章 73: A Double-Edged Sword
The fullback's offensive contribution is a double-edged sword; if utilized well, they can dominate the game, but if mishandled, it can backfire catastrophically. Just as Lucas Neill crossed the halfway line, he lost the ball, and Millwall's budding attack fell flat. The next moment, Manchester United was launching a counterattack!
Butt carried the ball to the edge of the penalty area, enjoying ample space and time to assess the situation.
Giggs engaged in a duel with Thuram on the wing, effectively canceling each other out, while in the central region of the penalty area, it was a three-on-two advantage for Manchester United.
McClair had been invisible for most of the first thirty minutes, but this time, he cleverly made a run to the left, positioning himself as if ready to receive a through ball from a teammate. Naturally, Stam followed him closely, prompting Butt to choose to carry the ball to the right.
Cole moved out, using his body to shield against Southgate. Butt passed the ball to Cole and continued sprinting to the right, looking for a one-two setup. Cole decisively flicked the ball forward for Butt.
With no other option, Southgate had to turn and block Butt. If Butt were allowed to advance any further, it would be a clear one-on-one opportunity, even if the shooting angle wasn't ideal.
As soon as Southgate moved, Butt cleverly passed the ball back to Cole, who had turned to face the goal. Southgate lost his position, leaving enough space for Cole to advance. He took a step forward, made his adjustment, and then Andy Cole unleashed a furious shot!
The ball rolled into the Millwall net like a cannonball skimming the grass, and Keller dove to save but was clearly a moment too late.
"What a beautiful shot! Manchester United pulls one back! Andy Cole's calm finish does not betray his teammates' efforts. The primary credit goes to Nicky Butt, whose forward run tore open Millwall's defense, creating a scoring opportunity through Cole's seamless coordination. Can Manchester United turn it around? At least Millwall should be getting nervous now."
"Martin, should Millwall give up on letting Neill venture forward? If he hadn't gone up, Manchester United wouldn't have had this counterattack chance. It's clear that if he makes a mistake or fails to return on time, Manchester United would have a significant advantage in the counterattack, and the vertical space in Millwall's defense would be too big. That's a deadly flaw for a team like Manchester United, which excels at wing attacks."
"I don't know, I don't know. Aldrich's team has surprised us before; who knows what Millwall will do next. All we can do is enjoy the match. I believe these next fifty minutes will be even more exciting."
After scoring, Cole didn't celebrate. He ran to the goal, hugged the ball to his chest, and sprinted back to his half. The other Manchester United players did the same; they had no intention of celebrating yet.
They had only pulled one back—still a long way from a celebration!
Ferguson looked a bit relieved, while Aldrich remained calm.
It was indeed Neill's error that led to the goal, but such things are unavoidable.
No tactical evolution comes without sacrifices.
That's why Aldrich is cautious in restructuring the team. He never makes drastic changes; it's not enough to just explain tactics to the players for them to execute perfectly.
Experience is needed to know when to push forward, and it's also crucial for teammates to adjust their defensive positions when fullbacks venture forward.
In fact, it would have been smarter for Millwall to shift their focus to the right side after Manchester United strengthened their defense on that flank. Even if they couldn't replicate the effect on the left, they could tire out Keane and Butt, who were running vertically back and forth, creating openings in the center.
But the cautious Aldrich concentrated on building his attack on the left. Pires' cutting ability is stronger than Schneider's, and he has a better scoring capability inside the box. Thus, his partnership provides a greater threat. Trying to have Thuram and Schneider execute the same plays on the right might not yield the desired results. It's a matter of how players feel in different areas—Schneider becomes less threatening as he nears the edge of the penalty area. His ability to assist from the wing is unquestionable, but transforming him into a modern winger who directly threatens the goal is a tall order.
Moreover, issuing tactical instructions for both wings to push forward could easily cause initial confusion in the attack. Tactical changes require a period of adaptation and cohesion.
Old Trafford erupted in applause, urging the Red Devils to keep the pressure on.
Neill felt a bit dejected but soon lifted his head, regaining his spirit. He considered himself tough; there was no point in dwelling on mistakes. The boss had told them during training to be bold in their offensive runs and not to fear errors.
After all, failure is the mother of success; it's no big deal for a young player to make a mistake.
Following the earlier goal conceded, Neill settled on the wing, focusing on his defensive duties, keeping a close watch on Beckham. Although he was younger than Beckham, he played fiercely, with an aggressive approach and a robust physicality. A solid collision with him might leave little chance for little David to retaliate.
From the first minute, the pace of the match was frenetic. It wasn't just because Millwall quickened the tempo in their attacks, but also because they committed fully to defense, forcing Manchester United players not to hold onto the ball for too long, or they would fall into a double-team trap.
