At the draw ceremony for the group stage of the Champions League in the 98-99 season, Aldridge obviously felt that the treatment was very different from last year's after his arrival.

Last year, on this handsome occasion, he was just a fledgling rookie, and since people didn't know him, they didn't bother to take care of him.

But this year is different, many people who don't know each other have taken the initiative to come to Aldrich to say hello and have a cordial conversation, most of which are formulaic greetings with no connotation.

Aldrich sat down and waited for the draw ceremony to begin, and after a while, there was one more person beside him, and he turned his head to see that the other party was looking at him with a smile.

"Oh, your vice-chairman has been denouncing Millwall recently, saying that the FA gives Millwall special care, it's strange, I really want the FA to take care of us, and arrange all our games after the Champions League match day as home games, but in the next three months, after six Champions League match days, we actually have to play 5 away games, but Arsenal only has two away, I really don't know who the FA favors."

Aldrich said with a playful smile.

Wenger smiled slightly wryly and said: "Actually, I don't agree with Dane's proposal, Arsenal suddenly go to Wembley to play Champions League home games, which will greatly reduce our home advantage, for Arsenal who return to the Champions League after many years, it is not wise to reduce home advantage again." ”

Aldridge spread his hands and said: "But my team also played the Champions League for the first time last year. ”

'But your team got used to Wembley through the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup training the previous season, and while home advantage is still eroding, at least there is a process of adaptation.

Aldridge did not argue, the fact is that as Wenger said, he went on loan at Wembley the previous season to prepare for the Champions League.

"How? Are there any ambitions for the new season? ”

Arsene Wenger stared at Aldridge with a smile. Said softly, "Didn't you say that?" Arsenal are not good enough to fight on two fronts, the league is not your rival, what about the Champions League, who would think Arsenal are the favourites? ”

After many years of returning to the Champions League, Arsenal is unlikely to even be in the top 10 favourites.

Aldridge shrugged and said: "You can't look at it that way, Millwall wasn't a favorite last year. ”

As he spoke, two people sat down in the seats on the other side of Aldrich, and he turned his head to look, amused.

One is the manager of Inter Milan, Roy Hodgson. One is Manchester United manager, Alex Ferguson.

Roy Hodgson, an English manager, has a good reputation for being able to take charge of a giant like Inter Milan in Italy.

As soon as Hodgson sat down, he and Aldrich had a warm conversation, and the two shook hands, and then Hodgson began to pour bitter water.

Millwall Summer Players Supermarket opens. Of the six players who have left the first team, Inter Milan have all made offers. The offer is basically indistinguishable from the value of these players who are transferring away. Moratti blew up Aldridge's phone, but in the end, Aldridge didn't sell anyone to Inter Milan.

He and Hodgson are both English, so they don't communicate sloppily.

"Inter Milan still buys people? Still buying? You have more than 30 people on your first team, are you going to run a team, or are you going to build an army to conquer the universe? It's not that I don't sell people. I've known Moratti for almost three years, and I agreed to his offers, but the player didn't want to go to Inter Milan, and the player directly rejected Inter. So there's no negotiation, and it's really okay with me. ”

Aldridge explained somewhat innocently, like Elgra, Capdevilla, people want to go back to Spain, Shevchenko goes to Milan, Trezeguet goes to Juventus, this is not lower than the attraction of Inter, Gudjohnsen wants to play the main team, and going to Inter must be a substitute, Ballack hesitated, but looking at Inter Milan's first-team lineup, he was so frightened that he rejected the other party directly.

With the transfer window closing in two days and the signings of the major teams largely over, Hodgson gathered his mood and began to compliment Aldridge.

Aldrich even said that he didn't dare to be, he didn't dare to be.

The intimate conversation between these two people made Ferguson and Wenger feel tired, but the two who were not on the right path had the same idea at this moment: Hodgson, Aldrich, can you stop being so disgusting?

He and Hodgson have no business communication at all, and are basically singing and slapping each other's ass

When the sycophants made themselves stink, Aldridge looked at Huo Taigong with a smile and asked: "Inter Milan has such a luxurious lineup, Ronaldo, Djokaeff, Baggio, Simeone, you won the League Cup last season, unfortunately in Serie A below Juventus, there should be a bigger pursuit in the new season, right?" The outside world is looking forward to Inter Milan's Champions League performance. ”

Huo Taigong nodded, his coaching career has been going all the way up so far, although the summer re-takeover of Inter Milan is the second palace, and it has something to do with Audri, but he has the strength to guarantee. Now is the stage of life to climb the peak, and occasionally wear cool black sunglasses to be stylish.

"As long as it's not in the Group of Death, Inter Milan have every quality to get into the knockout rounds, and then it's up to us to see the luck of the draw."

As soon as Huo Taigong's words came out, except for Aldridge who kept smiling and nodded, Ferguson and Wenger both sneered in their hearts: Luck? Entered the knockout round, who in the quarterfinals will be a soft persimmon for you to pinch?

"What about Millwall? Are you confident of defending your title this year? ”

Hodgson reciprocated and asked Aldridge rhetorically.

