Chapter 266: Showdown with legends
Fans who admire Shevchenko do so largely because of the impact he made in Italy, where his brilliance lit up the pitch, creating countless unforgettable moments for supporters. For Aldrich, even if he wasn't a fan of Shevchenko in a past life, one particular image stayed etched in his memory for a long time.
In that image, Shevchenko stood in a sleek black coat, holding the European Ballon d'Or next to a statue. His calm demeanor was striking—especially if you knew the story behind that moment.
The statue honored his mentor, the legendary coach Lobanovskyi, who had guided Shevchenko throughout his career.
Historically, Lobanovskyi was the architect behind Ukraine's three Ballon d'Or winners: Blokhin, Belanov, and Shevchenko. The only other coach to achieve such a feat was another legend, Michels, who mentored Cruyff, Gullit, and van Basten.
Frustratingly, Lobanovskyi passed away before Shevchenko could claim his Ballon d'Or, and Aldrich felt a pang of cruelty in knowing he had robbed the great coach of witnessing his protégé's success.
Every moment of glory for Dynamo Kyiv seemed intertwined with Lobanovskyi's legacy, especially during his third stint with the club, which began in the summer of '97. Aldrich had been proactive, securing Shevchenko two years prior.
In this regard, Aldrich acknowledged his own ruthlessness, but he had no regrets. He believed Shevchenko was superior to his contemporaries and more famous. For both Millwall and Shevchenko, it was a win-win situation. While Dynamo Kyiv might have regretted selling him, they had taken Millwall's offer willingly. This was simply a matter of choice.
With respect, Aldrich approached the home team's bench. Lobanovskyi was known for his wisdom. Despite his declining health, he could still be seen directing his players from the sidelines, just as he always had.
Today, he was there, and Aldrich stepped forward to greet him, bowing slightly and offering a simple but sincere acknowledgment in English.
Lobanovskyi was taken aback by the humility shown by this young coach from England. He had read about him and had a vague impression of the brash young man depicted in the media.
The cocky, reckless persona that the media portrayed didn't mesh with the respectful young man standing before him.
Especially after the last game, where Aldrich had driven his team to attack relentlessly even when they were three goals up, showcasing his aggressive approach.
Lobanovskyi had the wisdom that came with age. At his stage in life, there was no need to clash with a younger generation over bravado. Instead, he appeared composed and shrewd. However, conversing with Aldrich was easy.
In his own way, Aldrich expressed his respect.
"Let's have a good match!"
Lobanovskyi responded with a smile, acknowledging Millwall as a formidable team. Aldrich's tone was encouraging, as if he was motivating a younger peer.
As Aldrich turned to leave, he shook his head slightly.
He understood his own strengths.
If he hadn't seized control of his opportunities early on, how could he have prospered?
Unlike other coaches, whose successes were built on undeniable prowess, Aldrich didn't dare presume that he could measure up to them, let alone stand alongside a legend like Lobanovskyi.
Of course, once on the field, it was a different story. In the heat of competition, those feelings of reverence for the legend would be set aside.
As the Champions League anthem echoed through the stadium, players from both teams took their positions, standing tall in anticipation of the match.
"The 1997/98 UEFA Champions League group stage match kicks off! Today at Dynamo Kyiv's home ground, they face Millwall, currently sitting at the top of the group. Both teams are level on points with three each, but Dynamo has one less goal difference. This match is crucial; if there is a winner today, they will gain an edge in the race for advancement."
Aldrich watched the starting lineup closely. He had previously discussed the group stage situation with the players but now wanted them to focus solely on winning each match, forgetting about the points table.
The last thing he wanted was for players to overthink how many games were left or how the situation might unfold.
Overthinking leads to creating an escape route, which is both unwise and counterproductive—unless the team is in a position of clear disadvantage. Then, it might be pragmatic to set achievable goals while closely calculating each point gained.
But Millwall feared no other teams in the group. The head coach was unafraid, and the players needed to carry that mentality—believing they could overcome their opponents and push through to secure a spot in the knockout rounds.
Today, Millwall fielded an unusual formation: 4-3-2-1.
Goalkeeper: Butt.
Defense: Schneider, Elgla, Southgate, Zambrotta.
Midfielders: Ballack, Makélélé, Lampard.
Attacking Midfielders: Larsson, Nedvěd.
Forward: Shevchenko.
The English reporters in attendance, along with the Lions fans, couldn't help but feel a sense of disbelief at this lineup—was Aldrich truly intimidated by Dynamo Kyiv?
In reality, as the visiting team, a cautious approach was reasonable. Taking into account the opponent's strengths and the weather conditions, Aldrich believed this Christmas tree formation was the best choice.
