The Rise of Millwal

Chapter 167: Stampede, mighty lions, onward!

Chapter 167: Stampede, mighty lions, onward!

On the day of the match at Manchester United, the weather in Manchester was unpredictable yet welcoming, with brilliant sunshine and a cool autumn breeze—ideal conditions for the players.

On the Millwall team bus heading to Old Trafford, Aldrich sat in the front row next to Jansen, who was engrossed in a football magazine, his eyes fixed on a colorful spread.

Jansen glanced at the magazine and eagerly snatched it from Aldrich, gazing at the image of a young man in a Barcelona jersey. "What a genius Manchester United missed out on," he exclaimed.

The vibrant image was actually just a screenshot from a match broadcast, featuring a Brazilian named Ronaldo. He was celebrating a goal, arms wide open in joy.

Despite arriving at Barcelona with a staggering transfer fee of twenty million dollars in the summer, the most sensational storyline of the Spanish transfer market in 1996 wasn't Ronaldo, but rather a player who transferred from Real Madrid to Camp Nou: Luis Enrique.

However, under Bobby Robson's management, Ronaldo quickly became a star and darling of the fans from his very first match for Barcelona, which was a Supercopa clash against Atletico Madrid. His influence skyrocketed, capturing the attention of all of Europe.

Even the English media started to obsessively follow this football icon who had earned the nickname "Extraterrestrial," harboring feelings of envy and admiration.

Aldrich felt conflicted inside; Millwall had been on a two-month winning streak, putting forth thrilling performances, yet they were overshadowed by the exploits of a superstar whose individual talent shone brighter.

Even in London, the spotlight had shifted entirely to Ronaldo.

The turning point came a few days ago during the seventh round of La Liga, where the dazzling Ronaldo scored a goal that elevated him from "human" to "demi-god."

In an away match against Compostela, Ronaldo netted Barcelona's third goal in just 14 seconds—taking the ball from his first touch to finishing it in the net, all while evading five defenders. His footwork, situational awareness, physical attributes, and overall skill were on full display, resulting in a goal that left Bobby Robson staring in disbelief.

What was even more fascinating was that immediately after this incredible goal, the first person to rush out of the Barcelona bench to celebrate was none other than Meulensteen. Perhaps witnessing Ronaldo's rise in this season prompted him to later claim that the best player he had ever seen was Ronaldo—not Cristiano Ronaldo.

Post-match, Robson lamented that Ronaldo didn't belong to this planet, marking the launch of the "Extraterrestrial" legend worldwide.

Subsequently, Nike marketed the moment, replaying the goal endlessly and running the tagline: Imagine asking God to make you the best player in the world... and God listens.

While Jansen continued to tease about Manchester United missing out on Ronaldo, Aldrich turned to gaze out the window, feeling somewhat disheartened.

It was a good era, as many stars were rising, but for him, it was also a bad era. He knew well that very few stars become constants in football—many just pass by like shooting stars.

Ronaldo went to La Liga, where his attributes suited the game perfectly, yet he missed the chance to be thoroughly coached by Ferguson.

If history had taken a different course, Aldrich fantasized about Ronaldo receiving sage advice before he achieved stardom rather than confronting the two greatest enemies of his career: injuries and decline.

He was remarkable, yet he could have become a football god, but he didn't. Aside from the World Cup and some iconic goals, his club accolades were painfully few.

Aldrich laughed at himself, realizing he was being too harsh, just as people would later expect Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to lead their national teams to glory.

As a head coach, he felt a sense of regret for so many talents who didn't fail because they couldn't, but rather because they gave up or succumbed to their circumstances.

Returning to reality, Aldrich casually chatted with Jansen about this Brazilian prodigy, but their conversation largely revolved around Ronaldo's skill set and league environment.

In addition to the emphasis on ball control in La Liga, defenses were not particularly strong; the match's outcome often depended on which team dominated the midfield. Good form could mean defeating formidable opponents, while the inability to control the midfield could lead to embarrassing defeats. Even prestigious teams like Real Madrid and Barcelona faced this issue.