Aldridge said in a low-key manner: "It's too difficult to defend the title, Millwall will try to qualify from the group first, my team hasn't been polished yet." ”

As soon as he said this, Ferguson snorted coldly.

Grass!

They beat Manchester United just a week ago, and now they say they haven't been in shape yet!

Aldridge noticed Ferguson's reaction, laughed twice, and didn't continue.

Before the draw began, Johansson was still talking about the results of European football in the past year, Millwall won the team of the year, after all, they still won the Champions League as a dark horse in the eyes of the outside world, which is a myth, plus a lot of wonderful games, and the final with Real Madrid is a classic battle, Millwall won this honor for a second time. There is not much controversy.

Nitpickers will accuse Millwall of only finishing third in the Premier League, but Millwall finished third with the runners-up and only one point behind the champions Arsenal, plus they also won the League Cup.

Millwall are seeded after winning the European title for two consecutive years and an unbeaten record for two years in a row.

In the group draw, Millwall was drawn directly in Pot 1 and waited for other opponents to join the group.

When the team in Pot 2 is drawn. Aldrich's face turned green.

When the second team of his group appeared, many people on the scene turned their eyes to Aldrich, not only to him, but also to Huo Taigong!

Inter!

Hodgson's face was expressionless, more like he was stunned.

Aldrich looked embarrassed

Malegobi. Just now, the two chatted like old friends, complimenting each other. Hopefully they can do well in the Champions League.

Isn't that?

6 groups. 8 qualifying places, this is the rhythm of the death!

Ferguson and Wenger held back for a long time, but neither of them could hold back, twisting their faces to the side, and the corners of their mouths were slightly raised.

After accepting this reality, Hodgson smiled dryly, "Huh. The second place in the group can also qualify. ”

"Hehe, yes, yes."

Aldrich echoed a few words.

Didn't answer any further.

Yes, the second place in the group can also qualify. However, only two of the six groups finished second.

Who is willing to be second in the group and leave fate to luck?

The two men who had been talking happily before fell silent, quietly watching the lottery go on, not even turning their faces to each other's side.

UEFA of grass mud horses!

It's a conspiracy!

Aldridge secretly slandered in his heart, if he wanted to say how strong Inter Milan was, he didn't think that it was just an embarrassing scene and a depressed mood at the moment.

After the other two opponents in the same group came out, Aldrich couldn't hold back and bowed his head and cursed the street.

Seeing Aldrich's reaction, Hodgson looked up at the big screen, rubbed his eyes, was sure that he was right, turned his head and asked Ferguson: "Inter Milan is in the same group as Millwall, as well as Graz of Austria and Sparta Moscow of Russia, right?" ”

Ferguson looked up and nodded: "That's right, congratulations, the grouping situation is good, as long as you don't lose to Millwall, there is a good chance that the top place will advance." ”

Hodgson nodded slightly, Aldridge was next to him, and he couldn't make any more bold words.

Odd!

Graz, Sparta Moscow, this is definitely the impression of fish belly!

Of course, they are the bigwigs of their home league, but in the Champions League, they give the impression of being slaughtered.

Why did Aldrich react so much?

Wenger was also surprised, and he asked in a low voice: "Are you mistaken?" ”

Aldrich suddenly looked up and looked closely, and said in disappointment, "That's right. ”

"You're not happy?"

"I can't be happy."

"For what?"

"Because the team is going to Moscow to play, grass! If this group is divided, Millwall cannot be divided into the circle of Central Europe and Western Europe! ”

When Wenger heard this, he immediately understood.

Britain and Russia are almost the westernmost and easternmost parts of Europe.

Although Millwall only need to play one away game away from Moscow, the fatigue of the journey and the fatigue of the game will have a direct impact on the upcoming league after the matchday.

A league game may sound insignificant, but considering Millwall's failed title defense last season, it's just a game! The difference is to turn a loss into a draw, or a draw into a win, then they can defend their title.

The first half of last season's league performance was worse than the second half of the season, and the expedition to Kiev was a factor, which seems to be small but cannot be ignored.

The draw was over, and Aldrich quickly put his frustration behind him.

He stood up and shook Wenger's hand and congratulated him.

Wenger smiled bitterly and said: "My group is not easy, congratulations to me?" I'm also going to Ukraine to take on Dynamo Kyiv, last season's Ligue 1 champions Lens, and an unfamiliar Greek giant, Panathinaikos. ”

"Anyway, congratulations."

Aldrich turned around again and hurriedly shook hands with Huo Taigong, the two of them had nothing to congratulate or bless each other, anyway, it wouldn't be long before they would meet, and at that time, it would be the day when the swords and soldiers met.

After the last, Aldridge shook hands with Ferguson again and congratulated the other party.

Ferguson's face was ugly and he said, "You did it on purpose, right?" ”

Aldrich turned his head to look at the big screen at this time, and said to himself, "Okay, when I didn't say it." ”

Manchester United fell into the bloody mold, and the other three opponents in the same group were Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Brondby.

In addition to the Danish champion may be a point boy, the other three giants are fighting each other, this group is the group of death, and the worst thing is that it is likely that the internal friction between the three giants will lead to the low score of the second group and the ...... will not qualify (to be continued)