Chapter 365: The Undertaker
After years of heavy investment, Chelsea was finally considered a contender for the title starting this season. Although they ranked low among the favorites, as the league approached its halfway point, people began to realize that Bates' investments were starting to pay off.
Last season, Chelsea had secured the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, and the moment they achieved that victory, their team's demeanor changed entirely. With the addition of Desailly, fresh from his World Cup win, Chelsea seemed to be stepping away from its former struggles and heading toward a more affluent future.
The competition in the Premier League standings is very fierce.
Millwall drew in the last round of the league and is currently ranked fourth. However, they are only two points behind the top Chelsea and only one point behind Manchester United and Arsenal.
Chelsea supporters were filled with pride as they ascended to the top of the standings. Their goal now was to secure that position for the remainder of the season, and if it were up to them, they would be happy if the Premier League ended today.
After noon, Stamford Bridge was bustling with fans. Millwall supporters faced off against Chelsea fans, both sides exchanging insults with fervor.
"Look who's top of the table now!" shouted Chelsea fans.
Millwall fans fired back, "Have Chelsea ever beaten Millwall in the last three seasons?"
In truth, both sets of fans felt a sense of frustration deep down.
Chelsea fans were prodded where it hurt. Damn it. They had beaten Manchester United, demolished Arsenal, and triumphed over Liverpool, yet they still hadn't found a way to claim a victory over Millwall. Forget winning; even drawing seemed almost impossible.
Millwall fans had to admit that Chelsea now had what it took to compete in the Premier League. Being top of the table after 13 matches spoke volumes.
Aldrich, their beloved king, was refreshingly honest at the pre-match press conference: "Chelsea is truly strong! Very strong!"
This statement left the reporters utterly baffled.
"What gives?"
Just three months before, during the European Super Cup, Aldrich had claimed quite the opposite.
He had dismissed Chelsea, suggesting they were irrelevant in the title chase.
Now, three months later, the young head coach has begun to compliment Chelsea. Perhaps he is impressed by Chelsea's performance?
The journalists didn't think so. With 25 league matches still to play, Chelsea being on top didn't mean much; the gap to the teams trailing them was just a win's distance. Even Leeds could leapfrog them in a single match.
With Millwall freshly victorious over Austrian champions Graz in midweek, Aldrich's mind games were clear. Outside observers unanimously agreed: Aldrich was once again utilizing his tried-and-true method of prodding the opposition.
But this time, rather than try to rile his opponents up, he was offering them respect—essentially a twisted form of praise.
After all, don't Chelsea desperately want that kind of external recognition?
If even Millwall, their arch-rival and the freshly crowned Champions League champions, admits they're very strong, how could Chelsea possibly afford to play conservatively at Stamford Bridge?
Upon hearing Aldrich's remarks, Vialli bluntly pointed out, "Hall excels in mind games, and his intentions are clear; he wants to throw Chelsea into disarray. We won't fall for that!"
As the match was about to begin, Aldrich walked down the players' tunnel with his hands in his well-fitted coat pockets, silently heading toward the opposing coaching bench. Nearby Chelsea fans unleashed a barrage of boos and belligerent shouts, waving insults and gesturing angrily. Yet no one attempted to attack; the consequences would be severe.
Following an investigation into stadium safety after the incident between Millwall and Wimbledon, the Premier League had initiated a round of stringent safety measures. Fans could hurl insults at rivals from the stands, but any physical contact was strictly forbidden—if the opposing team suffered any physical affront, the penalties from the FA would be severe!
With curses ringing in his ears, Aldrich remained composed.
He placed his feet firmly in front of the coaching area, turned slightly to face the pitch, pulled his hands from his pockets, crossed them over his chest, and stared impassively at Stamford Bridge.
"Welcome to the focal match of the fourteenth round of the Premier League. I'm Martin Tyler, here alongside my friend Andy Gray to bring you the commentary on this battle between London rivals. Andy, who do you fancy?"
"Chelsea have been on a roll since the start of the season, landing at the top of the table, but I still back Millwall."
"Why is that? Hall's teams often see a drop-off in performance after European fixtures. They either win narrowly or draw, and while they haven't lost so far this season, they're not performing as well as expected. Hall claims his team is in contention for the league title, yet they haven't shown the aura of a true contender, dropping points against weaker sides."
"I don't completely agree with you. Hall's squad has undergone significant changes this season, and many newcomers have stepped up as starters. It's normal for there to be fluctuations in form, especially with their schedule including Champions League matches. However, the positive aspect is that even though they just played in the Champions League days ago, the match was at Wembley, and Hall rested most of his starters for today's game. They shouldn't be too affected by competing on two fronts. Moreover, we should recognize that Hall's team is in a phase of growth. If Millwall can stabilize their performance at a high level before March, they will enter a stage of full-blown brilliance."
"And that's in about three or four months. But what about today's match?"
"That will test Hall's capabilities, but it's not something to worry too much about. He usually provides surprises in moments like this."
"So how do you see Millwall approaching today's game?"
