บท 448: In Form and Firing
Aldrich realized he was being unrealistic.
He shouldn't have placed any hopes on Zaccheroni.
It was only after the third goal went in that Aldrich came to this realization.
It wasn't a question of Zaccheroni's coaching ability. If he were in Zaccheroni's shoes, down by two goals with Champions League qualification on the line, there wouldn't be many options. Especially given the context of the group stage standings.
If he were managing this AC Milan side against the red-hot Millwall, he wouldn't go for a five-man defense, but a back-four with two defensive midfielders would be essential. What more could he do but focus on counterattacks?
Perhaps AC Milan came to London with the pride of Serie A champions. Or maybe Zaccheroni was simply unwilling to risk changing his team's tried-and-tested tactics, even though their defense had already shown cracks in Serie A this season.
If they could rewind 80 minutes and start the game over, perhaps things wouldn't look like this. Conceding a goal in the opening minute was like sentencing AC Milan to play catch-up from the outset.
With a 3-0 lead, was there any suspense left in this match?
There was plenty of time remaining—nearly 30 minutes.
Aldrich continued to watch from the sidelines, curious to see how this Rossoneri squad would handle the final half-hour.
Would they give up?
Would they pull back to avoid conceding more?
Or would they try to run out the clock and escape from this nightmare at Wembley?
In reality, AC Milan played as if they were only one goal behind or even level, pushing hard as if one goal could turn the tide. The midfielders ran tirelessly, earning the respect of the fans.
But on the pitch, respect and victory don't go hand in hand.
In the 81st minute, the relentless running began to show in AC Milan's defense.
Pirlo, effortlessly shaking off Boban in midfield, moved forward and angled a pass to the open Nedved.
Henry shifted to the right, while Larsson made a crossover run. Nedved's diagonal pass found Henry, who relayed it without stopping, threading it through to Larsson. AC Milan's defense was in disarray, and Costacurta, too eager to intercept, left himself exposed. Larsson faked and cut around him before firing a powerful shot into the far corner.
"4-0! Who could've predicted this scoreline? The Premier League champions have trounced Serie A champions AC Milan at Wembley!"
Ronaldinho ran up to Larsson, kneeling down to make a shoeshine gesture in celebration.
Aldrich substituted Larsson, who scored twice, letting him leave the field to a standing ovation from the crowd.
Aldrich made a triple substitution, replacing all three forwards.
They had an important league match to prepare for this weekend.
After the substitutions, Aldrich turned back to the bench, watching AC Milan on the field struggle like a cornered beast in a pitiful fight for survival.
"Full time! The third round of the Champions League Group H concludes with Millwall defeating AC Milan 4-0 at Wembley! With three wins and nine points, Millwall has nearly secured a spot in the knockout stage. AC Milan, with just one point from three games, now faces a do-or-die situation in every remaining match. This isn't what anyone expected when the groups were drawn; AC Milan was supposed to advance alongside Millwall. But now, AC Milan could be the first team knocked out! In two weeks, these two will meet again at the San Siro. While that match might mean little to Millwall, it's crucial for AC Milan and the other two teams in the group. See you at the San Siro!"
After calmly shaking hands with Zaccheroni, Aldrich turned and headed down the tunnel.
The process was satisfying, but the result didn't bring him a strong sense of accomplishment.
Advancing from the group stage was always expected. With three wins, the remaining matches offered him plenty of room for tactical experimentation.
But defeating AC Milan wasn't enough to make him proud.
At the post-match press conference, journalists eagerly threw questions at him.
"Millwall beats AC Milan 4-0! Has your team reached perfection?"
"A 4-0 scoreline is indeed striking, but it doesn't reflect the true gap between the teams. Yes, Millwall is stronger, but it's unrealistic to say we'd beat AC Milan by three or four goals every time we played. This was just an ordinary win. AC Milan was under pressure from their standings, recent form, and the long journey to London. In a neutral setting with no pressure, I believe the match would've been much more intense."
Aldrich was as modest as ever.
Fleet Street had long deciphered Aldrich's intentions.
He didn't want to boast in front of the media, which might lead to overconfidence among his players and cause mental fluctuations.
Staying humble, staying grounded—the highs and lows of this profession were all too real. Today's elation could turn into tomorrow's downfall if they let it go to their heads.
