The excitement of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final was palpable. Aldrich scanned Barcelona's starting lineup, feeling a slight pang of disbelief at how things had turned out.
The changes in personnel weren't surprising, but the formation caught him off guard.
After Cruyff's departure, Robson had taken over as coach this season and shifted the team's tactics from a 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2. Today, it was clear he had tailored this setup specifically to counter Millwall, using Popescu in a defensive midfield role. This adjustment not only strengthened the front defense but also allowed Guardiola more freedom.
Barcelona's young lineup sparkled with talent. As Aldrich had emphasized, Ronaldo was the season's superstar, but without his outstanding teammates, he would never have risen to such heights in just three months.
Among the starters behind Ronaldo, Figo was undoubtedly exceptional, and Enrique had been a key player at Real Madrid. If he hadn't clashed with the club over contract negotiations, he likely wouldn't have found himself at Barcelona. Enrique was the kind of player Aldrich respected—hardworking and impactful, tirelessly contributing with tackles, link-up play, and movement. Coaches always admired players like him; while they might seem unassuming, their roles were crucial.
In the attacking midfield position was Delapena, who would gain more fame in the future. Currently, he was regarded as Spain's golden boy alongside Raúl, possessing a playmaking ability that was nothing short of masterful. Ronaldo's impressive scoring tally this season was undoubtedly linked to Delapena's visionary assists.
Next up was Guardiola, the linchpin of attack and defense. The defensive players were not pushovers either; after all, which player at a Spanish giant didn't possess a unique skill set?
On the bench, players like Pizzi, Giovanni, Stoichkov, and Blanco meant there was always a strong pool of talent waiting to step in at a top club.
Despite Barcelona implementing a 4-2-3-1 setup to restrain Millwall, Aldrich had not altered his tactical approach.
Unlike the older Paris Saint-Germain squad, Barcelona was young, and this match was a single knockout game lasting 90 minutes.
If assessing individual skill, Barcelona's attacking prowess would reign supreme, and in terms of defense, they were on a par with Millwall.
Thus, many believe that Barcelona has the upper hand.
But Aldrich held dear a term emphasized by an American: team chemistry!
Barcelona's combination of individual ability exceeded Millwall's. However, in terms of team chemistry, Aldrich believed Millwall had the edge.
Although Barcelona played well as a unit, they hadn't reached an extraordinary level, especially when considering both attack and defense together.
Ronaldo hardly participates in defending, and Delapena's defensive contributions are quite negligible.
Hence, it was no wonder that this season, while Barcelona's offense outshone Real Madrid's, they still trailed in the standings. Their defensive record was the weakest among the top four in La Liga.
Aldrich believed that Millwall had a chance only if they played to their style. If they started worrying about restricting the opponents' individual brilliance, the path to victory would become difficult.
With Millwall's core players rejuvenated after nearly two weeks of rest, they came into the match bursting with energy and enthusiasm. Once the match kicked off, the team swiftly fell into rhythm, running tirelessly, focused, and decisive in their play.
Pirlo remained the midfield orchestrator; whenever he received the ball, three teammates were ready to create passing options. Under the pressure from Delapena, he played the ball out calmly and correctly.
Schneider received the ball on the wing and advanced, with Guardiola coming to assist with the pressing. Schneider laid the ball across to Nedved, who controlled the ball on his feet and surged forward, surprising Barcelona. It seemed like Millwall had lost possession, but in reality, Nedved had assured that Pirlo could handle the ball, avoiding a pass-back that would slow down the tempo.
In training, they showcased dazzling technical ability—not in fancy footwork, but in timed combinations that played with the defenders' nerves and judgment.
For instance, when Popescu hesitated for a moment, stepping forward to challenge for the ball, he miscalculated. Pirlo moved swiftly, and with one straightforward pass, Nedved slipped past Barcelona's defensive line.
Facing Abelardo, Nedved crossed the ball to Shevchenko on the right. Without waiting for it to settle, he flicked it into the box. Nedved, charging ahead, found himself through on goal. He struck a volley.
Baya was caught off guard. Bang!
The ball hit the outside of the post and went out for a goal kick!
This fluid movement was breathtaking, leaving Barcelona players unable to touch the ball. The fans in the stands were in awe, especially the neutral ones, who couldn't have grasped such beautiful football from merely watching on TV.
Millwall initiated a counterattack from the back, combining wing and central play, slicing through Barcelona's defense with ease.
Applause erupted, but Nedved ran back expressionless, positioning himself defensively just two meters in front of Guardiola.
Guardiola, taken aback, found himself marked by Nedved—a task typically reserved for forwards! On the wings, Larsson and Shevchenko also dropped back, squeezing Figo and Enrique's space.
