The Rise of Millwal

Chapter 303: Rookie and Silver Fox

Turin, Alpi Stadium

This stadium is distinctly different from those in England, as it features an athletic track that places the stands further away from the pitch. This arrangement makes crowd control easier but lacks the intense atmosphere created by England's fans.

The much-anticipated UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg is set to kick off, with players from both sides waiting in the tunnel. Aldrich stands at the sidelines, having already exchanged words with Lippi. They both agree: no matter who advances to the semifinals, may the other secure the championship!

Naturally, this is a courteous remark; deep down, their thoughts are strikingly similar: you fall, I seize the crown!

The stadium, with a capacity of 40,000, appears nearly full today, although a few empty seats are still visible. Turin's population is relatively small, and even a powerhouse like Juventus struggles to fill the stands consistently. Yet on a Champions League match day, it seems inconceivable to have empty seats.

Aldrich surveys the crowd. Italian fans are as passionate about football as any in the world. They wave flags, display giant banners to intimidate their opponents, and chant loud slogans and songs, all expressing their love for the team and pressuring the rivals.

However, as Aldrich scans the stands, his brow furrows.

Where are the away fans?

Where are Millwall's supporters?

Traveling with the team to cheer them on is a crucial measure of a fan's loyalty, at least in England. If you don't follow the team to away matches while claiming loyalty, you'll be laughed at and ridiculed within the fan community.

Unknown to others, Aldrich knew that before departing for Turin, at least three large fan organizations had sent letters to the club expressing their commitment to support Millwall at Alpi Stadium, vowing to rally behind the team and boost their morale on foreign soil.

Yet now, at Alpi Stadium, Aldrich can hardly see any large banners or signs associated with Millwall. Only a few flags featuring the club's crest serve as a distant reminder that these are indeed Millwall fans.

Fans have no reason to fool themselves; this isn't just a joke. Many supporters take their loyalty to the club as a point of honor.

What has happened?

Where have the missing Millwall fans gone?

As the players from both teams line up to enter the pitch, the Champions League anthem reverberates throughout Alpi Stadium.

"The match between Juventus and Millwall in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals second leg is about to commence. Both teams are in decent form in the league; the score from the last encounter was 2:1, with Millwall conceding a late goal that gave Juventus an away goal. This means Juventus must score today, while Millwall could find themselves on the back foot at the home of the Serie A champions. The second clash between Lippi and Hall tests both coaches' in-game strategies, as the situation can change every minute."

"The starting lineups for both teams are identical to the previous match. Millwall has shifted their formation from a 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1, while Juventus sticks with their 4-3-1-2 from last time. The teams have shaken hands and are ready for kickoff."

As the referee blows the whistle, the match officially begins. Millwall immediately tightens their defense, taking advantage of their lead on aggregate, which makes the counterattacking strategy understandable.

Juventus's start today is in stark contrast to the last match. Previously, they were away, lacking favorable conditions, but today they're well-prepared at their familiar ground, quickly finding their rhythm.

Davis, Deschamps, and Conte, three versatile midfielders, provided firepower behind Zidane, helping him manage the pressure of orchestrating the attack. They also quickly engaged in defense, actively disrupting Millwall's counters. Inzaghi and Del Piero showcased their excellent form today; right from the start, Zidane delivered a brilliant lob pass in front of Pirlo. Del Piero made a diagonal run, controlling the ball with his chest just before Helguera could block, unleashing a fierce shot that spiraled toward the lower right corner of Millwall's goal. Luckily, Butt was well prepared and heroically saved the ball and saved it from the bottom line.

Juventus takes the corner; the ball is cleared within the box, and trailing Deschamps sends a direct pass into the area. Inzaghi connects with the ball, but his shot goes over the crossbar.

From the outset, Juventus applies tremendous pressure on Millwall.

When faced with this kind of situation, players know exactly what to do.

They need to steady themselves, slowing down the opponent's momentum and wearing down their exuberance. However, this strategy feels a bit naive against Juventus, who are fierce competitors.

Del Piero and Inzaghi consciously position themselves between the center-backs and full-backs, while Zidane moves between Pirlo and Makélélé, creating pressure that forces Millwall to avoid frequently passing back in their defense to maintain control. They are compelled to push forward!

Lippi has evidently studied Millwall's playstyle meticulously. Playing away with a 4-2-3-1, the flanks are crucial, and in their counters, Larsson and Shevchenko aim to make significant contributions from the sides.

