章 87: The Shadow of a Superstar
After conceding a goal, Arsenal instinctively returned to their old tactic: defending and counter-attacking.
This was understandable; they were facing Millwall's starters for the first time. In the previous season's FA Cup encounter, Arsenal had played against Millwall's substitutes, none of whom were on the pitch today.
Millwall maintained a relaxed control over the game's tempo, forcing Arsenal to tighten their defense. Millwall mirrored this by contracting their own formation. Their short passing combinations were impressively smooth, and with Arsenal's defense crowded in the box, Millwall's forwards withdrew to complete their attacks with powerful long-range shots.
Aldrich stood on the sidelines, confident and commanding. Though he didn't know Graham well, he had observed Arsenal's evolution over the years and naively believed they were merely mimicking trends, adding elements suited for the English league to the dominant Italian catenaccio. This indeed had led Arsenal to a fleeting period of glory.
In the hundred years of football, only Italy has elevated defense to an art form. Even when broadcasting technology and football culture were not fully developed, Italy created a significant impact in Europe.
It made those in the football community wonder: how did the game transform into this?
From 1985 to 1989, Italian clubs won five league titles, with the fewest goals conceded being 14 and the most 19. Apart from Inter Milan's remarkable 67 goals in 1989, the others scored 41, 42, 43, and 43 goals respectively.
During that period, Graham took over at Arsenal and passionately began to craft a football style that emphasized extreme defense, akin to the Italian 1-0 ideology.
Italy's catenaccio was still evolving. In the summer of 1994, AC Milan claimed the league title, but their numbers for goals conceded and goals scored were shocking: 36 and 15.
Fast forward ten or twenty years, and such statistics would be terrifying!
Whether Italian tactics are the most advanced and trendsetting is not for Aldrich to judge, as the Italian league, often dubbed the "mini World Cup," was already under scrutiny. While some regarded Italian football as anti-football—ugly and destructive to the beautiful game—others revered it.
What cannot be denied is the intense study of defensive tactics by Italian coaches who constantly refined the catenaccio, elevating defense to art, which led to a flourishing Italian league!
Italian teams began to dominate European competitions; they were not just regulars in the Champions League, but frequent finalists, forging the world's most impenetrable shield, welcoming countless forwards yearning to prove themselves and aspiring to become the sharpest blades ready to cut through that defense.
Such defensive tactics thrived in Italy, evolving and peaking while maintaining longevity.
However, in England, Arsenal's brilliance was difficult to sustain because it clashed with the country's football culture. After tasting the sweetness of championship success, Arsenal's players felt constrained, leading to a loss of drive and passion, squandering their youth.
Now, Arsenal sought transformation. They needed a suitable mentor. Aldrich believed it was the right choice for Wenger not to return to Europe that summer; although Rioch lacked great renown in coaching, he played a crucial role in Arsenal's transitional phase. At the very least, he provided the players with a necessary adjustment period for the change in style, reducing the challenges when Wenger eventually took over.
The situation on the pitch exemplified Arsenal's struggles at this stage. In the twenty minutes following Millwall's lead, they played conservatively, with only four players pushing forward, resulting in a stagnant attack. Unable to stand it any longer, their full-backs surged forward.
What other option did they have?
They were known for their ability to win 1-0.
But at this moment, they were behind 0-1.
Aldrich watched the tense situation on the field calmly, thinking: If we get another goal, it will completely break Arsenal!
Wenterburn's pass was successfully intercepted by Makélélé. Nedved received the ball and passed it to the right flank, where Schneider galloped forward like the wind.
Having learned from their earlier mistake, Arsenal swiftly regrouped. They were not in a hurry to press; instead, they set their defensive shape to slow their opponents down. Even the defensive midfielders rushed back to the box to make up for their defensive disadvantage.
Schneider advanced with the ball before passing it to the center, where a charging Nedved found himself unmarked. Rather than attempting a distant shot, he chose to penetrate the box, trying to outpace Adams.
As the two players brushed past each other, Adams opted for a sliding tackle. He is a defender with top-notch tackling skills. Nedved slipped while accelerating and fell directly in the penalty area.
In a flash, the spectators and coaching staff were unsure of what transpired. All they saw was Nedved down in the box, while Adams had also tumbled after his tackle, the ball now cleared away.
