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Chapter 265: a tough battle

Millwall was set to take on the Ukrainian powerhouse Dynamo Kyiv in the second round of the UEFA Champions League group stage. Before their expedition, Aldrich had emphasized the importance of this match, indicating that it would be a tough battle even before the kickoff.

As October rolled in, temperatures in Ukraine began to plummet, with nighttime lows nearing zero degrees Celsius. Although it was only five or six degrees colder than in the UK, the difference between ten degrees and five degrees felt significant.

The team had embarked on a long journey; unlike last season\'s trips to France or the Netherlands, which took under three hours, this trip to Ukraine had consumed nearly ten hours in total. Short flights allowed players to bounce back quickly, but long hauls were exhausting both physically and mentally, making fatigue all the more pronounced, especially considering the time spent traveling outside the plane.

From setting off early in the morning to arriving at the hotel in Kiev in the evening, Millwall only did one thing during these 12 hours: traveling from London to Kiev.

They had none of the upper hand when it came to time, location, or team chemistry. As visitors, they had to take on Dynamo Kyiv without any advantages.

This led Aldrich to conclude that it would indeed be a challenging match ahead.

After checking into the hotel, the first-team players went to bed early to ensure they could get a good rest. Millwall provided each player with their own room to maximize recovery, allowing them to relax in any way they liked—whether it was listening to calming music, reading a book, or calling their families—without being disturbed by their teammates.

The coaching staff, on the other hand, shared rooms.

Before bed, Aldrich played cards with two assistant coaches in his room. A little gambling helped pass the time while they entertained themselves in a foreign land.

"I really feel for Barcelona," Benitez remarked suddenly while raising the stakes. It was clear that his long tenure at Real Madrid stirred up some emotions whenever Barcelona was brought up.

Jansen, responding lightly, said, "This schedule plays right into our hands. We\'re playing Kyiv in October, while Barcelona will have to come here in freezing December. The temperature difference will be over fifteen degrees. They really are in for a tough time."

Aldrich took a sip of water and replied mildly, "Even discounting external factors, Dynamo Kyiv has enough quality to beat Barcelona. The shocking result in the first round of group matches proved that."

In their group, Millwall\'s 4-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven probably didn\'t surprise many observers. An English Premier League champion beating the Dutch league champion was expected given the investment and squad depth of both teams. The margin may have seemed large, but many considered a two-goal difference more typical.

However, a monumental upset unfolded in the other match of the group, as Barcelona was soundly defeated 3-0 at home by the Ukrainian champions Dynamo Kyiv.

Suddenly, all eyes were on this Eastern European club, which recently saw a new head coach come on board, or you could say, an old coach return for the third time.

Aldrich propped his chin on his hand in thought when a knock at the door broke him from his reverie. He called out, "Come in," and saw Nagy enter with a worried expression.

Aldrich immediately asked, "What\'s the update?"

Nagy shook his head. "Alonso and Pedretti are under the doctor\'s care. They won\'t be able to play tomorrow, but thankfully it\'s just a regular cold, not the flu. Otherwise, that would have been a real issue."

Aldrich sighed. "Maybe we should just call off tomorrow\'s match. The youth team only brought 16 players, and two absences might lead to more problems. Who knows? Someone else might wake up sick tomorrow."

Nagy thought it over and said, "Let\'s decide in the morning. If only two players are missing, the game will go on. If more can\'t play, then we\'ll have to cancel. It would be a shame otherwise."

"It\'s fine, don\'t stress about it. It\'s just a chance for experience," Aldrich replied.

Because of their involvement in the Champions League, Millwall\'s youth team had three opportunities this season to compete abroad in friendly matches while the first team was on European duty. However, none of the teams approached to come to London wanted to take on the youth squad, as it would mean additional costs and disrupt their plans. Aldrich was fine with challenging them on their turf instead.

When the challenge was initiated, it became impossible for those teams to decline, as it involved matters of prestige.

When Millwall had well-known stars in the first team, the youth players were often dubbed their protégé.

For instance, Xabi Alonso had gained a reputation for his exceptional playmaking skills, earning himself the nickname "the next Pirlo." Pedretti, showing shades of the French legend Makelele, was known as "Little Makelele." Their talents propelled them over older teammates to earn spots in the youth team\'s traveling roster, allowing them to gain valuable experience early on.

