Chương 246: Battle of Wits and Bravery
Ever since the conflict between Aldrich and Ferguson erupted over Stam's transfer at the end of last season, their communication had become non-existent. Aside from a congratulatory text from Ferguson to Millwall at the season's conclusion, their relationship had plunged to an all-time low.
Today at the Community Shield, it was the same story. They exchanged a perfunctory handshake before the match, then turned away without so much as a glance at each other.
Aldrich had his principles; he believed in mutual respect. If someone respected him, he would return that respect. But he could not overlook or forgive the fact that Ferguson had tried to poach his players before the season ended.
Had it been any other club, Aldrich might not have pinned the blame on the manager, but Ferguson practically ran Manchester United single-handedly. Every transfer moved through him.
As the teams walked onto the pitch, the commentators picked up on the formations each coach had chosen, giving clues about their approach to the match.
"Today at Wembley, we have the Community Shield featuring last year's Premier League champions. Millwall and Manchester United are both strong contenders for the new season. However, by looking at the starting lineups, it's clear that Hall is treating this as a training opportunity, while Ferguson aims to get his team into form early by finding confidence through this match," the commentator explained.
Millwall's starting lineup was as follows: Butt in goal, defenders Schneider, Elgra, Southgate, and Zambrotta, with a midfield comprising Gattuso, Ballack, and Nedved. The forward line featured Larsson, Van Nistelrooy, and Gronkjaer. Despite having a well-rounded squad, Hall opted to keep key players like Makelele, Trezeguet, and Shevchenko on the bench. In contrast, Ferguson fielded his strongest team: Schmeichel in goal, with defenders Neville, Pallister, Stam, and Irwin; midfielders Beckham, Scholes, Keane, and Giggs; and forwards Cole and Sheringham. Memories of last season's humiliation—losing 6-0 on home turf—still lingered in Ferguson's mind. He undoubtedly hoped his players could regain their confidence against the formidable defending champions, Millwall.
Seeing Manchester United's lineup, Aldrich could guess Ferguson's intentions. However, being relaxed in his mindset didn't mean he expected his players to be complacent. This was the final warm-up before the new season, and he needed to get the players mentally charged. Millwall had to reach at least 80% of their performance from last season.
The match kicked off with a fast pace as both teams were known for their quick play.
After observing for a while, Aldrich walked back to his coaching area and leaned down to discuss with Benitez.
"Have you noticed the changes in Manchester United?" Aldrich asked.
"The players are covering more ground than last season, and they're tightening their defensive structure. When they switch from defense to attack, they spread quickly. On the right, Beckham orchestrates the plays, while Giggs primarily breaks through on the left. Sheringham and Cole's positioning is a one-in-front-of-the-other setup, while Scholes manages the midfield play, covering a lot of ground. When the attack reaches the front, he joins in on the final push."
"The four defenders hardly go forward, and Keane is focused only on defense. I'm worried about the fitness of their attacking five; if they maintain this tempo, will they hold up in the last twenty minutes?"
"I'm sure it's not a problem. Nine months ago we absolutely crushed Manchester United 6-0 at Old Trafford. Ferguson must see the physical advantage we have. If they fall behind in other areas, the manager may not be able to do anything , but he will definitely not ignore an indicator that he can catch up with. After all, it only requires rigorous training and can always be achieved."
"Yeah, that makes sense. So, what's the weak link in United's current formation?"
"The two full-backs."
"Haha, we see eye to eye."
Aldrich returned to the sidelines smiling and called Gronkjaer over to provide detailed instructions.
In United's current formation, Keane was tough defensively, and Scholes would also drop back extensively to defend. Sheringham and Cole similarly tracked back. It wouldn't be wise to push through the center against them. However, the main weakness came from their full-backs.
Neville and Irwin.
The former relied on hard work but was slow, which would make him vulnerable against Larsson. Gronkjaer would surely exploit that weak spot.
On the other side, Irwin was nearly thirty-two. Once England's finest left-back, he had adopted a more conservative style as he aged and gained weight. People were forgetting just how fast he had once been.
After discussing strategies with Gronkjaer, Aldrich gestured to the players during a dead ball moment. Ballack immediately understood the signal.
Now, Aldrich didn't need to constantly direct his players from the sidelines on tactical movements.
The initial formation wasn't crucial anymore.
If you were watching on TV, Millwall would seem to be set up in a 4-2-1-3 formation, but in attack, their midfield would have distinct layers. In defense, it transformed into a 4-2-3-1 or even 4-5-1, switching formations became a seamless operation.
Cole received the ball in the forward area but hesitated to make any moves, fearing he might lose possession. He passed back to Sheringham, a forward who once made history at Millwall but was now all but forgotten. Still, there was no denying he was an excellent player, albeit overshadowed by Millwall's current forwards.
A long-range shot!
Sheringham's effort swerved wide of the goal.
Butt dove but couldn't touch it. Even with it in range, he should have been able to handle it easily.
Goal kick! Butt passed the ball to Schneider. United's players immediately returned to defense. They were cautious about applying too much pressure, as it would leave them vulnerable.
Schneider advanced with the ball, not rushing the pass, forcing United forwards to come over and pressure him. Once he found space with Ballack in a one-two setup, he bypassed Cole and crossed midfield. Giggs had to step up to mark him, but Schneider delivered a perfect forward pass to Gronkjaer.
With the ball, the Dane turned to take on Irwin. He made an inside move, pushing the ball sideways. Irwin shifted his weight right, but Gronkjaer passed it back to the wing and burst into motion.
