When Aldrich took over Millwall in the summer of '94, critics sneered, labeling his arrival as a circus act. But history has proven that he transformed Millwall's fate. Around that same time, another figure who would go on to change the destiny of a club made his entrance in Serie A: Zeman. He took over at Lazio, a club that would soon become a powerhouse in Italy's top division.
Today, European fans hail Millwall's aggressive style, but Lazio's fans see things differently. While The Lions struggled in England's First Division, Lazio, under Zeman's 4-3-3 offensive formation, rose through Serie A's ranks, a league at the height of European football. Lazio's courage to play attacking football, combined with their results, gained admiration. They'd earned their place among the "Seven Sisters" of Italy's "mini-World Cup" league.
That season, Lazio's ruthless attack delivered jaw-dropping results: 5-1 against Napoli, 4-0 against AC Milan, 8-2 against Fiorentina, 4-1 against Inter, and 4-0 against Genoa. Such explosive football made fans revere Lazio.
Lazio may not have clinched the league title in 1994-95, but they outscored Juventus, the champions, by nine goals—a remarkable statistic. Given the Serie A's defensive reputation and the league's structure with just 18 teams, Lazio's attacking prowess made them stand out as the best offensive team that season.
Under Zeman, Lazio maintained their offensive approach, though balancing attack and defense proved challenging. The high-stakes strategy brought thrilling, high-scoring matches but also frequent heavy losses, leaving Lazio without major titles. Their matches were seldom drawn; they either won big or lost big. After Zeman's departure, Lazio's iconic style faded, only to be reshaped under Swedish coach Sven-Göran Eriksson, who ushered in a new era.
By the summer of '98, Lazio was already a top title contender. However, lacking the grit of a championship-winning team, they faced setbacks, like the previous season when they lost the Serie A title to AC Milan by just one point after Milan's extraordinary seven-match winning streak. Lazio's final push was hindered by a single draw, with their biggest setback coming in the Rome derby, where Zeman's AS Roma defeated them.
Last season, Lazio salvaged some pride with the final Cup Winners' Cup title, somewhat offsetting their near miss in the league. Lazio's rise was fueled by a massive spending spree, a trend spreading across Serie A as more clubs followed suit, hoping for similar success.
"We were disappointed to only draw at home. We had more chances than Millwall, and we don't fear them, even with their recent European record-breaking winning streak."
"They're an English club, while we compete in Serie A. Comparing domestic achievements is unfair, as winning a title in Serie A is far more challenging than in the Premier League. The competition here is on a different level."
"Hall is an excellent coach, but he's not unbeatable. We're ambitious in the Champions League. Winning at Wembley would be a big morale boost for Lazio, even if Millwall has yet to lose a European match in London."
Eriksson shared these thoughts before Lazio's fifth match in the Champions League's second group stage. Perhaps he aimed to unsettle Millwall, maybe even shake Aldrich's composure. Who knows?
The British tabloids ran with Eriksson's remarks, framing them as a challenge for Aldrich.
Unfazed, Aldrich walked away from the press conference without responding.
The group standings placed Millwall at the top with 8 points, followed by Lazio with 7 points after a surprising loss to Feyenoord. Bordeaux held 4 points, while Feyenoord trailed with 3. With only two matches left, Millwall needed only to avoid defeat to secure their spot in the quarterfinals.
Aldrich saw no point in engaging in a verbal spat with an Italian coach—he'd rather save his energy for the game.
Aldrich didn't respond, but Fleet Street had no intention of dropping the headline.
Thus, the Young Lion Coach's silence turned into a message of unspoken disdain.
Eriksson, Lazio—you're not worthy to cross paths with the Lions!
Luck was on their side, as the night of the match brought clear skies and perfect weather for football.
As Aldrich stepped onto the pitch, he heard The Lions' fans clashing with Lazio's supporters in the stands. The Millwall fans sang mocking chants, while the few Lazio supporters retaliated with Italian curses.
With his hands tucked in his coat pockets, Aldrich walked straight to the coaching bench, looking as relaxed as Millwall's current standings—untroubled.
There were just two matches left. Tonight, they faced Lazio at home, and their final game would be in the Netherlands against Feyenoord. If Feyenoord drew in their other game, Millwall would secure a spot regardless of tonight's result, thanks to their head-to-head advantage over Bordeaux.
As the players lined up on the field, the announcer introduced the starting lineups.
Millwall was at full strength.
Lazio also fielded a solid team.
Lazio Starting XI:
Goalkeeper: Marchegiani
Defense: Pancaro, Mihajlovic, Nesta, Favalli
Midfield: Conceicao, Veron, Simeone, Winter
Forwards: Inzaghi Jr., Salas
This lineup had only one change compared to Lazio's historical roster—the left midfielder. Instead of Nedved, they had Dutchman Winter. Returning to Lazio in the summer of '98, Winter was a mainstay in Zeman's attacking Lazio side and had a status almost on par with Nedved's at the club.