After finishing their card game, the coaches retired for sleep.

The next morning, the players rose and reported about their conditions, especially regarding their health. No one was allowed to hide any signs of discomfort.

This was something the players took very seriously; they knew that being healthy was crucial for their performance. Aldrich, taking a hands-on approach, had spent considerable efforts and time helping Neil recover from a serious injury, which hadn\'t gone unnoticed by the team.

Upon hearing that the youth squad hadn\'t added any new players to the sick list, Aldrich took a breath of relief; the game against Dynamo Kyiv\'s youth team would proceed as scheduled.

To most people, a cold might seem trivial, often resolving on its own without medication.

However, for a football player, even a cold could present significant issues. It could lead to respiratory illnesses during intense physical activity, making them more vulnerable to injuries from even minor missteps.

As history would show in the future, when Chiellini remarked, "I wish Krasic would catch the flu," it sounded like a joke to ordinary people. Yet, it was one of the most malicious curses in football.

In the afternoon at the stadium where Dynamo Kyiv\'s youth team played, Aldrich chose not to attend the friendly match against Millwall\'s youth squad. After the game, Nagy reported back with the score: 4-2.

Millwall\'s youth team had lost by two goals.

Aldrich shrugged it off.

What should have been a low-profile match attracted keen attention from European media.

At the pre-match press conference for the Champions League, Aldrich sat calmly.

Reporters from various countries were eager to see how the battle between the top two teams in the group would unfold.

"Winning one round of group matches doesn\'t guarantee anything for Millwall; we haven\'t qualified yet, and other teams haven\'t been eliminated either. So now our standing means nothing. Perhaps it will only be after the fourth or fifth round that we\'ll know who advances and who exits," Aldrich stated with composure, not wishing to attract unnecessary attention and thus make his team a target.

As such, he praised Dynamo Kyiv highly at the conference.

"This is a team that has participated in the Champions League for many years, though sometimes they faced unfortunate circumstances that kept them from the final stages. This year, they\'ve quickly adapted to European competition, eliminating both the Welsh champion and the Danish champion in the playoff rounds. It\'s clear that Dynamo Kyiv has been methodically working towards this stage, and with legendary coach Lobanovsky returning this summer, they\'re a strong side. Their victory over Barcelona at the Camp Nou was not a fluke, whereas Millwall has only played one Champions League match. Despite winning, I don\'t believe we possess the same European pedigree as Dynamo Kyiv. I won\'t allow my players to underestimate this place; if they do, we will certainly leave here with disappointment and defeat."

When discussing the match-up ahead, Aldrich stressed the importance of taking Dynamo Kyiv seriously. An English media reporter posed a hypothetical that elicited ridicule from fellow journalists across Europe.

"What if Dynamo Kyiv adopts a heavily defensive counter-attacking strategy at home? Does Millwall still have a chance?"

Those were the exact words of the English journalist.

Many European reporters shook their heads in disbelief.

Aldrich merely smiled, saying, "Teams at the Champions League level have their own distinctive styles and have to give their all in every match due to the fiercely competitive nature of the tournament. I just said Dynamo Kyiv is strong, and Millwall isn\'t favored to win, so the question I must ask myself is whether Millwall should adopt a more conservative approach."

English journalists felt a bit indignant; they believed that representing England in Europe meant they should carry the weight of a champion and confidently pursue victory.

Other journalists from across Europe nodded their heads in agreement.

This young manager appeared to have his wits about him. Regardless of how seriously he took Dynamo Kyiv inside, he articulated himself well at the press conference.

In the arena of the Champions League, what was Millwall exactly?

If they thought that winning the European Cup Winners\' Cup last season made them untouchable, they would only be revealing their ignorance.

How many true powerhouses had they actually faced?

European reporters were aware that Millwall had struggled against the defensive "Parking the bus" tactics in the Premier League, but they still held onto the impression that English football was inferior and brutish, leading them to dismiss it as a simple case of the English teams being bewildered by the more sophisticated European styles.

Meanwhile, the English journalists felt the disdainful gazes of their peers and seethed internally.

They firmly believed that excluding the weather factor, even in an away game, Dynamo Kyiv would not hold the upper hand over Millwall.

With this backdrop, the second round of the Champions League group stage was about to commence, and eyes were glued on the Premier League champions Millwall as they prepared to face Dynamo Kyiv, ready for a fierce showdown.