章 203: Signal: The Match Begins!
Inside the Parc des Princes, the visiting Millwall team conceded a goal, which surprisingly didn't shock the spectators; even Aldrich didn't seem too concerned.
Conceding goals is common, no need to panic.
Before the match kicked off, he signaled twice on the field: one gesture for Southgate to understand and another for the attacking players.
Southgate glanced back at the other three defenders to confirm that everyone understood before signaling to Trezeguet to commence play.
After conceding, Millwall didn't quickly launch a counterattack; instead, their formation remained somewhat defensive. The two wing-backs didn't push forward, and their wingers pulled wide, trying to create opportunities through one-on-one situations. Larsson and Shevchenko executed the classic winger's move, driving towards the byline before delivering crosses.
Standing at the sidelines with his hands in his pockets, Aldrich was deep in thought.
Paris Saint-Germain was not invincible, especially with their weaknesses clearly visible.
Their midfield and defense were either too old or too young.
Excluding the 34-year-old keeper Lama, the right-back Fournier was 33, the central defender Le Gouen was 33, while the other central defender, Ngotti, was 26 but had to compensate for the declining mobility of the 31-year-old Geylan. Meanwhile, the left-back Domi was only 18.
On the right, the midfielder Leroux, focused on defensive duties, had to cover for the 33-year-old Fournier, while on the left, the 22-year-old Koé clearly aimed to offset Domi's inexperience.
Though Raí was 32, he was a seasoned player. Moreover, Leonardo occasionally dropped back to assist in organization with the forward Loco, both of whom were underwhelming in their performances in Ligue 1. Loco, previously a main striker for the French national team, had seen his form decline since transferring to Paris Saint-Germain, but his opening goal still showcased his skill.
Aldrich's respect for Fernandes wasn't baseless. Looking at PSG's lineup, it was evident that their coach had maximized their potential—not just stacking talent, but creating synergies between players that emphasized their strengths and covered each other's weaknesses; that was the essence of teamwork.
Even though Millwall's overall advance was lacking, they still managed to create opportunities during attacks.
Shevchenko, facing the 18-year-old Domi on the right, wasn't flashy with his footwork but relied on speed and explosiveness to take on his opponent, while Larsson squared off against the 33-year-old veteran Fournier on the left. Although not every breakthrough was successful, he exploited both speed and technique to gain an advantage.
Whenever either winger successfully penetrated the flanks and got to the edge of the byline, they'd whip in crosses while three players would flood the center to attack; Trezeguet would burst into the front post, Nedved would arrive centrally, and the opposite winger would crash into the box to provide backup. Despite the simplicity of their tactics, Millwall's attacks were commendable, consistently posing threats.
"Is this Millwall we're watching? To be honest, I've never seen a full match of Millwall, but I've watched plenty of highlight reels from their Premier League games. Their attacking play shouldn't be as flat as this. Where's the central organization? Where's the wing play? Where are the passes threatening the flanks? It's baffling—is Hall cautious of PSG's counter-attacks, making him hesitant to commit his resources?"
It wasn't just the commentator; even Luis Fernandes frowned with concern.
He had studied Millwall closely and was genuinely surprised. Their defensive strategy relied on positional play reminiscent of the Italian 'catenaccio', yet they weren't utilizing the middle of the field; their wingers had resorted to traditional low crosses.
What frustrated him most was that his wide midfielders were tasked with marking the opposing full-backs to limit the wingers' cut-ins, but since the Millwall wingers weren't cutting inside and instead committed to attacking the flanks, his wide midfielders were forced to drop back to assist defensively.
Even though the score was still 1-0, Aldrich's confidence remained high—things were shaping up precisely as he had anticipated.
Since the opposing wing-backs couldn't contain Shevchenko and Larsson, they forced the wide midfielders to retreat, pulling his own wingers to deeper positions, stretching the pitch. This forced Millwall's wide midfielders to follow suit, creating extensive distances covered back and forth in their half, almost a hundred meters of running.
With all of PSG's veteran players, it was about time they started feeling exhausted!
Millwall's wing play gradually flourished, exposing PSG's lack of support during counterattacks. Transitioning from defense to offense, they lacked clear outlets as the wide midfielders were still hugging the sidelines. Meanwhile, Larsson and Shevchenko were quick to transition to defense, leaving Aldrich with no choice but to look for Raí or Leonardo in attack. However, the distances were too vast, giving the defenders ample time to regroup; Makélélé closed in on Raí, denying him space, while Southgate kept a firm mark on Leonardo.
After several attempts by PSG to break through from the flanks were thwarted, they began exploring long balls during counterattacks.
Koé received the ball on the left flank and noticed Shevchenko closing in on him. He quickly executed a diagonal long pass into the front, where Leonardo cleverly shielded Southgate with his back. He leaped up early, just as Elgla, marking Loco, took a quick step forward, while Schneider and Capdevila synchronously moved up with him.
Leonardo had limited options. He couldn't control and turn, as Ballack was rushing towards him. Instead, he opted for a header, directing the ball intentionally towards Loco.