Simeone—the same Simeone who had clashed with Millwall last year with Inter, the same one who'd famously exaggerated his fall after Beckham's foul.
Lazio's reputation as Serie A title favorites was well-earned, with stars like Veron, the Portuguese Golden Generation's Conceicao, and world-class center-back Nesta, known worldwide. Other names like Pancaro, Inzaghi Jr., Salas, and Favalli were no less renowned in European football.
"The match kicks off, and Millwall is setting a fast tempo, pressing forward aggressively. Looks like Hall's tactical choice is to go for a high-pressure attack. And that's just right—football is decided on the pitch, not by pre-game boasting. Eriksson's grand speeches? Well, let's see what he says after the 90 minutes are up."
Millwall was well-positioned to qualify, but they couldn't afford to be complacent. If they lost, and Bordeaux and Feyenoord had a decisive outcome, things could flip quickly.
A home game with a focus on offense was only natural.
Besides, Aldrich's strategy was clear-cut.
Tonight was all about speed—to wear Lazio down.
Simeone's defensive prowess was evident, sticking to his mark like glue and effectively neutralizing players.
But with Millwall's arsenal of attacking talent, Lazio might handle one or two threats but stopping everyone? Impossible.
Lazio, pinned down in the opening half, could barely keep pace, putting on a dreadful show. Eriksson rose from his seat, walked to the sideline, and planted his hands on his hips.
"Lazio can't even put together a decent attack!"
Millwall's high-press tactic saw their attackers pressing hard and reclaiming possession on the spot, giving Lazio hardly any time to organize.
Veron, the midfield maestro, managed only three successful touches out of eight. Five of his missed touches included three direct tackles from Pirlo and two bad passes from teammates. When he did manage to control the ball, Pirlo and Nedved closed in, neutralizing his efforts almost instantly.
Conceicao and Winter, both in their mid-30s, had experience but couldn't withstand the relentless pressure from younger players like Zambrotta and Schneider. Larsson and Ronaldinho's defensive support further cramped Lazio's midfield. Millwall's highly disciplined defense sliced Lazio's formation into isolated fragments. Every Lazio player found themselves in isolation within seconds of receiving the ball, and any attempt at one-on-one dribbling quickly crumbled, leaving their offense in ruins.
In the 26th minute, Simeone sent a long pass soaring from the back. Having faced Millwall with Inter Milan, he knew what to expect. With his team's midfield struggling, he figured he'd take a chance and play it long.
Surprisingly, that long pass nearly turned into an assist.
Inzaghi, with a clear run at goal after leaving Materazzi behind, was about to face the goalkeeper one-on-one. But Butt had already read the situation. He sprinted out of the penalty area, leaping to head the ball across to his fellow countryman, Schneider, positioned on the flank.
Under a high-pressure pressing style, a goalkeeper can't just stay between the posts; they must expand their coverage, act as a sweeper, and become an outlet for passes. Staying rooted to the goal would leave a vulnerable gap in the team's tactical framework. Butt's proactive approach greatly impressed Aldrich.
In a high-pressing game, the goalkeeper can't just stand in front of the goal. They have to stretch their coverage, become more than just a backstop. They need to be an outlet, a sweeper—someone who can intercept and pass. A goalkeeper who stays glued to the goal will leave their team exposed, creating a fatal flaw in the team's tactical setup. A team's setup can crumble if that gap is left wide open.
As the game wore on, Millwall's fast-paced, high-pressure attack began to show clear advantages. With Verón, Conceição, and Winter's defense weakening, Simeone alone couldn't hold the midfield.
By the 32nd minute, Pirlo moved up to receive the ball. Verón, trailing three meters behind, seemed to slow down, perhaps hoping to defend from a distance and quickly counterattack if they regained possession.
Ronaldinho drifted centrally, combining with Pirlo in a quick one-two to break through Simeone's defensive zone. Larsson and Henry swapped positions, and Pirlo played a pinpoint pass to Henry, who reached the byline on the right side of the box. Henry squared the ball across the goal, and Larsson deliberately held off Nesta, allowing it to roll past him. Nedvěd, timing his run perfectly, slid in past Mihajlović to tap the ball in at the far post.
"Nedvěd scores the opening goal for his team! That's a classic Millwall-style strike – attackers swapping positions to confuse defenders, Pirlo's pass slicing through the defense, and the striker either going for the goal or cleverly setting up a late-arriving teammate. A beautiful goal, one you can watch over and over again! Eriksson, who boasted before the match, should shut up now. His team is being completely outclassed at Wembley!"
Aldrich stood up and applauded, giving the players a big thumbs-up.