Capítulo 354: Pressure in the Box
Ronaldo stood at the penalty spot, preparing to take the shot — the focal point of the entire match. However, the commentators in the broadcast studio were facing a dilemma.
Aldrich called Ronaldinho over, hardly paying attention to the penalty itself. It was an interesting scene, but surely the broadcast should focus on the penalty kick?
With no other option, the crew decided to switch to different camera angles to capture Aldrich's interaction, to play back later.
Ronaldinho walked up to Aldrich, distracted by the ongoing penalty shootout. He kept glancing back toward his penalty area, but Aldrich, sensing his lack of focus, poked him on the chest and said firmly, "Hey, turn your head this way; I'm talking to you!"
Ronaldinho turned around and met Aldrich's serious gaze. He lowered his head unconsciously. Aldrich asked, "What were you doing just now?"
Ronaldinho didn't look at Aldrich, but replied a little embarrassedly: "I just followed your advice. Didn't you tell me before the game to try to dribble past the opponent more often?"
Aldrich crossed his arms, visibly annoyed. "Stop talking nonsense! You want me to tell you every touch of the ball through the microphone? I know what you're thinking - you're mad about being robbed, so you want to show off your dribbling breakthrough in front of the opponent, right?"
Ronaldinho was left speechless.
He tried to defend himself but didn't know how to start.
If he was really telling the truth, it would be disastrous for him!
A player who fails to make the right choices at crucial moments has little hope for a successful career.
Just aimlessly kicking the ball won't cut it; not even immense talent will save you!
Aldrich spoke with a sharp tone. "When it's time to pass, pass; when you need to dribble, do it. Remember, this game isn't just about dueling one-on-one. Your contributions serve the team's greater purpose. Head back out there and give a solid performance, or I won't hesitate to pull you before the first half is up!"
Four years ago, Aldrich would never have spoken to a player this way. But now, with his coaching credentials, it felt normal.
Ronaldinho nodded, and Aldrich turned him around, giving him a light push to send him back on the field.
At that moment, cheers erupted from the stands.
Ronaldo netted the penalty, the shot was placed softly but perfectly into the corner.
"Internazionale leads 2-0 against defending champions Millwall in the 26th minute of the first half. It seems that Millwall's overall strength has been overestimated after losing several key players. They've barely created a threatening attack since the match started."
Hodgson on the sidelines sighed in relief and allowed a hint of a smile to emerge.
With a two-goal cushion, Internazionale had gotten off to a strong start.
Aldrich signaled to the team, decisively altering their attacking and defensive posture.
If they were just one goal behind, they could maintain balance in attack and defense. But two goals behind meant they had to go all out. No matter whether they lost by one or two goals, the result would still be the same; if the final group position came down to tie-breakers, that chance was slim.
Internazionale was now aggressively pushing through the middle, exploiting Millwall's clear weaknesses. Aldrich quickly made the decision to abandon center attacks and instead attack from the flanks.
After Millwall kicked off again, Lampard held back from pushing forward, sending the ball laterally before passing to the wing.
Zambrotta and Schneider bravely surged forward.
With this shift, Millwall's attacking threats quickly became apparent.
The reason was simple—there was a numerical advantage on the flanks!
Ronaldinho once again faced off against Zanetti. The young but experienced defender had successfully defended him many times and now knew Ronaldinho's dribbling patterns well. Whenever Ronaldinho attacked, Zanetti would follow closely behind, waiting for the perfect moment to intercept.
However, Ronaldinho had a different plan in mind. He skillfully pulled the ball back, drawing Zanetti in. Just as Zanetti moved forward to apply pressure, Zambrotta appeared out of nowhere, sprinting past Zanetti on the sideline. Ronaldinho demonstrated his finesse by executing an elegant flick, the ball soaring over Zanetti's head, landing perfectly at Zambrotta's feet, who then smoothly began to dribble laterally along the baseline.
The Millwall full-back burst down the flank, breaking through Inter Milan's defensive setup. In response, the defensive line had no choice but to compress, safeguarding the critical area in front of the goal. Just as Zanetti and Bergomi were about to execute their double-team, Zambrotta swiftly played the ball back. Ronaldinho, positioned at the edge of the penalty area, He received the ball and shot without hesitation!
Ronaldinho's shot was of excellent quality and went straight to the near corner of the goal.
However, Inter Milan goalkeeper Pagliuca showed his incredible skills, blocking the shot with one hand and sending the ball out of the bottom line.
The audience exclaimed, and then applauded loudly, celebrating Pagliuca's outstanding performance.
On the sidelines, Aldridge initially showed a hint of regret, but soon applauded, obviously satisfied with the team's offensive method.
"Just play like this!"
Internazionale had a weak defensive link. When Millwall quickly surged through midfield, their attacking players could not retreat in time. The backline consisted of only four defenders and two midfielders. Attacking the flanks meant they could easily outnumber Millwall in a short time. If Millwall employed a clever passing and movement strategy, success rates were high even with Cauet covering on the flanks.
With a balanced two-on-two situation, Millwall held their own, and Simeone was cautious; he knew if he left the middle, Nedved would become a lethal threat.
Millwall quickly took a corner, and Zambrotta gathered the ball on the side, feigning a cross to get past Zanetti before moving inside. From a 45-degree angle at the edge of the box, he unleashed a long-range shot!
Pagliuca again showed his skills; although caught off guard, he deflected the ball.
The ball bounced straight to Van Nistelrooy, who calmly controlled the ball. West quickly approached and blocked the shooting angle with his body, but Van Nistelrooy showed extraordinary calmness, dodged cleverly, and then shot accurately.