Pirlo and Makelele double-teamed Delapena. If Delapena dropped back, Makelele would hold his position, allowing Pirlo to drop deeper, as he still needed to assist the backline against Ronaldo, tightening the alien's room to maneuver.
What the television cameras couldn't capture on screen, those on the sidelines and in the stands could see vividly.
Robson frowned, and Mourinho wore a serious expression.
The players highlighted their organized, purpose-driven positions and movements, showcasing Millwall's intent to tightly connect lines of defense, slicing through Barcelona's formation without overextending. If possession returned to Barcelona's defenders, Millwall's forwards wouldn't contest for the ball.
If Barcelona's center-backs pressed forward, Millwall would merely compress their lines.
Given the density of La Liga fixtures and a recent match against Real Madrid, Barcelona's players struggled to find their rhythm. After Popescu received the ball in midfield, he passed it to the returning Delapena.
This Spanish rising star excels at playmaking but isn't particularly fast. He seemed quite confident in his foot skills. With Figo and Enrique failing to create space, he chose to turn and take on Pirlo, only to have his ball easily intercepted by Pirlo.
The ball rolled left, and Larsson won it before Enrique, sending it back to the center where Makelele received it just as Delapena rushed in. Makelele deftly passed to Pirlo, who immediately launched a long ball toward the opponents' half.
Upon securing the interception, Trezeguet began his run, perfectly positioning himself to press against Barcelona's last defender, Koutou. Barcelona's attack abruptly stalled at midfield, catching their players off guard. As Pirlo aimed his long pass, the defenders unexpectedly moved forward, and the ball zipped back, prompting Koutou to race backward.
Baya decisively charged off his line as Trezeguet headed the ball just as he crossed the half-line.
Baya leaped, extending his hand to block, his fingertips grazing the ball!
Trezeguet shook his head in disappointment and quickly turned to jog back to Guardiola.
The deflected ball rolled to Abelardo, who cleared it forward in haste.
The ball was played to the sidelines, and Figo picked it up, turned around, but couldn't find a good passing option, so he decided to dribble forward himself. Facing Schneider, he immediately displayed his agile dribbling skills.
Schneider isn't the type to blindly lunge for tackles; he knows that would only allow his opponent to breeze past him.
He positioned himself defensively inside, and Figo chose to approach the byline, with Schneider still pressing closely. Figo doesn't win through speed; he excels in foot skills. His ball control is masterful. As long as Schneider maintains his position and can keep pace with Figo, he won't be easily shaken off.
By slowing the game down, he allowed his teammates to set an effective defensive shape and compress their opponent's space. Schneider's confidence grew.
Figo managed a clever feint at the baseline, momentarily deceiving Schneider, who bit but quickly realized it was a ruse as Figo pulled the ball back and whipped in a cross.
Inside the box, Elguera outjumped Ronaldo to clear, and Makelele, lurking nearby, nodded the ball left.
Capdevila received and slotted a diagonal pass toward the middle, where Nedved awaited. Millwall's lightning-fast counterattack surged toward Barcelona's goal once again...
Despite Nedved having hit the post and Trezeguet's penalty saved by Baía, Aldrich felt no regret.
These were merely the normal ups and downs of football; not every good chance translates to a goal.
Moreover, the match hadn't fully embraced Millwall's winning rhythm yet.
He was waiting, observing.
Barcelona's offense heavily struggled, and their midfield found itself entirely on the back foot. Guardiola, the linchpin in attack and defense, saw his touches dwindle as Trezeguet and Nedved sandwiched him, rendering him a liability to his teammates.
Delapena had been confined by both Pirlo and Makelele, while Ronaldo was left alone up front.
In the lead-up to the match, every British media outlet advised Millwall on how to limit Ronaldo.
Yet Aldrich's defensive strategy didn't hinge on Ronaldo; rather it focused on his supporting cast.
Ronaldo was a top-tier striker, a legendary figure in football history, but he was not omnipotent! He needed teammates to create chances, to pull defenders away, and a strong collective.
Whether at club level or with his national team, the narrative held true.
When Ronaldo finally received the ball, he was a threat; but without it, what remained? This was akin to Cruyff's philosophy on possession—one for attack and the other for defense.
First, he aimed to reduce Ronaldo's ball access and close down his space, ensuring that even if he did receive the ball, he wouldn't find himself in a dangerous position!
Twenty minutes into the match, Barcelona's attack became predictable. With the midfield struggling to support, individual dribbles down the wings became their only hope, yet Millwall's defense held firm.
Gradually, Barcelona's defenders were forced up, seeking to create more passing options.
Upon noticing the defenders moving up, Aldrich's cold eyes gleamed with a hint of enthusiasm, revealing his fighting spirit.