This philosophy, instilled over time, became a core aspect of Aldrich's coaching style: never believe you've reached the top—keep breaking through the limits others set for you.
"Besides the factors you mentioned, what else contributed to AC Milan's collapse today?"
"Conceding within the first minute put AC Milan on the back foot. We then scored twice more on the counter, and as their energy waned, we struck a fourth. If they had six points, even after conceding in the first minute, they might have held their nerve, knowing they'd have another chance at home. But with no wins in their previous two matches, they were set up to fail today. Still, I must credit my players; they performed excellently, meeting my expectations on both offense and defense. That's our strength. Individual skill is just the foundation; tactical discipline, commitment, and team spirit—these invisible factors—are what make us a formidable team."
The following day, Millwall became the focal point of European football.
It wasn't because they had won three consecutive group matches or because they had defeated AC Milan.
No, it was due to two of their goals being replayed endlessly by football programs across major European media.
The first goal, crafted from 23 passes, saw Henry and Ronaldinho tear apart AC Milan's four-man defense. The process of this goal was a sight to behold—like a rhythmical poem. While it didn't initially feel explosive or thrilling to watch, the seamless teamwork and fluid movement turned the goal into a natural outcome. This represented the pinnacle of team football. Many pundits reviewed and analyzed the entire process of this goal, meticulously discussing the passing routes chosen by individual players, their positioning on the pitch, and how they utilized space, as if Millwall were a finely tuned machine under scrutiny.
The second goal, from the moment Ronaldinho touched the ball to Henry scoring, took a mere 9.3 seconds. In less than ten seconds, the two tore through the opposition's defense with their individual skills and mutual cooperation. The speed and ingenuity of the play, along with the clash between Maldini and Ambrosini, made this goal even more spectacular.
The commentator's passionate call during the goal was also played as background commentary.
Whatever you wanted to witness in a football match, this goal's process fulfilled every expectation.
The world of football never remains static in the past. No matter how brilliant yesterday's match was, come tomorrow, new matches emerge as the focus, and the excitement of the past is easily overshadowed. It's already remarkable that Millwall's battle against AC Milan continues to capture attention post-match, but life moves on. Just as one battle ends, another quietly begins; the smoke of war is never extinguished.
After just 12 rounds of the Premier League this season, bookmakers across Europe have dramatically reduced the odds for Millwall to win the league, making them the top favorites. Their odds are now only 0.2% higher than bank interest rates. Meanwhile, in the Champions League, Millwall has jumped from being the third favorite to the top contender, with their odds plummeting!
Given the current state of the Premier League, if Millwall fails to lift the trophy by the end of the season, it would be the most astonishing reversal in the league's history.
At the end of the first ten rounds, Millwall was nine points ahead of Manchester United and eleven points ahead of Arsenal.
After twelve rounds, they extended their lead to twelve points ahead of Manchester United, who lost again at White Hart Lane, causing Ferguson's team to drift further from the league title. Arsenal, on the other hand, won both of their last two matches, particularly claiming a crucial victory at Stamford Bridge, placing them in third on the table, but still trailing Millwall by eleven points.
As the weekend approached, Fleet Street ignited new flames of conflict.
"The battle for the top spot is upon us this weekend!"
In the upcoming weekend's match, Millwall will face off against the league's second-place team, which, surprisingly, is currently Leeds United, a team not expected to be in this position.
Led by O'Reilly, the Young Guard has had a strong start to the new season, achieving six consecutive victories at one point. After twelve rounds, they have a record of eight wins, two draws, and two losses, accumulating 26 points, trailing Millwall by ten points. The gap is clear, but they have managed to climb to second place, surpassing Manchester United, Arsenal, and Chelsea, far exceeding pre-season expectations. What was thought to be a battle for fourth place now feels like a genuine title challenge!
Beyond the hype of the top-of-the-table clash, there are numerous intriguing storylines to follow.
O'Reilly and Aldrich are both representatives of the younger generation in English football, and their duel is sure to draw attention.
Last season, Millwall faced Leeds United with a record of one draw and one loss, with O'Reilly having the upper hand. This match is seen as Aldrich's chance for revenge!
During the summer, the two clubs completed a transfer deal involving over ten players worth £60 million. It wasn't about grudges, but rather a dramatic encounter with former players returning to face their old club.
The fierce clash of youth teams is about to explode!
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