The Rise of Millwal

Chapter 317: Desperate Manchester United

May 9th, 3 PM

This was a traditional kickoff time for the Premier League. The league had yet to cater to the Asian market with earlier start times, but that change was coming. When it did, it would likely draw strong criticism from local fans, as the new kickoff time would fall right in their lunch hour.

For the 38th round of the Premier League, all ten matches were set to kick off simultaneously.

In the previous round, Millwall had sent their strongest squad to secure a narrow 2-0 victory against Sheffield Wednesday. The main goal for the players was to fine-tune their form, and with their opponent already safe from relegation, they were content as long as the match didn't end in a humiliating defeat. Sheffield Wednesday could breathe a sigh of relief; they knew Millwall was not going to go all out to overcome their goal difference with Manchester United. If it had turned into a real fight, Sheffield Wednesday would have surely put up a fierce showing, even if they couldn't win outright.

Aldridge never entertained the ridiculous idea of ??extending his goal difference against Sheffield Wednesday. In the Premier League, achieving high scores even if the strength of the teams is uneven requires certain conditions - the strong teams are in the lead, and the weak teams fall into aggression. As Sheffield Wednesday celebrate their victory at home against relegation, Millwall should proceed with caution. If they push for a third or fourth goal, the opposition may retaliate, potentially injuring several Millwall players. Such a move is not intentional, but the game will definitely become fierce and bring fierce competition; after all, every club has its own dignity, and dignity is important.

In other games of the day, Manchester United defeated Leeds United 3-0 and Arsenal defeated Everton 4-0. Millwall's hopes of defending their title were effectively gone, leaving only the possibility of finishing second. Even if they want to win the runner-up title, Millwall must not only defeat Manchester United at home, but also win by six goals...

The final round of the Premier League didn't promise much excitement, as only two matches impacted the relegation battle. Barnsley and Crystal Palace had already been relegated, while Everton and Bolton were vying for the last safe spot, a mere point apart, with Bolton holding the advantage.

The championship would be decided between Manchester United and Arsenal, who were separated by just a point, with Arsenal leading the way.

The genuine trophy was sent to Villa Park for Arsenal's clash with Aston Villa. If Arsenal won, their title would be secured.

A replica trophy was delivered to the Lions' Den, prepared for Manchester United.

Today, Aldrich seemed unusually calm. He had addressed the players in the locker room before the match.

"Arsenal is our local derby rival. If they lose or draw and Manchester United wins today, they will celebrate the championship in our home ground. This is unacceptable for our fans and for me. I don't wish for Arsenal to win the title, but I cannot allow Manchester United to raise that trophy at our stadium."

If today's opponent hadn't been Manchester United, there would have been no pressing need for Aldrich to put pressure on the players. But the current circumstances forced him to make them aware of the consequences of losing.

Since Aldrich took charge, no team had ever managed to beat Millwall twice in a single league season, though they did suffer a double defeat to Newcastle United in cup competitions—but that hardly mattered.

If they were to lose at home to Manchester United today, Millwall would end nearly two years of unbeaten home fixtures, also being double defeated in the league and possibly witnessing their rivals celebrate the championship on their own turf. That was entirely intolerable, and they needed to avoid that scenario at all costs.

After shaking hands with Ferguson, Aldrich returned to the bench, appearing calm and collected as he watched the match unfold.

Manchester United had surrendered the top spot, which they had held for most of the season, to Arsenal. Who could they blame?

In the first half of the season, they had even triumphed over the reigning champions, but they hadn't anticipated Arsenal's resurgence in the second half.

And indeed, Arsenal had exploded onto the scene.

In the second half of the season, they recorded an astonishing record of 15 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss, accumulating 47 points.

If Arsenal can show such a state in the first half of the season, they can score around 95 points even without taking into account the results of the final round of the league.

Clearly, Wenger's Arsenal unleashed incredible power after maturing.

Such a phenomenon isn't rare; it often occurs when a team transitions into a new tactical phase, resulting in an impressive winning streak—just like Millwall's 18-match winning run last year.

The principle of "changing the manager is like changing knives" is illustrated here. When a new manager comes in, players respond wholeheartedly; the new tactics spark fresh energy, leading to a spell of good performance. But when that peak subsides—as opposition teams adjust their strategies, exhaustion sets in, and other factors come into play—the team may fall back towards mediocrity.

Millwall had performed well in the second half of the season too, with a record of 13 wins, 3 draws, and 2 losses, amassing 42 points—and that was before the final match. Had they performed like this in the first half, they would have harvested around 85 points, which would have been championship-winning form in recent seasons. The only issue was that they had too many draws in the first half and had lost two matches.

Yet, the team's upward trend was evident, especially in the second half when key players were off on European duty, with stellar league results achieved largely by the substitutes.

In contrast, Manchester United had notably dropped in performance during the second half of the season, slipping from a 10-point lead to now trail by a single point, now sitting just 3 points ahead of Millwall. What was missing for Manchester United? The consensus was that after Cantona's retirement, they had lost a spiritual leader. Keane was the heir apparent, but his absence through injury in the second half had a concrete impact on United's results.

Ferguson's anxiety was palpable as he appeared tense and unable to relax.

It was understandable; who would feel good about relinquishing the title after leading for so long and then losing the championship's destiny in the final match?

