Chapitre 510: The Era of the Lions
"Valencia's distinctive style of play makes them capable of scoring and winning. But when it comes to the final step towards a trophy, they fall short of one vital trait: the experience and guile to outmaneuver their toughest opponents."
Millwall had once faced a similar issue. Aldrich recalled the European Cup Winners' Cup final and the Champions League final against Real Madrid two years ago. Back then, his instructions to the team were simple: attack relentlessly, disregard the pressure, and play their own style without overthinking. Fortunately, their opponent—Real Madrid, desperate after a 30-year Champions League drought—was equally burdened by nerves.
For a team playing its first final, the greatest danger was overthinking every move. While Valencia might not have been naturally prone to this mindset, their deficiencies as a team made such a scenario inevitable once they fell behind.
Today, however, Millwall exhibited a calm maturity. They controlled the game with ease, dictating a slow tempo for over 70% of the time, only to suddenly accelerate and unleash devastating attacks. The abrupt changes in pace left Valencia scrambling to keep up.
As they celebrated Larsson's goal, Aldrich noticed something unexpected. Walking back to the bench, he turned to Boas.
"Tell me about their left-back, Gerardo," Aldrich asked.
Boas stood and whispered, "Came through Real Madrid but never played a senior match. He worked his way up from lower leagues and joined Valencia mid-season. Limited La Liga appearances. One-on-one? Ronaldinho eats him alive."
Boas' analysis was succinct and sharp.
Aldrich nodded slowly, a contemplative look crossing his face.
Gerardo's presence on the field came as no surprise, filling in for the suspended Carboni.
But Carboni was 35 years old, while Gerardo was 26—seemingly in his prime. Yet, for Valencia's defensive counterattacking system to function, defense had to come first. Without solid defending, there was no counterattack.
With Carboni unavailable, Valencia's backline looked fragile. Except for Pellegrino (29), the others were all over 34. How had this aging defense carried Valencia to the final?
Experience.
These veterans couldn't run 10,000 meters or more in a match like younger players, but their movements were efficient. While younger players often wasted energy on unnecessary runs, veterans used their experience to be in the right place at the right time. Without such intelligence, Valencia would never have reached the final with an aging backline.
Boas offered more than just an analysis of the opposition—he highlighted a pivotal weakness:
Gerardo lacked experience on the biggest stage!
He had climbed up from lower-tier teams and only joined Valencia less than six months ago.
And what was today's match?
The Champions League final!
Valencia already struggled with the pressure of performing on this stage, and Gerardo's inexperience only deepened the cracks. This was a critical vulnerability that couldn't be overlooked.
Before the match, Aldrich hadn't anticipated this. Without sufficient data on Gerardo, it was impossible to predict whether he would shine or falter. The first half-hour revealed nothing notable about him, as Larsson's style relied more on movement and passing rather than direct one-on-one confrontations.
However, moments ago, when Schneider effortlessly breezed past Gerardo to deliver an assist, Aldrich took note.
At the next throw-in opportunity, Aldrich walked to the sideline and called Larsson over.
"Switch positions with Thierry," Aldrich instructed. "Let Thierry exploit the gap between their full-back and center-back."
Larsson accepted the instructions without hesitation, relayed them to Henry, and the two completed a swift position swap.
It didn't take long for Gerardo's troubles to become glaringly apparent.
First, he couldn't get near the ball when it was at Henry's feet.
Second, his reckless attempts to press left him completely out of position.
Henry's speed, agility, and impeccable ball control were a clear level above Larsson's, and his dominance on the right wing overwhelmed Gerardo.
The domino effect was clear—Valencia's midfield had to stretch themselves thin, constantly dropping back to plug the gap.
In the 44th minute, Henry found himself on the right flank, faced with a double team from Gerardo and Farinós. Rather than forcing his way through, he passed the ball back to the overlapping Schneider. Schneider delivered a precise through ball to Larsson in the center.
Larsson quickly passed it horizontally to the charging Nedvěd. Farinós' focus on defending created a gap in Valencia's central defense. The suddenness of Larsson's pass caught Pellegrino and Djukic off guard, allowing Nedvěd to unleash a powerful shot from just outside the penalty area. The ball flew past Cañizares into the net.
"2-0! Nedvěd's stunning strike has sent The Lions' fans into a frenzy! What a shot! The freshly crowned Ballon d'Or winner is living up to his reputation, and it looks like he's about to add another winner's medal to his collection!"
The timing couldn't have been better. With the first half nearing its end, Millwall could return to the locker room with Aldrich reminding the team to stay composed, while Valencia faced the psychological blow of trailing significantly.
Aldrich clapped for Nedvěd's goal with a calm smile, showing no excessive excitement.
Valencia's performance fell short of his expectations. They lacked the aura of champions and showed limitations in both their squad and tactics. Signs of collapse were already apparent.
Millwall's high-press and tempo control had a tendency to push opponents into tactical disarray. Players began abandoning their defensive positions in a desperate attempt to regain possession, exposing critical areas. While appearing aggressive, their efforts were disorganized, resembling a desperate struggle.
The early part of the second half would be pivotal. Although dramatic comebacks in the final moments were not unheard of, the most decisive period was often the opening phase after halftime. Teams trailing by multiple goals tended to crumble further as time ran out, while the leading side could solidify their advantage with defensive focus and time-wasting tactics.
During halftime, Aldrich emphasized the need for a steady approach in the second half. He instructed the team to maintain their shape, deny Valencia space for midfield link-ups, and disrupt their counterattacks effectively.
