Capítulo 34: A New Beginning
As the second half was about to begin, a sense of gloom hung over the stands; the dull first half had drained the spectators' enthusiasm. Yet, over at the southern stand, a synchronized applause broke out.
Brady led a group of fifty young fans from the "Lion's Roar" organization, clapping twice in unison before raising their hands high, shouting in chorus, "Millwall!"
Clap, clap, Millwall!
Clap, clap, Millwall!
Before long, the momentum spread throughout the stands, infecting every Millwall supporter present.
Even the broadcast cameras swept over the crowd, and the commentator exclaimed, "Perhaps we are used to the lively atmosphere of Millwall's fans, but at this moment, we are witnessing their most genuine side. Here, a voice echoes across the sky: Millwall!"
The players waiting on the pitch for the second half to kick off felt the cheering resonate around them, igniting a fire within their hearts. This surge of passion engulfed them, transforming them into a source of boundless determination. In the center circle, Larsen and Trezeguet locked eyes, their expressions serious yet filled with encouragement for one another.
Standing before the coaching bench, Aldrich maintained a stoic face, but inside, he felt both admiration and gratitude for Brady and the fan club.
What they were witnessing was a promising start.
Amidst the thunderous cheers, the referee blew the whistle, signaling the beginning of the second half.
Millwall kicked off, passing the ball back before spreading out into an attacking formation.
The ball was played back and forth in the midfield before finding Nedved, who had created some space in the attacking third.
Positioned on the right side of the midfield, Nedved took the ball confidently, turned, and without hesitation, rolled it towards the right flank.
Schneider made a run, but the Luton fullback, who had tightly marked him in the first half, was already up close, confidence evident on his face.
It was clear from his movements that he intended to intercept the ball the moment Schneider prepared to receive it, a tactic that had worked several times in the first half!
A vital aspect of tight marking is familiarizing oneself with the opponent's favored foot, forcing them to use their weaker side, or even better, restricting their movement area. For instance, if a player likes to get to the byline, cut off that route. If they excel at cutting inside, force them toward the sidelines.
The Luton fullback seemed to just be waiting for Schneider to take a touch with his right foot to strike.
Facing the opponent's fullback, Schneider did extend his right foot for a touch, but to everyone's surprise, instead of stopping the ball as expected, he flicked it back toward Nedved in the middle.
Caught off guard, the Luton fullback realized his mistake too late. Schneider darted past him after playing the ball, and by the time the defender turned to chase, he was already two strides behind. Meanwhile, the ball rolled diagonally toward the corner flag, just two meters away from him.
It was merely a straightforward two-on-one combination.
However, by hastily trying to intercept, the Luton fullback had granted Schneider a vast open space to advance.
Millwall's attacking unit came alive, with Pires sprinting toward the back post of the box, Trezeguet moving into the center to draw away the surrounding defenders, while Larsen made a run from the left side into the right, leaving his trailing marker in the dust!
Once Schneider reached the edge of the box and faced the incoming ball, he chose not to take a touch. Instead, he sent a low cross into the front edge of the box!
This was an exact execution of the attacking pattern they had practiced tirelessly over the past few days.
As Trezeguet created space by drawing defenders away, Larsen rushed towards the near post. Meeting the pass, he brilliantly deflected it with the arch of his foot, sending it soaring into the air. The ball struck the underside of the crossbar and bounced into the net!
The Luton goalkeeper stood in shock.
The Lion's Den erupted with excitement!
After scoring, Larsen sprinted towards the southern stand, raising his arms high in celebration.
In the southern stand, members of the "Lion's Roar" fan club bounced around in jubilation. Initially, it appeared they were merely celebrating, but when Larsen reached the front of the stand, seven members turned their backs to reveal their jerseys, each bearing a large letter, together spelling out the name: "LARSSON".
Flanking them were fans holding up Larsen's number nine jersey, while one person proudly displayed a large poster featuring Larsen's heroic image!
This unexpectedly touched Larsen; he suddenly didn't know how to react. Beyond the exhilaration of the goal, the sight before him reached deep into his soul, filling him with a profound sense of gratitude and joy.
The broadcast cameras captured this moment, instantly making it the highlight of the game.
"Millwall has changed; Millwall has changed. Here, we see something we never saw before, and this will stay with us for a long time..."
Aldrich clapped softly on the sidelines, not just in praise of his players executing the tactics effectively, but also to acknowledge the fans in the stands.
The second half had just begun, and Luton had already lost a goal. Their previously solid defense had begun to crack, dramatically altering the game's dynamics.
Though Millwall's players had become increasingly negative in the first half, this goal invigorated their spirits, allowing them to approach the game with newfound confidence. This shift in momentum was a turning point.