Both players are highly skilled but lack the capability to consistently overpower Juventus' defense, which has been forged through countless trials in Serie A and is exceptionally stable—no one can easily disrupt it.

However, Larsson and Shevchenko are not the type of wingers who blindly try to run past the defense; instead, they connect play while advancing quickly, mixing their runs to exploit openings in the opponent's defense.

As a result, when Nedvěd finds himself surrounded by at least two opposing midfielders, Larsson and Shevchenko cannot link up in the middle. Pirlo is deliberately blocked from receiving the ball by Zidane, leaving Larsson and Shevchenko to confront exceptionally capable full-backs one-on-one, rendering their attacks ineffective.

Millwall's full-backs remain static at the back, understanding that they hold the lead. Even while counterattacking, their overall formation leans toward solid defense, avoiding giving the opponent any chances for counterattacks.

Juventus had a clear advantage as they dominated the attack and created a succession of great chances - just one short of a game-changing goal.

The confidence Millwall established in the first match against Juventus is slowly dissipating, as the Lions players begin to truly recognize the terrifying prowess of the Serie A champions.

In addition to their star strikers shining brightly, Zidane's presence behind the three midfielders provides immense control, allowing for smooth passing and combination plays in both offense and defense.

Aldrich continually reminds his players to stay aware of their defensive positioning to avoid being cut through in the middle.

Today, he chose to start Pirlo instead of Ballack, opting for more organization in transition, even if it sacrifices some defensive hardness. Aldrich believes that against a team of Juventus's caliber, if they reveal any weaknesses, they are fleeting moments. Capitalizing on these moments will test the abilities of the team's leader, and Aldrich has immense faith in Pirlo's ability to deliver precise, threatening passes.

The Silver Fox Lippi looks elegant and dapper in his tailored suit today, enjoying the match like a spectator while casually smoking a cigar from his coaching seat, similar to his position during the first leg.

In stark contrast to Aldrich—who is animatedly directing his team through body language—Lippi exudes calmness, radiating confidence.

Aldrich appears as a nervous rookie while Lippi seems cunning and assured.

Setting aside their differing coaching styles, if given the Juventus squad, Aldrich likely wouldn't be so engaged on the sidelines; instead, he would comfortably sit back.

This squad is incredibly experienced; they're already mature and don't need reminders or adjustments from their coach. If these Millwall players continued with the Lions, Aldrich could likely adopt a hands-off approach within three years. These players have faced various challenges and situations, honing their mindsets, game tactics, and adaptability—skills that reach their peak. The coach's role then shifts to maintaining the team's highest performance instead of expecting further improvements, especially when players reach the age of 23, where development primarily comes from experience.

Millwall struggles to control the match tempo today; they want to "take their time," but Juventus denies them that luxury. With strategic positioning and pressing, Juventus forces Millwall to attack, yet when Millwall pushes forward cautiously, their offense is quickly dismantled by Juventus' experienced defense. Once Juventus successfully defends, they initiate another wave of swift attacks, keeping the match tempo high.

While Millwall's offense has faltered, their defense works tirelessly. After adapting to the pace, the intensity of Juventus's attacks begins to diminish.

As long as they don't concede, Aldrich believes there's no need for changes.

Millwall's attack has been lackluster, and that's largely because they're outnumbered going forward—only four players are pushing up. With Juventus players in fine form, breaking through a defensive wall of at least seven is going to demand some extraordinary individual talent!

First, they must stabilize their defense and wait patiently; time ticks away, and the situation steadily becomes less favorable for Juventus.

Aldridge felt Juventus couldn't stay calm all the time; they sent out six or seven players on offense while four defenders stayed behind. If it weren't for their experience, incredible individual skills and home advantage, Juventus would have had no chance of shaking up Millwall's defence.

After half an hour of play, Aldrich calms down, standing at the sidelines with his hands in his pockets, watching the match unfold with confidence.

The two teams enter a delicate balance. Juventus's advantage is being gradually narrowed by Millwall. Without committing more players to their attack, Millwall, now growing wiser in defense, can easily withstand the entire 90 minutes.

The cheers resound throughout Alpi Stadium as fans light fireworks, creating a smoky atmosphere, but this doesn't distract the players on the pitch.

This fierce contest remains intense but lacks excitement, as neither team grants the other a prime opportunity. Players attempt to resolve matters through individual brilliance—Del Piero and Larsson both try—but end up having their attacks thwarted, inadvertently boosting the other side's confidence.

The first half concludes with both teams walking into the dressing rooms, exchanging a scoreless draw.