Chapter 195: Defending defeat

The first round of the European Cup Winners' Cup showed a one-sided situation at the Bran Stadium. Bran took a net at home and swallowed three eggs in the first half. After playing for 15 minutes in the second half, Aldridge replaced Pirlo with Pirlo. Fanny replaced Trezeguet, the team began to firmly occupy the control of the midfield, played a oppressive offensive football.
After Bran midfield adjustment, they retired in the second half. They were a bit late to the cliff. At this time, the defense has lost its meaning. However, in order to avoid a big score at home, only one less ball can be counted.
Millwall was unwilling to rush too hard to avoid injury, so they slowed down the pace and patiently looked for flaws in the opponent's defense through pass and cut cooperation.
Until the eighty-sixth minute of the game, Larsson went straight in front of the penalty area. Nedvide responded to the penalty area. After falling all the way to the middle, Fanny missed the first point in front of the door and he was pushed down from behind. He hadn't had time to complain to the referee about the foul, but Shevchenko at the far end outflanked the ball into Bran's goal.
In the end, Millwall defeated Bran by four goals away and advanced to the semifinals.
Aldrich left the game straight after the game and did not intend to shake hands with the opponent's coach. Anyway, this is not a mandatory rule. Moreover, the opponent devalues ​​his team and cannot be demeanor with the opponent.
At the press conference after the game, media reporters in England asked him what he thought of the game.
Aldridge pondered for a moment and said, "It is a pity that we can only take away the draw here at Bran."
The reporters in the audience were stunned.
Brother, your team won their opponents 4-0!
draw?
Have you crossed?
Not waiting for the reporter to continue to ask questions, Aldridge's expression changed and smiled: "The youth team lost 1:5 during the day, we won 4:0 at night, the total score is 5:5, and the tie."
The reporters in England laughed loudly, but the local reporters were embarrassed.
Returning to the truth, Aldridge answered some questions, and finally said that in the next round of the second round in London, Millwall will still pay attention to his opponent and will never give his opponent any chance to overturn.
But most reporters guessed that Aldridge’s emphasis on return to attention would be for young players to exercise.
Najib, who is far away in Oslo, Norway, watched the game live with coaches and players in the hotel.
After the game was over, he said seriously to the youth team players: "Did you see? You lost someone in Bergen during the day. Fortunately, our first team players saved their faces for the team. You might think : They are all stars, and winning is due. I tell you that this kind of thinking is very wrong. You should tell yourself: they are Millwall's present, we are Millwall's future, no matter how old they are, As long as you are wearing Millwall jerseys, you should shoulder the honor of the team. We are not afraid of losing, but we must not easily lose the game indifferently. Well, now go back to the room and go to bed to recuperate. We will fight tomorrow The Warrenunga youth team plays a good game, and then one day rest, when we can stroll around nearby, the day after tomorrow, we are going to meet the youth team of Norway’s strongest team Rosenberg, I hope you can hold your head Go home bravely instead of being laughed at here."
The young players collectively agreed, and then returned to the room to sleep honestly.
Aldridge led his team back to London on the night after the game.
According to Millwall's momentum in the Premier League, their four-ball defeat to Bran in the European War did not surprise Fleet Street. The media only took a pass to the report. It was Manchester United in the first round of the Champions League quarter-final 4:0. Porto, 1 One foot has reached the threshold of the semi-finals, which makes the British media sing praises for the Red Devils, because for more than ten years, no team in England has been able to enter the semi-finals of the Champions League. The earliest was the European war ban. After the ban was lifted, until this year Prior to this, the Premier League team even had the luxury of qualifying for the group. This year, Manchester United not only qualified for the group, but also saw the possibility of leading to the final. After all, there are only three games left in the final, after a second round with Porto, a semi-final two If you can pass the battle, you will have a chance to win.
Since losing to Millwall in the Premier League in the first half of the season, Manchester United have not lost in the league until March, with more wins and fewer wins, and the gap with Millwall in the league with nine rounds left in the league, has been Narrowed to the 13-point gap.
Originally this gap had been reduced to 12 points before the last round of the league, but while Millwall scored a draw, Manchester United lost to Sunderland on the road, they missed the opportunity to reduce the points to 10 points, let Ferguson The momentum of the war of words is much weaker.
On the weekend, Millwall played against Manchester United's Sunderland in the last round at home.
In order to give April and May more time to prepare for the European Cup of Champions, Aldridge intends to use the main lineup in the league to end the suspense of the Premier League championship, so this round of the face of the newly promoted game, he insisted on using the main lineup Anyway, he intends to send some substitutes for the FA Cup next week.
In the confrontation at the Lion's Cave Stadium, Aldridge's opponent is Peter Reed.
The coach is still young, only forty years old this year, and has a proud part of his coaching history. Just a few years ago, the Manchester City he led overtook Manchester United in the league, but his coaching ideas gradually followed. It is difficult for the British style of play to make breakthrough achievements in the league before the times.
Sunderland is going to get points for relegation, but Millwall has tempered the heart of the big scene, leading Manchester United by 13 points, and there is no need to put too much pressure on himself.
