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Chapter 373: Drogba's Arrival

Both of them also started to frequently dribble the ball, but they would pass when needed. The reason for their excessive ball control was that they couldn't find a good outlet; the Japanese youth team, with the exception of the goalkeeper, had all retreated to defend in their half. What had initially been a spacious field rapidly became cramped. Millwall's midfield only had Alonso and Yenas moving forward to organize plays, and before any attack reached a dangerous area, players needed to rely on individual skill to break through the defense.

Cristiano's flashy tricks were starting to feel over-the-top. In a match that was clearly heading for a slaughter, showing off like that was, indeed, a bit humiliating for the opponent.

Although Richards had played only a few seasons in his career, he came from a defensive background and deeply understood that while this match might not matter much, it could hinder Ronaldo's future development. If he faced a tough player in a real match, he might end up with a broken leg!

Ronaldo didn't dare to keep playing with fire, especially after being dispossessed multiple times earlier.

He felt embarrassed, but the audience saw it differently. Ronaldo was obviously playing against opponents three to four years older than him, taking risks and appearing dominant. Even in failure, the spectators thoroughly appreciated his style.

Especially the representatives of the sponsors in a box on the other side of the field.

Andrew arrived in Tokyo even earlier than Millwall; he was there for meetings with sponsors.

The sponsors tied to Millwall were all eagerly anticipating the club's victory in the Toyota Cup. Today's matches featuring the youth and junior teams had particularly thrilled Umbro, who had just signed on to support Millwall's lower-tier teams. They immediately saw a return on their investment.

A representative from Nike stood next to Andrew. They spoke quietly together, and each time a player was mentioned, Andrew would provide a short introduction.

Villa, Alonso, Ronaldo, Messi, Aguero... it seemed Nike was interested in signing all the standout youth players from this match.

However, Nike's real interest lay with Millwall's first-team superstars. Due to the team's long-standing partnership with Puma, and the loyalty shown by players like Nedved and Larsson, Nike found it difficult to poach them. If they were to succeed in doing so, Millwall would likely be unhappy, as it could trigger a series of negative commercial repercussions.

Andrew maintained a friendly demeanor towards the Nike representative. Deep down, he hoped that Nike could become Millwall's sponsor in the near future, replacing Puma. After all, Nike's ambitious approach in the industry was quite formidable. Having entered football in the 1990s, they had managed to sign Ronaldo, who almost led Brazil to the 1998 World Cup title, showcasing their power and expansion ambitions.

In terms of financial strength, Nike was at the top of the industry, making relentless efforts in promotion. For any star player partnering with Nike, it was sure to be a mutually beneficial relationship.

If it were a first-team star, Andrew would deliberate, but with younger players, he had no such concerns.

Nike planned to invest early, spreading their resources widely. Given Millwall's ability to nurture talent, if they invested in five or six players, it was likely that at least one or two would eventually make it to the top stage, making their current investment almost negligible.

After starting to play well, Cristiano assisted Aguero for a goal before Balzagli scored off a corner, leading Millwall's youth team to a final score of 10-0 against their Japanese counterparts.

Even Aldrich hadn't anticipated that Cristiano, Messi, and Aguero would secure sponsorship contracts from Nike after just half a match. Though it was only worth several thousand pounds, considering their age, it was a source of pride for them.

Alonso and Villa also garnered attention, but their contracts would be carefully considered. Andrew did not immediately agree to Nike's terms, as Alonso and Villa were still young enough that they could see first-team action within a couple of years, while the future for Ronaldo, Messi, and Aguero was still uncertain.

After the junior team's match, it was the turn of the youth team.

There was a 30-minute break at halftime to give the players a break.

But at this time, Millwall's youth team no longer has dazzling stars like the junior team.

Leading the attack were David Larmore, Joe Cole, and Drogba.

In midfield, the seasoned Daniele De Rossi and Pedretti were deployed.

In defense, Metzelder and Ledley King held the center, with Ashley Cole and Paulo Ferreira taking the right and left flanks.

There were also three young players from the regular reserve team.

There was no other option; players like Bresciano and Cahill, who had better skills, had been loaned out at the start of the season.

Seeing the starting lineup for Millwall's youth team, Kawabuchi Saburo turned to Aldrich with a puzzled look and asked, "Mr. Hall, didn't we previously agree on rules regarding the under-21 age bracket?"

Aldrich understood what he was inquiring about. Players like De Rossi and Pedrotti appeared to be under 18.

"We're short on numbers, and some players in the 18-21 age group are out on loan, so we've assembled this squad," he explained.

Kawabuchi had no further comments.

The Japanese U21 squad didn't send out their top players either. Hidetoshi Nakata, who is now in Serie A, fits the age range but is already with the national team. The Japan FA wouldn't go through the trouble of bringing Nakata back from Italy for the sake of a friendly match.

