Capítulo 241: The First Training Session
Klose, Duff, and Van der Meyde stood beside Aldrich as he began explaining Millwall's football philosophy through their teammates' half-court scrimmage.
Initially, the attacking team consisted of six players, while the defending team had five. With clever passing and movement, the attacking side quickly scored a goal, earning a point.
Next, the attacking team pulled one player back, resulting in a 5v5. After scoring again, they removed another player, turning it into a 4v5.
"In a 90-minute match, the number of players on each side can change during attacks. It's not always a situation where the attacking side has an advantage in numbers. During practice, you'll need to learn to adapt your playing style based on how many teammates you have around you, and you should always have a clear understanding of how to play."
"But now there are only two forwards on the field," Klose remarked, genuinely intrigued by this training method.
The attacking team now had just four players: Pirlo, Nedvěd, Trezeguet, and Shevchenko.
Aldrich crossed his arms, motioning for them to keep watching.
On the defensive side, there were four defenders and a defensive midfielder, made up of a substitute lineup: Mills, Ferdinand, Materazzi, Zambrotta, and Gattuso.
Earlier, with 6v5, the attacking team also had Ballack and Gronkjaer. When they switched to 5v5, Ballack exited, and after scoring, Gronkjaer left the field as well.
When the offensive side had the advantage in numbers or was even, they played fluidly, making quick passes and intricate movements, allowing them to score easily.
However, when the numbers were not in their favor, their approach changed significantly.
This situation tested the players' ball control, positioning, and off-the-ball movement.
Trezeguet darted between two center-backs, receiving and distributing passes before immediately repositioning and searching for opportunities. Shevchenko moved laterally behind the defensive line; when Trezeguet drifted wide, Shevchenko took the central position. Nedvěd's movement covered practically every area, supporting Pirlo while also making forward runs to apply pressure.
The three newcomers were awestruck; they hadn't fully grasped how impressive Nedvěd and his teammates were when they had the numerical advantage, but now, with only four players, their roles were well-defined and cohesive. Not only did they make intelligent off-the-ball runs to create space, but their choice of movement also exhibited a strong understanding with their teammates as they patiently sought every opening in the defense.
"If we want to strengthen individual dribbling skills, we'll play this game in a smaller area, with three forwards against five defenders."
As Aldrich spoke, Pirlo attempted a through ball, only for Ferdinand to intercept successfully. Ferdinand passed to Zambrotta on the wing.
Shevchenko immediately pressured Zambrotta, who made the pass that Nedvěd intercepted on its way to Gattuso.
"This game trains not only how to adjust to different attacking numbers but also how to recover and regain possession after losing the ball. It's crucial to create a systematic approach. For example, just now, Shevchenko's attempt to win the ball back wasn't successful, but he forced Zambrotta to make a quick decision. If you could freeze that moment on screen, you'd see that Zambrotta had Shevchenko closing in on him. Passing to the center was risky, especially since Trezeguet was pressuring the backline, leaving Zambrotta with no choice but to pass the ball to Gattuso, where Nedvěd was waiting. That's a successful localized defensive system."
"What should we do in that situation?"
"There are many options. The two center-backs could drop back to provide support; Zambrotta could pass it back to the goalkeeper; or if he had better vision, he could play a long ball across to the other flank, where Mills was unmarked. In matches, most players would typically just clear the ball without thinking. While I can't deny it's a choice, it's certainly not the best one, especially if it's a blind clearance. If the opponent organizes a second attack while your defense is still unprepared, it can be dangerous."
After Nedvěd intercepted successfully, he made a direct through ball to Trezeguet, who had successfully evaded the offside trap. While Aldrich was still speaking, Trezeguet easily slotted the ball into the net.
"Hey, Rio, Marco, you guys were a bit lackadaisical just now, weren't you?!" Aldrich called out with a grin to the two center-backs.
The two sheepishly scratched their heads, while Zambrotta raised his hand to apologize to his teammates.
With everyone in a relaxed mood, it was hard to avoid a sense of complacency.
In mid-season training, Aldrich would have been relentless in critiquing them. A relaxed mentality after a successful defensive stop is quite dangerous; players must remain vigilant of the opponent's quick counterattacks, which can be far more lethal. This scrimmage, with changing numbers on both sides, helped the players stay sharp and adaptable, as the dynamics of the game shifted rapidly. If defensive training were to be emphasized, they would remove even more defenders, teaching players to defend in situations like 4v5, 4v6, 3v4, or even 2v4 and 3v5—these exercises directly tested their positional awareness, coordination, and defensive skills.
Klose was buzzing; he saw many aspects that he hadn't witnessed in amateur teams. The runs made by Trezeguet and Shevchenko left him in awe.
This off-the-ball movement ability takes at least a couple of seasons of training to develop; it's not about merely having stamina to run around wildly without observing teammates' movements.
Aldrich waved over Ballack from a distance, inviting him to join the scrimmage to add more defenders.
Now, it turned into a 4v6.
Once Ballack came on, he matched up against Pirlo, preventing him from organizing the attack comfortably. After setting a solid defensive structure with their six players, they created layers and systems, making it difficult for the four attackers to build an effective attack. Nedvěd managed to beat Gattuso but was then precisely tackled by Materazzi. The four defenders quickly regrouped to regain possession, yet the flowing, extensive ball movement by the defense allowed them to successfully complete ten passes, winning that round.
