sorry."

Brady lowered his head. He had overreacted upon hearing the news, and Manchester United had indeed made an offer for the two players that morning.

Larsson for seven million pounds, Trezeguet for five million pounds.

It was yet to be seen who would agree to the deal. If Millwall agreed and Manchester United's negotiation team reached a consensus with the players, Ferguson wouldn't mind taking both, especially since Trezeguet was still young.

From their reactions, Audrey could see that they were just simple fans, supporting Millwall and paying attention to every move the club made. Any news that seemed detrimental to the club would immediately worry them.

He said to the three of them, "Alright, let it be. If you see me as a profit-driven club owner, why come to me? By the way, don't you have school today?"

Yvonne looked at her wristwatch and pouted, saying softly, "It's too late now. I'll skip it."

"Oh, the good girl is turning bad! Don't do that, really. Wait, Brady, take my car and drop Yvonne off at school first. Then you can decide whether to go to school or not."

Audrey said this and opened the garage door, tossing the BMW keys to Brady.

The young man immediately perked up, looking at the white BMW and chuckled, "I might not bring it back."

Audrey shrugged, "Whatever."

The car was a toy Arthur bought when the Hall family first made it big, not high-end, costing less than four thousand pounds at the time. It was given to Audrey, and now it was probably worth around two thousand pounds.

He rarely drove, unless Melanie came to go on a date, watch a movie, or go to the outskirts of West London.

Before leaving, Yvonne hesitated for a moment, turned around, and asked softly, "Do you get used to living here alone?"

Audrey replied casually, "Yes, I've been living alone for the past few years."

"Oh, that's good."

Yvonne seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, and Audrey found it strange but didn't ask more.

After they drove away, Audrey leisurely walked to the training ground.

The neighbors in this new community were either fans, club administrators, or players' families. As Audrey passed by, everyone greeted him warmly. As he was about to leave the community, he saw a young boy juggling a football and counting aloud.

"136, 137, 138..."

"David!"

"Hmm?"

The 14-year-old Villa hugged the ball, turned around, and saw Audrey, immediately running over excitedly, still speaking in Spanish, "Sir, I watched the match, Millwall was amazing, better than Real Madrid and Barcelona!"

Audrey gently tapped his head and smiled, "Call me boss, not sir."

Villa rubbed his head and smiled, "Boss."

"What are you doing here?"

"The coach said to take a nap, but I couldn't sleep, so I'm playing here."

"You should have taken a nap. Otherwise, you might not keep up with the afternoon training. Well, it's about time. Come with me, and tell me about your impressions of London since you arrived."

"Sure, I train during the day and study English with a tutor in the evening. My parents say they are very satisfied with life here..."

The tall and the short, like an older brother leading a younger one, walked out of the community together, heading towards Millwall's training ground.