Referee Poll blew his whistle, pointing to the penalty spot in Arsenal's box.
"Tony Adams' slide tackle brought Pavel Nedved down in the box. The replay clearly shows Adams made contact with the ball first, while it seems Nedved lost his balance just before any contact. Referee Poll decisively awarded the penalty, though this decision is questionable."
"Regardless, this presents a great opportunity for Millwall. If they can extend their lead before halftime, Arsenal's hopes of a comeback will be slim."
When Adams realized the referee had given a penalty, he jumped to his feet in rage, shouting at Nedved, "You fraud! I didn't touch you! I was going for the ball!"
FIFA introduced strict regulations against sliding tackles from behind in 1994, but enforcement only became effective during the 1998 World Cup. For now, it was still a process of warming up to the new policies.
Poll's decision was likely not based on the dangerous nature of the tackle but on his belief that Adams knocked Nedved down first.
As several Arsenal players surrounded him, Nedved got to his feet and calmly gestured to referee Poll, shaking his head: "That's not a penalty!"
Seeing this, Arsenal players were momentarily stunned.
Adams' eyes widened, his mouth agape in disbelief, unable to finish his scolding.
A few Arsenal players also gathered around Poll, with Wenterburn pointing at Nedved, saying, "He just admitted it wasn't a penalty!"
Nedved approached, simply telling the referee: "I slipped by myself; he didn't foul me. There's no penalty."
The scene was bizarre.
At Lion's Den Stadium, a hush fell over the crowd, with fewer than twenty thousand fans glued to the action in Arsenal's box, where Arsenal players huddled around the referee, and the referee conversed with Nedved.
In English football's origins, the game was a vigorous contest between warriors. The earliest formal football rules prohibited backward passing—only lateral and forward passing sufficed, reminiscent of ancient Chinese duels between knights.
In high-stakes encounters, players adhered to the principles of nobility. If someone were to launch a sneak attack or intervene, they'd be looked down upon by their peers.
Thus, English fans inherently appreciated the gritty British players. Nedved's combative style, bravely facing challenges on the pitch, earned him applause even when he fell; he embodied qualities admired and revered by British fans—not the flashy, cunning "European players." If Nedved had dived, even the proud Millwall supporters would revile him!
Even in war, rules exist. How could football tolerate unscrupulous tactics to deceive for victory?
Yet now, they could clearly see Nedved communicating with the referee, requesting the penalty be overturned. Otherwise, why bother speaking with the referee? Just kick the penalty!
The Millwall players, hands on their hips, looked towards Aldrich at the sidelines.
"What to do, boss?"
"We have a penalty, but the vice-captain seems to have 'defected.'"
The players on the field admired Nedved's action but needed to see Aldrich's response. Regardless of the outcome, the coach's will mattered greatly at this moment.
Aldrich stood frozen, utterly shocked!
He was deeply moved!
At Millwall, he was both the owner and the head coach—essentially the local emperor—unlike his peers who were constantly looming over by a metaphorical sword of Damocles. Still, deep down, he carried an unbearable weight, the fear of failure that hung over him like a shadow.
He could lure promising stars to the club, but he feared he lacked the ability to coach them to success. If a star were to "flourish out" under his watch, he would live with regret, as it would irrevocably alter that player's destiny, leaving him haunted by the label of "culprit."
Yet witnessing Nedved's moment, it was as if he saw a profound brilliance radiating from him.
That was the glow of a superstar!
Superstars require not only skill but also charisma and a strong spirit.
Aldrich felt a tear welling in the corner of his eye, quietly thinking: "Thank you, Pavel, for touching my soul."
Turning around, Aldrich raised both hands high above his head, beginning to clap, rallying all the fans to applaud Nedved for his display at that moment.
The crowd at Lion's Den Stadium leapt to their feet, clapping along with Aldrich.
Many fans nodded while applauding!
Despite Millwall being criticized for their aggressive style in the past, they had never lost their ethos.
Underhanded tactics, like those of thieves and swindlers, lacked any dignity!
If you can't win honestly, then at least lose honorably!
Diving and theatrics in football have never been tolerated.
The stadium reverberated with applause for Nedved, and even Arsenal fans rose to their feet in appreciation, the noise swelling into an uninterrupted wave, immortalizing this moment as a classic scene for Millwall.
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