Particularly, the two wings began to shine in the second half.
Pires received a pass from Lucas behind him and, after gaining possession, he didn't attempt to dribble. Instead, he launched a diagonal long pass aimed at Trezeguet at the back post.
This provided Trezeguet the space to accelerate and sprint into the box. Meeting the incoming ball, he executed a diving header. The defender tracking him couldn't even come close to reaching the ball, which soared towards the goal like a cannonball. However, the Luton keeper, though inexperienced, made a spectacular save by deflecting it over the bar.
The often unnoticed Luton goalkeeper had just pulled off a brilliant stop.
Trezeguet shook his head in slight regret as he got back up, but he did not lose heart. He quickly repositioned himself to prepare for a corner kick.
The game had become one-sided. With Millwall's wingers no longer as static as in the first half, their attacking unit was now bursting with energy.
From the stands, Wenger's expression grew more pleased as he watched Schneider and Pires' performances. He could see Aldrich's tactical adjustments paying off in real-time.
No substitutions were made, no tactical changes initiated; it was merely a shift in rhythm that allowed the two wings to find their balance.
The ball moved more fluidly now.
Schneider once more seized the ball on the wing. The fullback defending him, still haunted by his earlier mistake, hesitated to press forward, almost prepared to backtrack once the inevitable two-on-one situation unfolded.
But this time, Schneider stopped the ball at his feet, and the retreating fullback hesitated for just a moment. In that moment of doubt, Schneider cut inside, advancing diagonally into the box's edge, forcing the center-back to chase him. Schneider timed it perfectly, sending a through ball into the box, where Trezeguet found himself unmarked. He half-turned and fired a shot!
The Luton goalkeeper positioned himself well to block the near post, but the ball rocketed into the far corner of the net!
2-0!
Trezeguet shook his head in disbelief, shouting joyfully. He raced towards the southern stand, and the fans there turned around to display his name as well.
The Lion's Den erupted in a sea of celebration.
Seeing the goal, Aldrich turned back to the bench with a smile, sitting down.
Jensen, who was younger than Aldrich, was in awe of him. Just a slight alteration in approach had completely revitalized Millwall's wing play!
With two assists under his belt, Schneider felt ecstatic as he jumped onto Trezeguet's back in celebration, his mind still replaying Aldrich's words during halftime.
He realized now how exhausted he had been in the first half.
He previously thought the Luton fullback was a tough adversary, impenetrable in defense.
He learned that the issue wasn't how strong the opposition was, but rather that he hadn't performed to his potential.
Aldrich had conveyed a few simple messages, allowing him to rediscover the pure joy and passion of football on the pitch.
His boss was truly remarkable!
Before the match concluded, Pires struck a long-range shot just outside the box to seal the score at 3-0.
Millwall had triumphed in the ninth round of the EFL Championship, continuing to lead the table.
While winning the three points was significant, Aldrich felt especially delighted to see his players' renewed spirit. With a bit of attacking leeway, they played with greater vigor and enthusiasm, a momentum that bodes well. At least this time, Aldrich's small gamble had borne fruit.
As the match ended and the sun dipped below the horizon, Aldrich bid farewell to Wenger outside the club gates.
Andrew had come to watch the game too, and Aldrich asked him to drive Wenger back a short distance.
Outside the club, Andrew placed Wenger's simple suitcase into the car, and then he sat quietly inside, waiting.
In the fading sunlight, Wenger and Aldrich stood facing each other, as if cloaked in a golden glow. Wenger smiled warmly and said, "Aldrich, your team is fantastic. With this crop of young players under your guidance, they will surely contend for trophies in the future."
Aldrich reciprocated with a warm smile, "The trophies are still far off. The most important task ahead is to reach the top tier of the league."
Wenger extended his hand and said, "Then I wish your team an early entry into the Premier League. Thank you for your hospitality over these days; I've gained a lot here."
After shaking hands with him, Aldrich said, "I wish you safe travels."
Wenger turned and got into Andrew's car. Andrew, in the driver's seat, waved at Aldrich as the car gradually rolled away.
Aldrich watched the car disappear into the distance, the beautiful twilight casting a warm glow over Wenger as he was about to embark on his journey to Japan, sending him heartfelt blessings from the bottom of his heart.
For Wenger, this trip to Japan was destined to be a joyful one; he had transformed Nagoya Grampus, the J League's bottom team, into a runner-up in just half a year.
Yet ultimately, that would not be Wenger's true home.
As the car vanished from sight, Aldrich turned and walked back into the club, a slight smile gracing his lips as he softly murmured.
"Professor, we'll meet again in the Premier League!"
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