"Defensive counter-attacking. Chelsea has become strong as it is an away match. Millwall will aim to avoid conceding. When Chelsea struggles to break through, that's when gaps appear in their defense, and Millwall is adept at counter-attacking when there's space."
"Right! Millwall has beaten Chelsea this way in the past—looks like Hall is going to give it another shot."
The players from both teams stepped onto the pitch.
"Chelsea will start with a 4-4-2 formation.
Goalkeeper: De Goey.
Defenders: Ferreira, Desailly, Le Berf, Le Saux.
Midfielders: Petrescu, Di Matteo, Poyet, Wise.
Forwards: Flo, Zola.
Millwall will lineup in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Goalkeeper: Butt.
Defenders: Schneider, Materazzi, Southgate, Zambrotta.
Midfielders: Makélélé, Lampard, Nedvěd.
Forwards: Henry, Van Nistelrooy, Ronaldinho.
Millwall's new French striker Henry, who had cost ten million pounds, was finally making his first start. He had previously played a brief stint midweek but had delivered a lackluster performance. Today, under Hall, he would have his chance to shine.
As forty thousand sets of eyes focused on Stamford Bridge, the London derby kicked off.
Vialli stood on the sidelines, hands in his pockets. With Chelsea sitting at the top of the table, he felt a sense of satisfaction as he glanced over at Aldrich. Vialli thought to himself, I won't fall for it this time!
In Vialli's memory, his mind flashed back to the bitter disappointment of his first match in charge—the League Cup final last season—where he couldn't help the team secure a win, compounded by his team's loss in the UEFA Super Cup. Losing twice to Millwall in the finals due to their counter-attacks stung.
Isn't Millwall just about those three strategies?
Counter-attack, speed, forward runs.
Today Chelsea would play it safe!
Millwall, who set lofty goals to claim the Premier League title, now sat in fourth place. They must be anxious!
Vialli's tactical intention for today was clear: to outlast Millwall. He wanted to see who could hold out longer. If Millwall hoped to counter, they would see who would break first.
Static defense meant Chelsea's back line wouldn't be easily breached.
But as the match kicked off, Vialli felt suddenly unprepared.
Was Millwall playing conservatively today?
Not at all!
As the referee blew the whistle to start the match, Millwall's players surged forward like caged beasts, launching a relentless press in the midfield.
Chelsea had anticipated a defensive counter-attacking strategy from Millwall, and this prediction quickly backfired.
Lampard and Nedvěd pinned down the opposition's two midfielders, while behind them Makélélé intercepted any connections between forwards and the midfield. Ronaldinho and Henry pressed the opposing wide midfielder along with the full-backs, creating a high-pressure situation. This strategy was risky, as a single transfer to the forwards could create a one-on-one situation against the defenders, leaving teammates with virtually no time to cover.
However, Chelsea hadn't predicted such fervent pressing; they were caught off guard and struggled to maintain possession in midfield, resorting to back passes. Van Nistelrooy disrupted their back line, forcing Chelsea to make a hurried clearance. In the middle of the field, Makélélé intercepted the ball just ahead of Zola, then delivered a precise through ball to Ronaldinho at the front.
Ronaldinho carried the ball inward, quickly linking up with Nedvěd for a one-two play. He broke through Chelsea's midfield and now faced their defense head-on. Van Nistelrooy prepared to exploit a potential offside; Le Berf struggled to keep up, and Ronaldinho sent the ball rightward, while Henry made his way into the center. Once Le Berf moved to cover Van Nistelrooy, Henry dribbled directly into the penalty area.
Upon reaching the edge of the small box, he found space to shoot as Desailly closed in on him. Henry instead laid the ball back to the middle, where Nedvěd smashed a powerful shot without letting it hit the ground.
Chelsea's defense, entirely unprepared for such an opening, had no idea how to respond to the shot.
Although de Goey fell to the ground and touched the ball with his hands, the force was too great. The ball was deflected and finally fell into the net.
"Just three minutes into the match, Millwall strikes first! The goal-scorer is their spiritual leader, Nedvěd! This is utterly unexpected! Who said Millwall would play conservatively? Their aggressive approach right from the start was astonishing. Such a high-pressure tactic is risky, as once the opponent breaks through a defensive line, the back line could easily find themselves outnumbered. Yet Millwall's daring spirit has paid off; Chelsea were completely unprepared for such frantic pressing. After they failed to clear the ball, Millwall swiftly penetrated through Chelsea's defenses. Millwall leads 1-0 away!"
The Chelsea supporters at Stamford Bridge appeared dazed, with many looking visibly sorrowful.
For some reason, they were engulfed by a sense of powerlessness, or perhaps one could even call it despair.
The eleven players of their sworn enemies, Millwall, hardly looked like competitors.
They resembled terrifying specters, coming to lay claim to souls.
On the sidelines, Aldrich stood with his chin raised and a smile, looking more like a funeral director calling the final rites.
A nagging thought lingered in the hearts of several Chelsea fans: Damn those ferocious lions! When, and how, can we possibly overcome them?!
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