The Rise of Millwal

Chapter 110: Catenaccio

As Kevin Keegan, who had developed a public feud with Aldrich through the media last season, prepared for their encounter in London, he adopted a different tone. He took on a paternalistic demeanor, praising Aldrich's achievements and lightly stating that Millwall was a team to watch.

Fleet Street analyzed Keegan's comments and came to a few conclusions.

First, Keegan didn't seem to regard Aldrich highly and didn't believe that Millwall would pose a threat to Newcastle United's title aspirations. His "peace declaration" could be interpreted as humblebragging from a victor.

Second, given his contentious relationship with Ferguson, Keegan didn't want to create too many enemies, especially since Millwall was just a point behind Manchester United and still in contention for the league title.

Third, it's likely that Keegan had set his sights on a player from Millwall, as they were actively searching for a striker. The player who ended AC Milan's impressive 58-match unbeaten run, Asprilla, was already on Newcastle's radar. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, a deal would likely be sealed when the January transfer window opened, yet Newcastle's attacking lineup remained thin.

When a dapper-looking Keegan walked into the Den, wearing a notoriously unfashionable suit, Aldrich greeted him warmly.

The live cameras naturally zoomed in on the two Premier League head coaches, eager to catch a glimpse of their conversation.

Both men smiled, although their dialogue seemed somewhat absurd. Keegan appeared puzzled by Aldrich's question.

"Have you eaten?"

"Huh?"

"Have you had lunch?"

"Yeah, uh, you?"

"Me too. Well then, see you."

"Wait, what if I said I hadn't eaten?"

"Then you should go eat!"

Aldrich's greeting left Keegan momentarily dazed, pondering its meaning.

He even asked his assistant to repeat the conversation, trying to analyze if Aldrich was playing some sort of linguistic trick on him, potentially laced with hidden sarcasm.

"Hello everyone, I'm Martin Taylor, and alongside Andy Gray, I'll be bringing you the live commentary for this key Premier League clash. Millwall, unbeaten in seventeen matches, faces top-of-the-table Newcastle United today. Andy, it seemed like Hall approached Keegan for a chat, and from the expressions on both managers' faces, their relationship appears to have mellowed quite a bit. What do you think?"

"Ha ha, I don't think so. They might secretly wish the other would fall ill and miss the match! But let's get serious. The Den is packed as usual, and Millwall's fans are as passionate as ever. Now, let's look at the starting lineups. Millwall has fielded some unusual choices today... I'm not quite sure how to define Hall's formation. It looks like a 4-4-2, but Ballack clearly won't be playing on the wing, which makes it perplexing."

"Certainly, Aldrich tends to play by his own rules; we'll have to analyze things further once the match begins. Newcastle's starting lineup seems relatively straightforward with: Goalkeeper: Pavel Srní?ek; Defenders: Steve Watson, Warren Barton, Felipe Albert, John Beresford; Midfielders: Peter Beardsley, Robert Lee, Lee Clark, Keith Gillespie, David Ginola; Forward: Les Ferdinand. With a shortage of strikers, Keegan's only reliable forward is Ferdinand. Small wonder he has chosen a 4-1-4-1 formation given that they are the visitors today. Let's see if Newcastle, known for their multi-faceted attacking prowess, can break Millwall's unbeaten streak."

Once the match kicked off, Millwall did not display their usual home dominance, instead opting for a very defensive approach. The defenders refrained from pushing forward, and the midfield formed a three-man wall consisting of Ballack, Vieira, and Gattuso, effectively shielding the backline.

Seeing Millwall's setup, Keegan turned to glance at Aldrich, who stood on the sidelines with his hands in his pockets, pondering: kid, do you really want a draw?

Well, if you manage to hold Newcastle to a tie, that might be something to brag about!

After all, we had beaten them decisively in the cup last season.

Newcastle United commenced their dazzling attacking display.

Sometimes, Aldrich envied those star players turned coaches; their illustrious careers often drew many players to them.

Take Robert Lee, for example. A London native who idolized Keegan, he had moved to Newcastle where Keegan molded him into a formidable defender capable of making incisive runs forward.

Ahead of him was a glamorous attacking line.

Ginola, who had become the scapegoat for France after a mishap during the '94 World Cup qualifiers, had been in superb form on the left flank. The cameras were accustomed to him beating defenders, whipping in crosses, and then confidently nodding to his teammates with a smug smile. Without a doubt, he was the star of the pitch and Newcastle's sharpest weapon in attack.

On the opposite side, Keegan had not only secured a decent transfer fee from Manchester United for Andy Cole but had also brought in a talented player from United's famed 'Class of '92' into the Newcastle fold—Keith Gillespie. He too was creative, capable of both assists and scoring.