Analyzing many of the individual exemplary goals scored by Ronaldo, from a coach's perspective, Aldrich noted that many La Liga defenses were simply inadequate. They often fixated on the ball at the feet of the player, eager to tackle, which provided ample room for skillful players to maneuver. It might look like there were plenty of defenders, yet often they were swiftly bypassed by a single burst of speed without any layered defense.

As their discussion continued, the bus came to a halt.

The entire Millwall squad had arrived at Old Trafford.

On this sunny weekend, however, Old Trafford was engulfed in a cloud of gloom.

After changing into their uniforms and shoes in the locker room, Aldrich instructed his players to warm up on the field while he remained seated in silence.

While Millwall was soaring high, Manchester United's season had seen a notable decline. By now, they were nearly at the lowest point since the Premier League's inception!

Since the season kicked off in August, United claimed the Community Shield and won their league opener with Beckham's stunning lob against Wimbledon. Yet, they then hit a rut, drawing three consecutive matches. Leading up to a critical derby against Liverpool in the ninth round, they had managed four wins and a draw in their last five matches, showing decent form. But in the subsequent two league games, United plummeted from spring to the bleakness of winter!

Newcastle United handed them a humiliating 5-0 defeat at home.

Southampton triumphed 6-3 over them at St. Mary's.

Just three days prior, United shockingly lost 0-1 to Fenerbah?e at home in the Champions League.

Their remarkable forty-year unbeaten record in European competitions at home—set by Ferguson—crashed down in flames!

In an instant, the media was ablaze with sentiments declaring: The fall of the Manchester United dynasty!

It was difficult to assess just how great this forty-year unbeaten European home record actually was. Before 1993, United had spent nearly thirty years without a Premier League title, thus avoiding the Champions League. They occasionally participated in the UEFA Cup and Cup Winners' Cup, rarely facing dominant teams from major European leagues. Thus, the unbeaten run was quite inflated, especially considering that many of those years, they didn't even compete in Europe.

Nevertheless, there was no debate about United's dreadful form.

Now, they were paying the price for their youth. Ferguson insisted that his young players play full 90 minutes in every league and Champions League match; the fatigue from toiling back and forth along with the intense scrutiny from the media regarding their poor performances threatened to crush them.

One of the major concerns for Manchester United was the heavy psychological toll on Cantona. The summer Euros saw France fall in the semifinals without him, leading the King of Old Trafford to realize that the national team door would likely never reopen for him. This mental blow was far more severe than physical injuries, as it drained the player's motivation for the game. Earlier that year, his role as a spiritual leader had brought the best out of him and his teammates, enabling them to weather pressure and quickly evolve.

However, since the new season began, Cantona's performances had been unsatisfactory. His red card before two consecutive defeats led him to miss the subsequent heavy losses, and the young United players were on the brink of collapse.

Under the shadow of three consecutive defeats, Manchester United was set to face Millwall today. With only eleven rounds into the league, Millwall had accumulated 28 points, while Manchester United had just 19, widening the gap between the two teams to 9 points!

After warming up, the players returned to the dressing room. Aldrich stood up with his hands in his pockets.

Looking around at each player's calm demeanor, he asked lightly, "Do I need to say anything?"

In unison, the players shouted, "No need!"

This was Old Trafford—the Theatre of Dreams.

Last season, they almost snatched three points here. Today, they would leave no regrets!

With a piercing gaze and a stern expression, Aldrich spoke softly, "In the past three months, we've conquered Highbury and flattened Anfield. Today, we will dominate the Theatre of Dreams! Lions, let's go!"

He turned and opened the locker room door, the first to step out, as the players confidently followed behind him.

The Manchester United players waiting in the tunnel to take the field were a stark contrast to the past; they lacked the usual dominance associated with the Red Devils. The psychological toll from three defeats over the past ten days weighed heavily upon them, visibly manifesting from within.

Aldrich strode towards the away team's bench, head held high, expression blank. Meanwhile, the home fans in the nearby stands hurled verbal abuse at him, even some gesturing with their middle fingers.

Aldrich didn't mind; on the contrary, if the home crowd were welcoming, it would only mean he was a softie there to hand over three points to the Red Devils!

Ferguson was already seated in his spot, chewing gum with a serious expression.

