Chapter 82 of 100
Chapter 82
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At a fork in the road, Audrich parted ways with Villar. Villar dribbled the soccer ball towards the Leo Youth Training Base, while Audrich shouted from behind, "Don't go too fast, be careful," before he headed towards the first team's training ground.
There were still ten minutes before the afternoon training session began, but all the first team players were already on the training ground. Several coaches had also arrived, chatting in small groups, while the players, wearing jackets and shorts, were casually playing with the ball.
Milwall's Premier League debut not only had a significant impact externally but also greatly influenced the team internally. The players who participated in the last match felt unsatisfied, but the game had left them excited and sleepless. Today, when they came to the training ground, it seemed as if their demeanor had been elevated. Through the match against Manchester United, their confidence had also been greatly boosted.
The substitute players, on the other hand, had a clear understanding that they needed to work twice as hard to catch up with the starting players. Professional football is very cruel; having talent does not guarantee success. Therefore, sweat, perseverance, and fighting spirit are essential qualities.
The newly joined players, such as Pirlo, Shevchenko, Ferdinand, and others, quickly realized the kind of club they had joined!
Milwall's ambition was not just words from Audrich's mouth; it was truly reflected on the pitch!
Audrich, dressed in a deep blue tracksuit, arrived at the training ground. The players stopped their idle chatter and play, forming three rows as they usually did during gatherings.
Thirty pairs of eyes curiously stared at Audrich, as he closed his eyes and bowed his head upon reaching them.
Everyone looked at each other, unsure what Audrich was doing. Was he observing a moment of silence?
After about five minutes, Audrich lifted his head and said calmly, "In the last match, you performed flawlessly, but I made an irreparable mistake. In the final moments, I should have made a substitution. Unfortunately... I just spent five minutes reflecting. Now, everything is back to normal. Everyone, let's start with a slow jog to warm up."
With that, Audrich led the way, and the three team captains lined up, leading their teammates behind Audrich.
During the slow jog, the players looked at Audrich's back, a faint smile on their faces.
They had already learned from the news that Audrich had openly admitted his mistake during the interview, which made the players feel very reassured.
They were not satisfied with the draw, and the last goal was very regrettable, but it wasn't certain that a substitution by Audrich would have definitely prevented that goal. The most important thing was that Audrich did not lose his composure. Many felt that getting a draw at Old Trafford was not bad.
However, Audrich did not gloat, which reminded everyone and kept the players motivated.
Next time, they would definitely conquer Old Trafford!
The afternoon training was relatively relaxed. The players who played in the last match were doing recovery training, while Audrich and the coaching staff focused on the substitutes and new players, helping them quickly integrate into the team and familiarize themselves with the team's tactical style.
The players had heard about Manchester United's offer for the two top forwards but did not ask Larsson and Trezeguet about it, as both seemed to be their usual selves throughout the afternoon, showing no signs of wanting to leave.
The coaching staff was also concerned about this issue, but since Audrich did not mention it, they did not ask either.
When the sun set, Audrich dismissed the team and returned to his office to analyze the players' recovery status and the medical department's reports.
Knock, knock.
The sound of knocking came from the door.
"Come in."
Without looking up, Audrich waited for the person to enter and walk to the desk. Only then did he realize it was two players, Larsson and Trezeguet.
Audrich smiled and gestured for them to sit down, then got up to pour them some water. He returned to his desk, resting his elbows on the table and interlocking his fingers, and asked softly, "Henrik, David, are you here to talk about Manchester United's interest in you?"
The two players nodded, and Trezeguet, being straightforward, said, "Boss, I'm not leaving. I want to stay here. I'm not going to Manchester United to be a substitute."
His tone was very firm.
Regarding Manchester United's offer for the two top forwards, Milwall had not yet responded, and Manchester United could not contact the players, as per the transfer rules. However, this is often a gray area in football transfers, where clubs often contact players privately before making an official offer. Manchester United did not do this, showing respect for Audrich. Audrich, in his transfer dealings, also adhered to this principle. He could find loopholes with the FA, but some rules should still be followed. Historically, Chelsea was sued and banned from transfers by UEFA for violating this rule.
However, Manchester United was not just waiting for Milwall. This morning, Andrew had sent a text to Audrich, saying that someone had contacted him, and it was someone who could represent Ferguson's will: Jason Ferguson.
Jason, who worked for Sky TV in London, met with Andrew as a friend, subtly expressing Manchester United's offer to the two players.
Trezeguet going to Manchester United might not guarantee a starting position, but the待遇 would be good. Trezeguet felt happy at Milwall, especially with a sense of gratitude. Audrich had brought him back to Europe from Argentina, and he believed he could make a name for himself at Milwall. Perhaps, being just a young adult, he had not fully grasped the gap between top clubs and smaller teams.
But having come up through the ranks in a weak Argentine team, he understood the importance of a starting position more than many young players. He believed that joining a top club and being relegated to the bench was not a better career path.
Audrich nodded in approval. He did not want to sell any players this season or the next. If the players wanted to stay, he was more than happy to have them.
Larsson, on the other hand, was much more composed. He said calmly, "Mr. Hall analyzed the pros and cons of staying or leaving for me. If I go to Manchester United, I would need to prove myself better than Andy Cole by October and fit into their tactical system. Boss, I don't think I need to prove anything to Manchester United. Here, I like your tactics, and I can play a significant role, even improving faster than I imagined. So, Boss, I'm staying."
The Mr. Hall he referred to was, of course, Andrew.
Andrew did not just analyze the team's tactics but also the financial aspects.
Manchester United offered him a weekly salary of £15,000, which would be the third-highest in the team, just below the King of Manchester, Eric Cantona, and the goalkeeper, Peter Schmeichel. There were also championship bonuses.
At Manchester United, if Larsson succeeded, his off-field earnings would grow rapidly, thanks to the club's commercial advantages.
However, Larsson valued his professional development more. He felt that Manchester United's two-wing attack would reduce his role, while at Milwall, he was always a key player in the offensive. Here, he could score with both his head and feet and play a supporting role, making him a more versatile forward. Plus, the atmosphere at Milwall was great, and he did not want to transfer to Manchester United in late August and then spend about a month and a half proving himself in a new tactical system and with unfamiliar teammates.
If he failed, he would likely end up on the bench. After all, no one would doubt that Cantona, the King of Old Trafford, would compete for a starting position upon his return. The other Manchester United forwards were just competing to be his partner.
Larsson did not want to take the risk, especially since he was confident that with his relentless efforts at Milwall, he would achieve success. This was a stable and ambitious club.
Audrich was pleased to hear Larsson's words and nodded. "To be honest, I was afraid of losing you. But from your perspective, an offer from a club like Manchester United is a significant temptation, so I didn't directly reject their offer. I was worried that you might want to leave, and my rejection could create a conflict between us. Now that you've made your decision, continue to work hard, no, we will work hard together. On our path to the top, no one can fall behind. This is our agreement! As for Manchester United's offer, we will publicly reject it before the weekend match."
The two players smiled and nodded. Trezeguet asked, "Boss, why not reject them today? Wouldn't it be better to say it sooner? Robert even asked me if I was going to transfer. I don't want my teammates to start treating me like someone who's leaving."
Audrich smiled and said, "You can privately tell your teammates about your decision. I, on the other hand, am just creating some trouble for Manchester United. Now everyone knows they've made an offer for you, but what about the Manchester United players, especially their forwards? What will they think when they hear this news? I won't let them have an easy time. Let them be distracted throughout the week, hehe."
Larsson and Trezeguet understood and smiled, letting it go.
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