"Anyone want to step up and try?" Aldrich smiled and asked the three newcomers.
All three nodded, eager to showcase their skills.
Aldrich allowed Van der Meyde to enter the game, making it 5v6.
Van der Meyde positioned himself as a left winger. On his first touch, he tried to demonstrate his technical skills but lost control of the ball when Mills pressured him during a feint, leading to a swift clearance by the defending side, who subsequently completed ten passes and secured the win.
Van der Meyde wore a disgruntled expression, while Mills shrugged in resignation.
He thought the Dutchman was too soft.
With one defender off, Gattuso subbed out for a rest.
The game continued at 5v5.
Van der Meyde's performance was dismal; even with equal numbers, he was too eager to impress. Every time he received the ball on the wing, he lost it within five seconds, even when he attempted to dribble. Mills consistently blocked his path, leaving him hopeless.
His former teammates now believed this Dutch kid was too weak!
Nedvěd and Trezeguet stepped in to support him on the left, further exposing Van der Meyde's lack of positional awareness.
Duff and Klose took turns trying out their luck, but the disappointment grew for the three newcomers, and their confidence took a hit.
Even the tall and lean Klose was knocked down by a simple shoulder charge from Materazzi.
If we were to rate the three on a scale of ten, their technical abilities would fall between 4 and 6, while their physicality and team awareness likely wouldn't even reach 3.
"Don't be discouraged. You're all still young; obviously, there's a gap between your abilities and theirs."
Aldridge's smile was encouraging and he soothed the trio's frustrations. If they really have what is visible to the naked eye, it may not be Millwall's turn to sign them.
Klose pointed at Trezeguet and said, "But he doesn't look much older than I am!"
Aldrich chuckled, "Haha, he'll be 20 in three months. The reason he's stronger and performs so well isn't just talent; the most important factor is that he has trained hard here for the past three years. Take a good look at the other players; don't they all have great physiques?"
The three looked over at their teammates—Nedvěd, Schneider, Ballack, Lampard, Van Nistelrooy, Shevchenko, and others. If Millwall weren't a football club, they would definitely qualify to compete in a male modeling contest.
"When they take their shirts off, you'll see they have no excess fat and clear muscle definition. Two years ago, the club introduced a scientific fitness training regime, and every year, the coaching staff sends people abroad to learn modern fitness training methods. Their hard work, combined with scientific training, has made them stronger than your average players, and you can become that way too."
On the first day of training, the three players had a more detailed understanding of Millwall and realized the gap between themselves and the team. Aldrich wasn't trying to intimidate them but to help them recognize reality early, which would allow them to focus on working hard to catch up with their teammates.
Suddenly, Ronaldinho sprinted over to Aldrich, flashing a big smile. "Boss, when will I make my Premier League debut?"
Aldrich turned his gaze toward the sweaty young Brazilian with a puzzled look. "Why are you asking about that?"
"You've got to tell me so I can prepare!"
"Are you ready? You've got it wrong; it's not about whether you're prepared or not. It's about whether I think you can do it. If I believe you can, I won't give you any time to get ready; you just have to go on the field!"
"Absolutely, if you tell me to go, I'll definitely go! So when will that be?"
Aldrich rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "What were your stats last season in the youth team?"
Ronaldinho quickly responded, "21 goals and 18 assists."
"Alright then, as soon as you can put up a double-digit performance in the reserves, I'll let you play in the Premier League."
"Huh?!"
Ronaldinho's jaw dropped, and then he panicked, asking, "Why? Just a few months ago, I played in the FA Cup final!"
Aldrich spoke earnestly, "That situation was different. You came in when we had an extra man and were leading the scoreline. If you think the youth league's level is directly comparable to the Premier League, you haven't woken up yet. Go show me what you can do in the reserves. If you can't perform well in those practice matches, how can I let you into the Premier League? Andre scored 19 goals in just ten reserve league games two years ago; do you lack confidence in yourself?"
Ronaldinho felt a bit disheartened but quickly perked up, pointing at Aldrich with a cocky grin. "Just wait! I'll get that double-digit contribution! I'll do it in less than six months!"
Aldrich shrugged. "You'd better make it count on both goals and assists."
Ronaldinho turned and dashed off to find the reserves' manager, Capo, to inquire about the player roster for the new season.
When he learned that players like Lampard, Gattuso, Ferdinand, and Gronkjaer often featured in the reserves, Ronaldinho felt far more confident.
This was totally different from the youth team's level.
"Boss, I misspoke earlier! I'll make it happen in three months!"
Aldrich chuckled at this.
If Ronaldinho thought the level of reserve league competition was low, he couldn't have been more mistaken. If it were just lower league reserves, it might be acceptable, but in the Premier League, the reserves consisted of substitute players from professional clubs striving for a spot in the matchday squad. Not to mention, many stars returned from injuries to regain their form, making these matches fierce competitions among the second teams of Premier League clubs, sometimes even more intense than the Premier League itself as everyone fought for their spot in the starting lineup.
To make the squad, he had to prove himself and hold his ground on that team.
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