Just two months ago, he had stirred the pot with psychological warfare, urging other Premier League teams to go hard against Millwall. Recently, however, he had dialed it back, burdened by internal and external troubles with United; he was too preoccupied to engage in any verbal sparring, especially with Liverpool currently sitting above United in the league!

For the past two months, Aldrich had adopted a low-profile stance with the media. No matter what Ferguson mentioned, he would respond with a diplomatic tone, stating: If United maintained high-level performances, their winning the league was a given; they had greater strength and experience than us, and we were just focused on doing well in our next game. A championship? United were the top favorites.

Glancing at the fatigued United lineup minus Cantona, Aldrich took his position on the touchline, hands in pockets, watching the players as they made their entrance onto the pitch.

How crucial is a team's spiritual leader?

It is an intangible force that can elevate a team's performance to another level!

United's recent unraveling was closely tied to the condition and suspension of Cantona.

For Millwall, Aldrich's envisioned team has firmed up its central axis, which serves as the bedrock of the squad since its formation. There exists no power struggle among Larsson, Nedved, and Southgate; their respected positions in the locker room are indisputable. Furthermore, their resilient spirit and unflagging attitude can effectively motivate the entire team.

As the match was about to kick off, both teams held a serious demeanor.

"The focal battle of Round Twelve in the English Premier League is set to ignite at Old Trafford. Defending champions Manchester United face the current league leaders, Millwall. Millwall has been on a roll recently, boasting fourteen consecutive victories across all competitions and nine straight wins in the Premier League. Hall's team isn't just hard to defeat—they haven't even allowed a draw! Pre-match media opinions suggest that despite United having home advantage, Millwall is favored to win. Oh, and United has conceded eleven goals over two matches—the worst back-to-back losses in sixty-six years! Just three days ago, they saw their forty-year unbeaten home record in European competitions come to an end. Has the reign of the Red Devils reached its conclusion?"

"Martin, if Manchester United fails to curb Millwall's current winning streak today, it would likely signal their defeat in the title race."

"Why? Is a twelve-point gap really insurmountable? We've only played twelve rounds! Last year, Newcastle United led by twelve at one point."

"Because Millwall's defense is superior! They are able to score goals and their defense is equally strong. Hall's team continues to improve, and now every team in the Premier League appears bewildered when facing Millwall because you cannot contain their midfield. The pairing of Nedved and Pirlo is nothing short of genius. Should teams employ man-marking or zonal marking? Should they apply pressure high up the pitch or swarm at the back? Millwall always has a solution. They can create openings through the center and their wing play is very mature. The scoring threats are very evenly distributed among Larsson, Trezeguet, Shevchenko, and Nedved; together, they have netted a total of 21 goals in the last nine matches! Among them, Larsson has the most with seven goals, while Pirlo, Schneider, and Stam have also contributed. Millwall's attack is now nearly impossible to defend against; if they can leave Old Trafford today with a victory, I believe there is nothing that can stop them from claiming the club's first-ever top-flight league title as long as they don't create issues for themselves."

"But for the sake of suspense in the Premier League, we hope United can show the spirit of defending champions. At the very least, they cannot afford to take another hit at Old Trafford. Let's introduce today's starting lineups: Manchester United, goalkeeper: Schmeichel; defenders: Neville, May, Palister, Irwin; midfielders: Butt, Keane, Scholes, Beckham, Solskjaer; forward: Cole. United are lining up in a 4-5-1 formation today; it seems like Ferguson wants to counter Millwall's midfield dominance. Cantona is suspended due to his direct red card, but he will return next round, while Giggs has been out for quite a while now. The Red Devils fans are already reminiscing about his electrifying runs down the flank."

"Millwall's lineup: starting goalkeeper: Butt; defenders: Schneider, Stam, Souness, Capdevila; midfielders: Makelele, Pirlo, Nedved; forwards: Larsson, Trezeguet, Shevchenko. Hall has made it clear that he's going all out for the league with this starting formation, fielding substitutes in the League Cup and UEFA Cup to ensure his players get enough rest. They are fit and consistently delivering stellar performances. Alright, the match is underway! The visiting Millwall kicks off. What kind of strategy will they employ against Manchester United? Let's wait and see!"