Two seconds ago, Gronkjaer was facing Irwin; two seconds later, he sped past him down the wing, overpowering him with sheer speed.
Irwin remembered Ferguson's warning: Millwall's wingers are dangerous when they cut inside, not when they attempt to cross!
So, he focused on blocking the inside run. Had it been Shevchenko, even going for the byline wouldn't pose much threat. But Gronkjaer, with his lack of crossing finesse, seemed to play a nil role in terms of crosses.
However, after beating Irwin down the wing with his speed, Gronkjaer didn't cross but rather cut back inside, hugging the baseline as he entered the box!
Irwin was taken aback as the United defense was suddenly exposed, causing both Irwin and Stam to rush in an attempt to close down Gronkjaer's options.
At that moment, Gronkjaer sent a pass back.
Schneider sprinted forward unmarked; Giggs had overcommitted to prevent Irwin's return, leaving space on the flank.
Instead of going wide, Schneider received the ball and blasted a long-range shot!
The ball shot through the air, following an impressive arc, curving into the upper right corner of United's net. Schmeichel took a step forward only to turn and angrily yell at his teammates.
"Could you at least give me a chance to save it?!"
This kind of shot left a goalkeeper with no opportunity to react; he knew he was yet again just a background to a stunning goal!
"Wow, wow, wow! What a world-class goal! Schneider delivered a classic long-range shot! Gronkjaer has improved under Hall's supervision, showcasing stronger skills and greater calmness. We all thought he might flub the cross after breaking through the defensive line, but instead, he coolly set up Schneider. Millwall leads by one!"
After scoring, Schneider opened his arms, smiling in disbelief that he'd hit such a good shot, unmarked and without needing to adjust—his shot felt too good to be true.
His teammates rushed to him, celebrating the goal with enthusiasm.
Ferguson frowned deeply, feeling that every meeting with Millwall felt like an exam.
And the results of those exams always seemed to magnify Manchester United's hidden weaknesses!
This was Millwall's style: exploit the opponent's vulnerabilities ruthlessly!
Bruce from the past, and now Irwin—both exemplified this.
While Irving's flaws against Millwall wouldn't have been noticed against eighteen other Premier League teams, they were laid bare against Millwall as Aldridge's side Play to your strengths and amplify United's weaknesses.
Ferguson stood up and called Giggs over, issuing serious defensive instructions. The Welshman absorbed every word, committing it to memory. Once back on the pitch, he exchanged a few words with Irwin, and the two on the same side reached a defensive consensus.
After the game restarted, Millwall switched from defense to attack, specifically targeting Gronjar's team. The Danish "Golden Wing" gave 100% effort today - before the start of the season, Aldridge promised him that if he went all out in every game, he would have enough game time. But with the way he plays, it will be difficult for him to get too much playing time; if his physical strength declines and his speed and explosiveness fail, he will have a hard time competing with Millwall's other forwards.
Irwin began closely marking Gronkjaer, forcing him into a state where turning and even possessing the ball became a challenge.
Gronkjaer started making deeper runs to receive the ball, but even then, Irwin was right on him, unless he stretched out beyond forty yards from the baseline.
Seeing the open space on the right, Ballack decided not to pass directly to Gronkjaer. Instead, he aimed for the gap behind the opposing player and sent a through ball down the wing. Gronkjaer sprinted into the space behind Irwin, closely followed by his marker, but Gronkjaer was quicker. Just as he was about to catch up with the ball, Giggs dashed back to intercept and kicked it out of play.
Attempting the play once more, Nedved made a run to the right wing. However, just as he got hold of the ball, Stam intervened, making a decisive tackle and clearing it away.
After conceding that first goal, United quickly adjusted their defensive structure, ensuring their cooperative defense was tight.
Aldrich was becoming more excited as the match progressed.
This kind of game was what made coaching enjoyable.
Both he and Ferguson were on the sidelines, putting their tactical acumen to the test.
Aldrich gestured for the attack to not just focus rigidly on the right. Truth be told, Ballack wasn't as adept at the playmaking role as Pirlo. Previously, Aldrich's orders had led Ballack to consistently aim for Gronkjaer, and by now, United players could nearly predict where he would pass when he saw an opening—toward Gronkjaer's side.
Right before halftime, United executed a rapid counterattack.
Neville passed the ball to Beckham on the right wing, who then laid it off for Scholes. Coming up on the right, Sheringham made himself available too. Scholes fed the ball back to Becks, who launched a diagonal long ball into the box.
Beckham sent a diagonal long pass soaring into the penalty area, and it was a pass like no other.
It seemed aimed directly at the net but formed a very noticeable curve as it flew through the air.
Not just Butt, but even the two center-backs misjudged the trajectory because the arc was utterly insane!
The players and spectators alike had their reactions constantly shifting in that fleeting moment.
This ball is going out!
Wait, he's aiming for goal!
No, it's dropping toward the six-yard box!
Beckham's golden right foot crafted a curving ball that relied on its deceptive trajectory.
If a defensive player misjudged it for even a split second, it could lead to catastrophic positioning errors.
Sure enough, the ball landed near the six-yard box, with Elgra and Southgate failing to connect. Elgra was supposed to have that zone covered but didn't leap, initially thinking it was going out. When he realized the truth in less than a second, he tried to jump but couldn't keep up with the timing.
As he turned to pursue the loose ball, Giggs surged in from the left, and before the ball hit the ground, he effortlessly flicked it in with his left foot, sending it into the goal.
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