Cooper had no choice but to field Gerardo, and though there may have been some concern before the match, he optimistically hoped that Lopez, attacking from the left side, could put pressure on the opposition and help neutralize their right-wing attack.
But the reality was far from ideal. Lopez barely had any opportunities to make an impact today.
Millwall asserted their dominance in midfield, disrupting Valencia's attempts to push forward. The lack of clean distribution meant that the forwards rarely received the ball in favorable positions. With the midfield struggling, Valencia's attack lacked cohesion and became increasingly ineffective.
In the 58th minute, Ronaldinho controlled the ball on the left wing. With Nedvěd making a forward run and Larsson pulling defenders wide as a decoy, Valencia's defense became increasingly nervous.
Ronaldinho pulled off a clever move, dragging the ball back two steps before launching a high-quality cross toward the far post.
The ball bypassed Valencia's central defenders, heading straight for the far side of the goal. Gerardo failed to track Henry, while Pellegrino's effort to cover the far post proved too slow. Henry leapt at the far post and delivered a powerful header.
Cañizares, guarding his near post, managed to get a hand on the ball, deflecting it away. However, the rebound landed inside the box. Nedvěd tried to follow up but mistimed his step, slipping and failing to connect.
Behind him, Larsson reacted quicker than Gerardo, calmly using the inside of his foot to guide the ball into the net at half-height.
Larsson scores twice, and Millwall leads 3-0! This has been one of those games where you can tell from the first minute—there's no suspense! Millwall have dominated not just the scoreboard, but the play itself, completely overpowering Valencia. Before the 60th minute, three goals had already shattered any hopes Valencia had of turning this around. The Valencia fans, who had drawn a bat symbol in the stands before the match, must be feeling heartbroken, while the Lions' supporters are now singing and dancing in the stands, celebrating as their team is on the verge of securing their second European Cup and a historic treble in England!
Valencia's players held their heads in disbelief on the pitch. A final like this, and they were utterly powerless.
Mendieta stood frozen, his expression blank. He couldn't fathom how it had come to this.
The midfield he led was among the finest in Europe. Even after today's loss to Millwall, their reputation as one of the best remained unchanged.
The fact was simple: Millwall was stronger.
Cooper's stoic expression revealed nothing but stubbornness, evoking a sense of sympathy. He looked utterly helpless, with no solutions at hand.
Aldrich, alongside Klinsmann and Jensen, embraced in celebration of the team's third goal. At this moment, they allowed themselves a brief release of emotion.
Valencia refused to give up, pushing even harder and showing an aggression that seemed uncharacteristic of a La Liga team. They leaned more into physical challenges to regain possession. While their tackles weren't reckless, compared to Millwall, it almost felt like the two teams had swapped jerseys.
In the 70th minute, Aldrich made a substitution.
Neil came on to replace Southgate.
For Neil, a six-year stalwart of the team, this was Aldrich's way of giving him more time to cherish the occasion—a Champions League final.
As Southgate left the pitch, he handed the captain's armband to Nedvěd and applauded the fans. Wasting no time, he jogged to the sidelines to embrace Neil, exchanged a high-five with Aldrich, and finally took his seat on the bench to rest.
Valencia pressed aggressively, fighting hard for every ball. However, this wasn't the rhythm they were accustomed to, leading to frequent positional errors and a disjointed backline.In the 81st minute, they suffered another blow.
Ronaldinho darted into the box, lofting a perfectly weighted pass back to the edge of the area. Pirlo arrived in stride and unleashed a stunning first-time strike, a thunderous long shot that soared into the top corner, leaving Cañizares helpless.
4-0.
The match had become a one-sided spectacle.
Aldrich made another substitution, bringing on Keller for Butt.
A goalkeeper for a goalkeeper—was this an insult?
No, it was a reward for Keller. Though his abilities were limited as a backup keeper, he had always been diligent and without complaint.
With just five minutes left, Aldrich substituted Ronaldinho, sending on Gronkjaer.
Valencia's fate was sealed. Without the ability to stage a miraculous comeback, the team collectively deflated as time ticked away.
Standing on the sidelines, Aldrich wore a triumphant smile. Surrounding him were Millwall's coaching staff and players, all waiting for the final whistle to ignite their celebrations.
When the referee's whistle blew to signal full-time, most of Valencia's players collapsed to the ground. The Stade de France erupted with the thunderous cheers of Millwall's fans.
"The 1999-2000 UEFA Champions League final has concluded. Millwall triumphs over Valencia with a resounding 4-0 victory! This season, Millwall has showcased extraordinary consistency across both league and European competitions. They secured the domestic title with an unbeaten record and claimed their second Champions League trophy with the same flawless dominance!
This team is now widely acknowledged as Europe's finest. Today's commanding victory against Valencia epitomizes their entire season. Four years, three league titles. Four years, three European titles: two Champions League trophies and one now-defunct Cup Winners' Cup. Countless other trophies. Millwall—a magnificent team. Aldrich Hall—a brilliant young coach. He has transformed Millwall from nothing into a global powerhouse. He has made the Lions' emblem a symbol of fear throughout Europe. And with a brand-new, state-of-the-art stadium awaiting next season, the Lion King Stadium, Millwall will march forward as true kings.
This is the era of the Lions. This is Millwall's dynasty. From this day forward, when you mention Millwall, be sure to add a simple introduction: The Giants. The European Giants, Millwall!"
Volume 6: Rise of the Giants --END
Volume 7: Rise from the Ashes
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
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