There is little need to elaborate on Beardsley. He was once the pride of Liverpool, holding the record for the highest transfer fee in English football, and he scored a hat trick in an England derby five years ago. Since then, no Liverpool player has been able to score three goals against Manchester United in a single match. A favorite of Dalglish, Beardsley has become one of Newcastle United's vital scoring sources, ranking just below the forwards with 21 league goals last season, even at the age of 34.

Lee Clark, while not as flashy, had the distinct advantage of coming from Newcastle's youth system, allowing him to integrate seamlessly into the tactical framework and often deliver standout performances.

Front and center is Les Ferdinand, who shares some background with Millwall. Les was present when Aldrich negotiated for his nephew, Rio Ferdinand, as he is Rio's uncle. Currently, Les is one of the most in-demand strikers in England, having overturned the stereotype of a tall and awkward English center forward. His refined ball skills allow him to weave through defenders and change direction quickly, while his acute awareness in the penalty area makes him an obvious threat.

Keegan's attacking ensemble was particularly dazzling, with hybrid midfielders who could interchange rapidly with the wingers, creating mesmerizing tactical play.

In a moment, Beardsley and Gillespie switched positions, moving to the flanks to deliver crosses. Zambrotta reacted a beat too late and was easily bypassed, but thankfully, Elguera, who had taken up a position in the rear, was ready, leaping to clear the danger just ahead of Ferdinand's header.

The ball was deflected by Lee to the left flank, where Ginola kicked off a quick run. The Frenchman, a part-time model, attempted to outfox Thuram but misjudged his opponent. Thuram didn't engage with footwork; he simply held his ground, making it clear that no amount of fancy footwork would faze him.

Ginola was forced off the pitch, and the ball remained at Thuram's feet.

Keegan leapt up, vocally protesting a foul, but referee Duggin was oblivious.

Thuram launched a clearance just as Millwall's attack was starting, sending the ball back toward Newcastle, whose onslaught continued but failed to generate any real threats.

Beardsley and Clark exchanged passes in the midfield, while Gillespie sought a gap to cut in. Just as the ball threaded through defenders, Gillespie was blocked, the interception by Southgate leaving the Newcastle players visibly frustrated.

Despite the elegance of their plays, it felt as though eggs were clashing against stones—without room to maneuver in a well-structured defense that was virtually impenetrable, their long balls were curtailed by the unfamiliar center-back Elguera, while short passes were snubbed promptly by Southgate.

Slowly, the commentators began to discern the pattern.

Martin Taylor was astounded. After confirming Millwall's formation and defensive style repeatedly, he exclaimed into the microphone.

"Chain defense! Millwall has replicated Italy's trendy chain defense right onto the Premier League stage! The cameras should capture the entire field, neatly illustrating Millwall's tactical setup—Ballack, Vieira, and Gattuso form a barricade in front of the backline, constraining opponents' attacking flow with joint defensive maneuvers. Even if Newcastle were to break through this line, they would meet Southgate's intercepting prowess just outside the penalty area, while the Spanish defender Elguera plays deep, providing backup to the defensive structure! Chain defense relies not just on individual skills but on excellent teamwork. Yet, Millwall has stifled Newcastle completely for the first twenty minutes without permitting them even a single shot! Aldrich, how much more do you have hidden up your sleeve?!"

"Martin, Millwall's defense is commendable, but so what? Millwall hasn't had a shot either."

"No, not yet. Until opportunities arise, and as long as Newcastle's attacks can't penetrate, Keegan will certainly ramp up his aggression; he will. Consequently, Millwall will have greater scope for counterattacks. Just wait and see; I believe Aldrich is methodically executing this strategy for a reason—he's a calm and collected head coach!"

Standing on the sidelines, Aldrich observed as his team grew increasingly confident in their defensive strategy, a subtle smile forming at the corners of his mouth.

In practice, Millwall had cultivated their defensive groundwork through teamwork and high pressing, so transitioning to a chain defense was not a significant hurdle.

Chain defense hinges on teamwork rather than isolating individual brilliance to nullify attacks. While there may be standout defensive performances, it is ultimately a collective defensive tactic at play. A classic example is Cannavaro, a member of the 2006 World Cup-winning team. While his defensive intuition was unparalleled in the Italian squad, he struggled at Real Madrid, where his weaknesses were magnified. At Madrid, the defensive tactics were non-existent, resembling other La Liga teams that crowded around the ball, instead of collaborating to form effective lines of defense.

After a week of training, Aldrich had given his players clear instructions: fullbacks should not advance; Southgate would mark and intercept; Elguera played deep to disrupt opposition attacks, while Ballack, Vieira, and Gattuso formed a formidable barrier ahead of the center-backs, locking down the system.

Regardless of Newcastle's flair in offense, with no space to attack, Aldrich was content to see if the Magpies could somehow manage to launch the ball into their goal!