With the threat on the right side neutralized, Keane and Nedvěd clashed in midfield, often engaging one another.
Nedvěd fell, then got up, fell again, and got up. Keane collided with Nedvěd, only to accidentally fall himself but quickly rose again. Keane got the ball back, and as Nedvěd lunged to steal it, Keane knocked him down. Without hesitation, he got back up, fell, and repeated the cycle.
Their jerseys were the dirtiest, resembling ones worn in a wrestling match in a muddy field.
After several confrontations, Keane couldn't help but steal a few glances at the quiet, focused Nedvěd, thinking to himself: Is this even human?
He's a real butcher, but also a tough as nails guy. If he takes out an opponent who then starts rolling around pretending to be hurt, he'd just spit and curse under his breath, too indifferent to look down on them. If his opponent plays tricks, he'd barrel straight for their legs and proudly shout, "I'm gonna fucking take you out!"
However, when faced with an opponent like Nedvěd, who would silently fall to the ground only to get back up and continue fighting, Keane couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration within him.
Damn, finally, he's seen a real man.
Respect aside, the intensity of the confrontation wouldn't diminish!
It became a battle of wills; who was tougher?
Due to the conservative play on the wings, Keane tangled with Nedvěd again in the middle. Pires and Schneider's retreat to regain control of the ball didn't yield results. As the first half drew to a close, Manchester United pressed forward, more accustomed to the pitch and displaying better coordination, able to keep the ball under control with quick passes.
Butt passed the ball to Giggs, who drifted towards the center instead of proceeding down the left flank. Clearly, he was at a disadvantage against Thuram, who, despite Giggs' speed, wouldn't create space and directly used his body to block. Even if the ball got by, his presence would remain.
So Giggs drove the ball towards the middle, passing roughly thirty-five yards outside the penalty area to the also wandering Beckham. The two 'Class of '92' teammates executed a brilliant play, with Beckham unhesitatingly opting for a delicate lob as the ball floated gently into Millwall's penalty area.
Who was the ball passed to?
Stam aimed to head the ball clear, but McClair next to him blocked him with his body and tugged at his shirt. Stam jumped forcefully but couldn't reach his highest and missed the ball, which flew just ten centimeters above his head and headed diagonally backward.
As soon as Giggs passed, he sprinted into the box with astonishing speed. Thuram rushed in from the side, just as Giggs controlled the ball on his chest. Before the ball even touched the ground, he was sent crashing to the ground in the penalty area, while Thuram, along the side of his body, kicked the ball out of the box.
Unexpectedly, referee Paul Durkin blew his whistle and pointed to the penalty spot.
Thuram, incredulous, held his head in disbelief and pleaded innocently with the referee.
"Penalty! Durkin has awarded a penalty, giving Manchester United a chance to equalize in stoppage time! Instant replay clearly shows that Thuram collided with Giggs from the side, so this penalty is indisputable."
Aldrich on the sidelines complained to the fourth official.
"Hey, Keane of the opposing team has knocked down my players in midfield countless times, but the referee hasn't blown the whistle once. I won't say anything about it—this is how the Premier League works—but why did my defender receive interference while challenging for the ball? They didn't jump but instead distracted my player, clearly holding the jersey! Isn't that a foul? The referee should have called a foul on McClair in the box, resulting in a free kick for us, instead of the penalty given later!"
Aldrich had one hand on his hip, waving his other hand, but the fourth official remained expressionless, seeming uninterested in listening.
Millwall's players also argued with referee Durkin, asserting that Stam was obstructed on the jump. McClair's action was not discreet, and without interference, Stam could have cleared the ball with ease.
Durkin shook his head, ignoring their protests and gestured for them to move aside.
Southgate tried to calm his teammates down, then approached the referee for a reasonable discussion. Durkin, however, simply shook his head and ultimately issued Southgate a yellow card.
Aldrich, witnessing this, angrily shouted at the fourth official: "Is this the so-called fairness? You can't even listen to reason?"
"Mr. Hall, please mind your language. I will report everything in the match report."
"You better write it down word for word! I will write it as well, you idiots just awarded a penalty to Manchester United!"
Aldrich gave a cold smirk before turning on his heels, already spotting the referee coming toward him.
Durkin warned Aldrich, who stood silently with a stoic face amid laughter from the Manchester United fans.
In the stands, Melanie, along with Millwall's fans, voiced their displeasure at referee Durkin, while she pursed her lips, feeling a bit sorry for Aldrich at that moment. But she admired his poise, standing straight on the sidelines like a true man!
Cole calmly stepped up to take the penalty, scoring effortlessly, and shortly after, the referee blew the whistle for the end of the half.
"With 45 minutes gone, Manchester United has taken the match back to square one!"
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