Speaking of the Christmas tree formation, perhaps it's best known for Andrea Ancelotti's fondness for it in the 2000s.
However, in contemporary Europe, this formation was hardly revolutionary. No one found it particularly novel.
Capello had found success with it in Italy, and when he took over Real Madrid last season, he largely adopted the same structure. He often transitioned between 4-3-2-1 and 4-3-1-2 to keep pressure on the star-studded Barcelona, leading them to clinch La Liga by two points.
In this match, because of the weather conditions, with Dynamo Kyiv enjoying home advantage, their players were certain to be more lively compared to Millwall. It wasn't that Millwall's players couldn't handle the six or seven-degree weather; transitioning from a warmer climate to a colder one would make anyone feel somewhat uncomfortable, triggering their self-protective instincts, especially in unfamiliar conditions and surroundings.
For this reason, Millwall's usual 4-3-3 setup was too risky and aggressive. Even a 4-2-3-1 formation didn't seem safe, since if their attackers struggled to keep up with the opposition's pace, their defense could easily be breached.
That's why Aldrich opted for three defensive midfielders, with both Ballack and Lampard being dynamic players who worked hard and were effective in winning back possession. Their intent was to fortify the defense, providing comprehensive coverage in the back half, opting for stability first and foremost.
Larsson playing as an attacking midfielder was more of a decoy; he was effectively a secondary striker, capable of both passing and finishing. For the lone striker position, Aldrich chose Shevchenko, clearly the better fit for this match compared to Trezeguet.
On the other side, although Dynamo Kyiv featured players who weren't mainstream stars in Europe, under Lobanovskyi's stewardship, they began to shine considerably, especially the following season when they matured into a dominant force. Historically, had they not let Bayern come back to equalize after leading 3-1 in the semi-finals, they could very well have claimed a treble.
Today, their opponents were set in a 4-5-1 formation.
Goalkeeper: Shovkovskyi.
Defense: Luzhny, Gryshko, Vashchuk, Kaladze.
Midfield: Haskovich, Husin, Kaddash, Kosovskiy, Belkovich.
Forward: Rebrov.
Among the starters, two players would garner significant fame in the future: Kaladze, who moved to AC Milan, and Rebrov, who was initially considered for a striking partnership with Shevchenko but ultimately failed to transition into a world-class forward in the English Premier League.
Most of the players in this lineup weren't very well-known since they hadn't ventured to mainstream European leagues, apart from Rebrov and Kaladze; only Luzhny had played in one of the five major leagues but failed to replicate the same level of prowess at Arsenal and Wolves as he had shown at Dynamo Kyiv. Strangely, two of the players hadn't gone westward but had been briefly active in Asia, playing in China.
Why did Aldrich respect Lobanovskyi?
It wasn't due to some idolizing of a famous figure.
It was because, even without Shevchenko, Lobanovskyi managed to make his team perform admirably, even if it fell slightly short of historical heights. For instance, they couldn't score that fourth goal against Barcelona at the Camp Nou, and although Rebrov appeared to be performing better historically, under Lobanovskyi, Belkovich—an attacking midfielder—was transformed into a more well-rounded threat. He could create as well as score, exploiting gaps in opponents' defenses, With Rebrov's support, Belkovich could make swift runs from the back, capitalizing on scoring opportunities with ease. In the match at Camp Nou, Belkovich scored a stunning goal.
Thus, Aldrich reasoned that if anyone else had taken over, they surely wouldn't have matched Lobanovskyi's accomplishments. Transforming a defensive midfielder into an excellent winger in just a few months, like Kosovskiy, demonstrated Lobanovskyi's remarkable coaching skills. Aldrich would need weeks of research and contemplation to consider such changes himself, fearing that he might jeopardize a player's career.
As the match time approached, the teams spread out, and only a few hundred Lions fans appeared in the stands to cheer for the team.
The journey was too far, and since it was a midweek match, it would take fans with jobs at least two days off to come support; the round trip would exceed twenty hours, not to mention the delays before and after the journey.
Seeing several hundred fans in the stands was enough to move Aldrich.
Yet, the Lions fans were taken aback.
Among the Dynamo Kyiv supporters were a group of fans with bare chests, arms wide open, energetically chanting for their team.
The Lions fans were left wondering, "Aren't they cold?"
Crazy fans exist all around the world, and if Kyiv's supporters knew what the Lions fans were thinking, they would surely dismiss it with a scoff, saying, "Cold? You don't know the half of it! Just wait until you come in December—you'll see what cold really is."
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