The Den. The name itself was enough to send a shiver down the spine of even the most seasoned professional footballer. It was a place of raw, primal, almost feral hostility, a cauldron of an unadulterated, unapologetic, working-class aggression that was as much a part of Millwall's identity as the roaring lion on their crest.
And for our second-round FA Youth Cup tie, a South London derby of a monumental proportions, we were walking right into the heart of the lion's den. This was not just a football match. This was a test of a character, a trial by fire, a journey into the heart of darkness. And for Eberechi Eze, it was something more. It was a homecoming.
I remembered the first time I had seen him play, in that behind-closed-doors friendly against Millwall's U18s, my very first match as Crystal Palace manager.