"The final round of the 1997-98 Premier League season is about to kick off. This focal battle at the Lions' Den sees last season's champions, Millwall, going up against the runners-up, Manchester United, who still harbor championship aspirations. The media has provided various analyses regarding the title race. If Arsenal wins, they secure the championship; if they draw and Manchester United fails to win, Arsenal still takes the title. If Arsenal loses, United must also lose for Arsenal to win. Such a scenario is a contrasting one for Manchester United. Their title hopes don't hinge solely on defeating Millwall at the Lions' Den, but given Arsenal's current form, the odds of them losing away to Aston Villa are slim."

"Martin, I think discussing scenarios is pointless. No team wins the league easily. To become champions, one must display the courage and determination to do so! Arsenal wants the title, and so does Manchester United. Are they really going to adjust their tempo based on the other game's outcomes in the final match? No way! They need to forget about the points and strive for victory—that's what championship teams do. The odds may be against United, but if they are too focused on whether Arsenal will lose or draw, how can they channel their full force to win and chase the title?"

"Ha! Andy, you're right. United needs to focus on beating Millwall first, but it seems Hall isn't keen on letting the Red Devils walk away with an easy victory. Though he's fielded an entirely backup squad against United's first team today, Hall's lineup indicates a determined effort to take down Manchester United. His 4-3-1-2 formation includes hard-hitting midfielders like Gattuso, Lampard, and Ballack, supported by a solid backline with Materazzi and Ferdinand, making it difficult to view this team as mere substitutes."

"Indeed, Hall may have conceded the league this season, but I see it as a fruitful season, laying the groundwork for a better tomorrow. Many of the young players have grown through the matches, and the gap in strength between the starters and substitutes is narrowing. Millwall has become a stronger team; they have learned from competing on multiple fronts. Last season, they suffered due to their opponents' tactics of tightly organized defenses that exposed their vulnerabilities, yet significant improvement is evident. Their outstanding performance in European competitions backs that up; their second-half performance exceeded that of the first half, all achieved while balancing European responsibilities."

...

Aldrich lounged on the sidelines, propping his chin up with his hand, his demeanor relaxed as he observed the game with nonchalance.

From the get-go, Manchester United took the initiative, launching relentless attacks but failing to convert pressure into goals.

Millwall, after adjusting their strategy in the second half of the season and with Aldrich playing psychological games, saw their backups gain invaluable experience—especially in defense, which had now sharpened. Today, they focused even more on their defensive play. The three midfielders were active, tough in their challenges, and frequently fell back to protect their goal. United was left resorting to crossing from the wings, with zero shots on target, struggling to find good chances even for long-range attempts.

Today's attacking midfielder was Ronaldinho, partnered up front with Gudjohnsen and Van Nistelrooy.

Millwall's transition from defense to attack was direct and efficient. Ronaldinho was everywhere, passing the ball whenever possible. If the forward is marked, he will solve the problem himself. After all, Nicolas Butt was the only United midfielder to defend as Millwall launched a ferocious counter-attack.

The Manchester United players were putting in the effort today, but the attacking line just wasn't delivering.

Andy Cole and Solskj?r were on the front line today.

The baby-faced striker had struggled with injuries this season, leading to pitiful goal numbers. The summer signing, Sheringham, had also failed to impress in front of goal. With such a talented midfield, what was Manchester United still missing?

If Ferguson had asked Aldrich, he would have gladly pointed out: Dwight Yorke.

What they needed was a lethal combination of a playmaker and a finisher like Yorke.

Of course, based on the original history, Manchester United and York will join forces soon.

Aldrich would not undermine his own interests by blocking such a move. The players he signed were planned additions; Millwall wasn't at the stage of some clubs buying players just to keep competitors from getting them.

Manchester United continuously relied on their wing play to attack dangerous areas, but they always fell short at the last moment. Solskj?r's form since returning from injury has been less than impressive.

Seeing his former beloved player struggling on the pitch despite his efforts, Aldrich could not help but let out a soft sigh.

As the first half was drawing to a close, United pressed forward, looking to mount one final attack. Gary Neville surged forward to assist, but his cross was intercepted perfectly by Materazzi. Then, Millwall turned the tables and fired back at United!

Ronaldinho received the ball and made a lateral dribble to create space, connecting with Gudjohnsen for a clever one-two. After beating Bart outside the box, he linked up with Van Nistelrooy for another quick one-two, effortlessly slicing through United's defense. Ronaldinho surged into the box, and faced with a rushing Schmeichel, he skillfully rolled the shot into the far corner.

After scoring, Ronaldinho celebrated by shaking his head and performing his signature gesture to the fans in the stands. The Lions' Den erupted in cheers; they adored this Brazilian, whose magical footwork, agile moves, and joyful celebrations had every Millwall fan convinced: Ronaldinho was destined to be the next king of Millwall!

Manchester United fans, having traveled to support their team, held their heads in despair. Their expressions were a mirror image of Ferguson's, a painful mix of anger and distress.

Had they not lost at home to Arsenal, would they have felt the need to attack Millwall so aggressively in their final game? Such reckless tactics only left them open to counterattacks, while the opposing team's jubilant celebrations felt like a humiliating slap in the face.