"What a response from Millwall! Ruud van Nistelrooy is the man on target. Pagliuca did well to save Zambrotta's effort, but he couldn't clear it out of danger. The Dutch striker was unflappable; instead of panicking, he took his time. He maneuvered past West effortlessly and fired the ball home. Millwall is now just one goal behind!"
Van Nistelrooy ran to the goal, hugging the ball tightly as he made his way back.
Normally, having just scored Millwall's first goal in the UEFA Champions League this season would be a cause for celebration. However, the team had a tradition: after scoring while trailing, no player celebrated unless the score was level. They needed to quickly resume play and strive to equalize or take the lead!
Seeing his players sprinting back, Aldrich nodded in approval.
Although Millwall's strength had diminished, their spirit had clearly improved.
They would no longer react like second or third-tier teams that celebrated just for getting a goal against a stronger opponent, regardless of the final outcome.
Hodgson had no words for the goal conceded — it was evident that something unexpected occurred. However, in football, such surprises often resulted from a buildup of advantages over time.
Internazionale's aggressive middle game had worked well; they were benefiting from being the home side, something Aldrich hadn't anticipated prior to the match, nor did any media outlets analyze beforehand.
Hodgson took a risky approach, concentrating his forces through the middle while weakening their wing attacks.
Such tactics would probably lead to disaster in Serie A, especially against teams employing rigid defensive formations or speedy counterattacks; they would likely find attacks heavily congested.
But against Millwall, it proved effective. Aldrich focused on maximizing Nedved's offensive impact, and both flanks had powerful individual capabilities. The defensive space in the middle was not pressed to an extreme, and Internazionale's attacking combinations were all quite capable, leaving Millwall in a desperate state.
Especially Lampard, who seemed out of sorts today, often being toyed with by Baggio. Yet Aldrich had no complaints about Lampard's performance on the sidelines.
This was normal. In past matches, whether league or cup, Lampard had seldom faced top-tier teams, let alone strong competition. Even if he had encounters, they might not have been in full force.
Today, however, he's going head-to-head with Baggio, Djorkaeff, and Ronaldo—an incredibly potent attacking trio. Instead of panicking and resorting to reckless fouls under pressure, Lampard has shown a commendable ability to adjust to the opponents' rhythm. He's systematically enhanced the success rate of his defensive actions, which is indeed a positive development."
It was a phase every young player had to go through. They needed to experience being outmatched repeatedly; once accustomed to it and improved, their skill set increased.
After Millwall pulled one back, both teams traded swift attacks.
Millwall's wide players advanced, leaving their backline even more exposed. When Internazionale shifted from defense to attack, their forwards had more freedom, putting a significant strain on Millwall's defense.
In the 42nd minute of the first half, Gronkjaer broke through on the right flank. Schneider came up to support him, and they executed a clever one-two. Gronkjaer dribbled laterally toward the penalty area, but when West closed in, Gronkjaer noticed the change in positioning and sent the ball behind his opponents.
"A brilliant threaded pass from Gronkjaer! Schneider takes his shot without hesitation.
Pagliuca goes flying, and it seems he's missed it—but oh no! The shot crashes off the crossbar and out!"
Aldrich groaned, holding his forehead.
The invisible intimidation a top goalkeeper exudes is undeniable.
When you face a world-class keeper, subconsciously, you tend to think common shots can't get past them, prompting the need for an even higher-quality shot, aiming for a better angle.
Schneider was likely thinking just that, and he was oh-so-close — just a fraction!
The ball bounced to the feet of Coat, who quickly passed it forward. Baggio dropped back to receive the ball, turned and passed it forward. Lampard tried to intercept it head-on, but Baggio passed the ball diagonally to the left, right to Schneider's position, which was now empty!
"Baggio capitalized on his speed to navigate past Lampard in an expansive area of the pitch. As he approached the penalty area, he reduced his speed to assess the situation. With Materazzi closing in, Baggio skillfully delivered a diagonal pass behind the defender. Ronaldo made a dynamic run toward the near post, receiving the ball near the byline. He executed a subtle pullback, while Southgate positioned himself defensively with arms behind him. Ronaldo then performed a scissors feint to create a better angle, gracefully lifting the ball into the penalty area."
"As Makélélé tracked Zamorano in the penalty area, he faced a significant challenge; Zamorano had about five centimeters on him. With effort, he jumped to contest a header but unfortunately watched the ball glide over his head, confident that Zamorano wouldn't reach it either. Yet, from behind Zamorano, Djorkaeff made a timely run, connecting perfectly with a header that sent the ball into the net.
Upon landing, Makélélé glanced at the ball nestled in the goal, then turned to Zambrotta, who had been just half a step late in his marking, raising his hands in a gesture of frustration.
'Inter Milan have extended their advantage, Djorkaeff with the goal—it's now 3-1. Today, Inter have demonstrated exquisite attacking coordination, showcasing the talent and flair we expect from them. Their offense is nothing short of spectacular, truly formidable!'"
Aldrich had no complaints about that goal at all. He couldn't fault Zambrotta for failing to stop Djorkaeff's header; attacking and defending formed a complete system. When Millwall boldly pushed into attack from the flanks, the chances of conceding on a counter were particularly high. Had Schneider's shot gone in earlier, the dynamic would have changed completely.
Sometimes, it all comes down to seizing opportunities. Just look at last season's Juventus; had they capitalized on the gaps exposed during Millwall's frantic late-game push, there wouldn't have been a last-minute elimination.
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