When Aldridge saw Sunderland's starting lineup, he was suddenly surprised. He turned and asked Jenson: "Is it wrong? How do I feel that Sunderland has many players I don't know."
In the process of researching opponents, even for mid- and lower-stream teams, Aldridge has an impression of the names and characteristics of players. However, among the 11 players who started Sunderland today, he feels that at least four of them have very strange faces.
Jenson was also puzzled, so he communicated with coaches such as Benitez and Craig, and after multiple verifications, Aldridge gave a positive answer.
"Half of them are members of the reserve team and have not played more than 5 times this season."
Aldridge touched his head, suspiciously: Is this Nima a wonder soldier?
If so, is there a little more of this stranger?
He asked Benitez: "What trick is Reed playing?"
Benitez despised: "No tricks, just retain the strength and wait for the next round at home to score points in Nottingham Forest."
It must be said that Aldridge still lacks the consciousness of a little strong man.
Sunderland ran to the Lion's Den Stadium and died with Millwall, the most powerful player in the Premier League?
What is the chance of getting points?
If Reed thinks he can get a point on the dead end, he can't help but despise Millwall. In addition to Middlesbrough who won a victory here at the beginning of the season, all the guests here have lost. ! And Millwall averaged 3.6 goals per game.
If he dares to play the full main force, in the event of a defeat, the spirit of killing Manchester United at home in the last round will be completely lost!
In the next round, they will return to the home to face Nottingham Forest with little hope of relegation at the bottom of the league. Sunderland certainly wants to use the advantage of home to step the Nottingham Forest into the abyss and go ashore, so Reed wisely chose to save his strength.
Aldridge's head is a bit of a horn, and he thinks of the other person with his own people. Even if he is dead, he should play a sneak attack on the basis of resistance.
I didn't realize that Millwall now has the strength to make other teams timid.
In the face of such a team that is almost patchwork and Sunderland without team understanding, Millwall, despite his expedition to Norway in the middle of the week, still easily won the game.
In the game, the teammates gave Larson as much opportunity as possible. There was a single-handed ball. Trezeguet also chose to cross to Larson, who crossed the middle of the road to let the latter complete the goal.
Larsson smiled and shook his head at Trezeguet, but the latter hugged him and smiled indifferently.
At the end of the game, there was applause in the stands. On the south stands, the roaring fans held up Larson's No. 11 jersey and shouted in unison: "European archer king!"
At 6:0, Larson staged a hat-trick. The number of league goals has reached 30.
The Swede was moved at the end of the game. He frequently applauded the fans in the stands and hugged each teammate. He knew that he could score so many goals. In addition to his ability, he also communicated with his teammates. Selflessness and support are inseparable.
Aldridge seemed a lot calmer. He took the initiative to walk towards Peter Reed at the end of the game. The two met each other a year ago. At the dinner of the Coaches Association, Aldridge was elected the best coach of the Premier League. The other led Sunderland was promoted and was the best coach of the Premier League last season. The two had in-depth exchanges at that time.
"Aldrich, congratulations, Millwall's first league title in history, it's amazing."
"I just had good luck, the big team fell off the chain, and the players under him performed well."
"Don't be humble, really hypocritical. I hope we can see you in the Premier League next season."
"Hey, how can you be discouraged? Take the momentum to kill Manchester United, there are eight rounds in the league, and relegation is not hopeless."
"You are right, then, see you next season."
"Ok."
After chatting for a while, the two separated and Aldridge walked into the player's channel. In the mixed zone, the reporters were discouraged. It seems that Millwall won't make any sensational news.
However, some people were still stabbing and asked Aldridge: "Sunderland sent half of the reserve team players. This is obviously an active disarm. Is Millwall a little invincible?"
Aldrich shook his head and sneered, "I don't think so. I always send a lot of new-faced players to the game in some games. A team is not only composed of 11 people, or it is composed of 16 people on the bench. Can these people stay the whole season? Your question is too stupid. If I say yes, the opponent surrendered before the game, then if I send a few new-faced players in the future, it’s not like saying: Millwall Have you surrendered?"
The reporter who queried the question was choked, and the words sounded okay, as if it was impossible to refute, but in fact there is an essential difference, but the reporter is no longer entangled.
Manchester United scored two goals at home on Wednesday, with 8 rounds left in the league. Millwall led 13 points. Ferguson weakly rebuked Sunderland's platoon formation after the game and had to admit: Manchester United's defending defeat!
Even if Manchester United wins in the last eight rounds, will Millwall lose five goals?
Moreover, from the schedule, Manchester United is more focused on the Champions League, and Millwall also has the European War, but it is easy to advance all the way. The real hard battle may be only the semi-finals. That will be in April. It is estimated that at that time, Millwall will be Can be completely freed from the league, but Manchester United have to maintain the league's second UEFA Champions League tickets.
The new week is a double match again, the FA Cup quarter-finals kicked off, and Millwall played at home against Manchester United's Wimbledon.
This is a Derby in the same city, Wimbledon's strong style has returned to the courage this season, so Aldridge also discharged a muscular array.
Goalkeeper: Keller.
Guards: Mills, Materazzi, Ferdinand, Zambrotta.
Midfielders: Gattuso, Lampard, Barack.
Forwards: Tony, Fanny, Phillips.