As he completed the header and looked down, he saw Loco receive the ball on his chest, one-on-one with keeper But.
The audience at Parc des Princes held their breath, ready to witness another goal, when suddenly, the referee blew his whistle.
The linesman flagged Loco offside!
Loco fired the shot, but Butt didn't move to save it at all; he turned back to his goal to collect the ball.
Frustrated, Loco protested to the linesman, but his outburst fell on deaf ears.
Southgate nodded to Elgla; the understanding between defenders was crucial.
Aldrich's strategy of having the wingers exhaust the opponents while pressing was also aimed at stifling their attacking play, alongside implementing an offside trap.
Thanks to Raí and Leonardo's Brazilian flair and tendency to dribble, they consumed a lot of time in build-up play. As long as his players made the right calls during pressing, the opposition's forwards would end up caught in an offside trap whenever they played threatening passes.
As time ticked by, although PSG held a narrow lead, they increasingly felt the pressure. The spectators in the stands sensed something amiss.
The flanks were being exploited with ease.
Domi and Fournier were no match for Shevchenko and Larsson.
Luckily for them, the quality of crosses from both was not up to par, or they would have conceded goals by now.
But continuing this way wasn't sustainable; the situation on the pitch was rapidly changing. Who could guarantee that the next cross wouldn't fortuitously find its way to a Millwall player's head, resulting in a goal?
Meanwhile, PSG's attack had ensnared itself in a quagmire. Raí, caught between Makélélé and Ballack, lost his spark. With the wide midfielders unable to push up, Millwall's full-backs could compress the center, tearing PSG's offense to shreds. Relying solely on individual efforts was clearly not threatening. In the latter stages of the first half, PSG's forwards repeatedly fell into offside traps.
Thank goodness, the first half came to an end.
Fans hoped Fernandes would make adjustments in the second half to improve their defensive and offensive play.
The few thousand Millwall supporters who had traveled all the way from London were dwarfed in the stands of Parc des Princes, their faces displaying hints of anxiety.
Their team was trailing, creating a palpable unease.
During the halftime break, Aldrich specifically laid out the second-half tactics for Nedved.
"Pavel, based on our attacking direction, you need to move more on one side, whether left or right, to support Henrik and Andrei. By making overlapping runs, you'll assist our attacks while minimizing direct threats against our goal. No worries, once we hit the 60-minute mark, I'll signal you. That'll be when we take control of this stadium!"
Although the team was behind, the players kept their spirits high, each one brimming with energy and fighting spirit. Nedved nodded resolutely and declared, "I understand!"
As the second half resumed, both teams exchanged sides, with Millwall's attacking patterns still unchanged. PSG remained composed without making significant alterations; after all, Fernandes didn't have many tricks up his sleeve. They were leading and had weathered the opponent's attack in the first half, so he preferred not to disrupt his own side.
Nedved shifted his focus from attacking threats to playmaking.
He roamed extensively in the frontline, collaborating seamlessly with Larsson and Shevchenko on the flanks. This fluidity in Millwall's attacks was impressive, though it came at the cost of diminished goal-scoring threats, resulting in missed opportunities.
Aldrich, watching from the sidelines, wasn't focused on his own players but rather on every Paris Saint-Germain player.
Those veterans in their thirties were gasping for air as the second half began. Even in defense, abrupt stops and starts made it challenging for them to keep pace.
Experienced players often know how to manage their stamina wisely, especially when the game is dynamic. When their team was attacking, defensive players could afford a brief respite, but with Millwall repeatedly exploiting their flanks, the defenders were left running ragged. Oftentimes, after clearing the ball, before 20 seconds passed, Millwall was already on the offensive again, leaving them no time to catch their breath.
Aldrich was keenly observing two players on the opposing side: right midfielder Leroy and left back Domy. One was 32 years old and the other just 18, both of whom were nearly worn out!
Leroux tried to support Fournier in containing Larsson, but against Nedved's assistance, he posed no resistance, especially given the speed at which Larsson or Nedved moved after receiving the ball. Domi was even worse off, getting toyed with by Shevchenko. A poor foul attempt earned him a yellow card, and he looked bewildered and overwhelmed.
When the clock struck the 60th minute, Aldrich saw the exhausted veterans of PSG and the youthful players showing signs of fatigue. He felt the moment had arrived.
When the second half kicked off, Aldrich waved over Pirlo, who had been on the sidelines warming up. He quickly communicated the game plan to Pirlo for when he stepped onto the field, with a strong focus on defense.As for offense, Pirlo was more than capable and needed no additional instructions.
In the 63rd minute, Millwall made a substitution.
Pirlo was in; Ballack was out.
This was Aldrich's signal.
The players on the field jolted in unison, realizing how they needed to proceed next.
Aldrich welcomed Ballack off the field with a shoulder pat of praise, then turned his gaze toward the stands, his eyes sharpening with determination.
Paris, this match was just beginning!
Millwall had come here to steal the spotlight!
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