Their aim was primarily to learn and exchange ideas, and while the last match had been a dismal defeat, Kawabuchi felt it had been quite valuable. In contrast, Aldrich felt quite the opposite; they were there to expose Japanese football to a larger perspective.

While it might not be entirely convincing that the national team could perform at a high level, witnessing a club's youth squad play such beautiful football firsthand was undeniable verification for the Japanese Football Association. It wasn't just acceptance; there were many valuable lessons to take away.

The tactics of the youth team are not as complicated as those of the teenagers.

Though Millwall took an early lead again, Aldrich didn't even smile.

As Larmore sent an over-the-top pass to Drogba, the latter bulldozed through his opponents and slammed the ball into the net. This was a case of physical supremacy, largely unrelated to tactical finesse.

For this match, the Japan U21 team specifically selected strong players, but they found themselves up against a beast like Didier Drogba, making it feel like a battle of man versus monster.

Drogba was still new to the team after just six months, and his technique was notably rough. Yet, he seemed immovable, and every attempt by the Japanese players to tackle him saw them bounce off like rubber balls.

After six minutes following the goal, there was a moment that made Aldrich chuckle.

A Japanese defender attempted to slide tackle Drogba from behind as he turned to receive the ball. Drogba sensed it, half-turned to shield the ball, but the opponent charged in and collided with Drogba's back, immediately falling to the ground and rolling 180 degrees.

The referee blew for a foul against Drogba.

Drogba spread his hands innocently, looking bewildered at the Japanese player on the ground, nursing his hip.

The player had charged in too hard and ended up colliding with Drogba when he shifted his position, which resulted in him getting thrown off balance. He probably got too eager for the tackle.

This match didn't seem to have much training value; the squad was a makeshift arrangement lacking cohesion, relying mostly on individual abilities instead of teamwork, which didn't provide many opportunities and felt quite drab.

However, Aldrich did notice some bright spots in the game.

David Larmore, a once-promising talent, was very active on the field. Perhaps because he wasn't physically outmatched by the Japanese players. Not only did he deliver several brilliant passes, but he and Joe Cole also combined effectively on the attack.

Just before halftime, after dribbling past one defender, Joe Cole threaded a decisive pass through the defense. Larmore broke the offside trap and slotted it home. Aldrich felt a surge of approval; Larmore's positioning and game read were excellent. If he could improve his physicality, he might not become a first-team forward in Millwall, but he could certainly be a reliable substitute.

Aldrich stopped concerning himself with what Kawabuchi and the Japanese Football Association thought of the match and turned to engage in a lengthy discussion with Jensen.

Their conversation centered around Larmore.

By the end of the match, Millwall's youth team defeated the Japanese youth team 3-1.

As dusk fell, the audience rose to applaud both teams.

In just four and a half hours, the Japanese fans witnessed the gap between Japanese football and Europe's top-level teams.

While it wasn't a match between the Japanese national team and Millwall's first team, the showdown among the youth teams offered a faint glimpse into the future.

The Japanese Football Association graciously invited Millwall's coaching staff to dinner, and Kawabuchi had many questions about youth training that he wanted to ask Aldrich.

When faced with the invitation from Kawabuchi Saburo, Aldrich gladly accepted; it was all about pure academic exchange.

It was almost nine o'clock when they returned to the hotel. Aldrich stood on the balcony of his suite, alone, holding an ashtray as he smoked.

The bustling lights of Tokyo filled his view. As the smoke swirled around him, he gazed at the flashing neon lights and the busy streets, almost perceiving the seductive scent of decay in the air.

For some reason, a lingering sadness enveloped him, refusing to fade away.

Having led Millwall from obscurity to being a top manager, he found himself wishing for someone by his side—someone to share this moment with. It didn't have to be an extravagant celebration; even just standing next to him, watching the night sky while he smoked, would bring him a special sense of contentment and happiness.

But there was nothing—nothing but an empty space beside him. The only sounds were the distant, muffled noises from the street.

He took out his phone and called Melanie.

At that moment, Melanie was also going through a chaotic phase in her life and career.

The Spice Girls had finished their world tour. Geri had departed, and Victoria wanted to get married. Other members were also getting pregnant, and it seemed this once-renowned group had reached the brink of disbandment after a brief shining moment in the UK music scene.

What the future held for them was unclear; they were all in the midst of discussions, but regardless, their once-glorious fame was beginning to wane.

Aldrich had not been in contact with Melanie for a month and a half. He didn't know how she felt.

After his call went unanswered, it ended up being simply disconnected.

He tried again—no answer.

Not long after, Aldrich received a text from Melanie.

"Don't contact me again. I won't change my mind. I'll raise the child alone; it has nothing to do with you!"

After reading the message, Aldrich grabbed the ashtray and turned back to throw it into the room...