The Rise of Millwal

Chapter 428  A New Season, A New Ronaldinho

Millwall's starting lineup remains unchanged for the new season, but there's a notable shift in the players themselves.

From the first whistle today, one player took center stage, leaving the audience with a surprisingly unfamiliar impression.

Ronaldinho!

His tactical role required him to form the first line of defense as soon as the opposition advanced, applying relentless pressure to win the ball back. He delivered, surpassing even Aldrich's expectations with his tenacity.

He played like a wild beast, fiercely pressing with an almost reckless intensity. Just minutes after the opening whistle, he earned the game's first yellow card.

Aldrich reminded him from the sidelines to watch his challenges and avoid a second booking. Ronaldinho nodded thoughtfully, then gave a thumbs-up before refocusing on the game.

Perceptions of players on the pitch often suffer from unfair treatment.

Those who dive into tackles are frequently labeled as "workhorses," while players known for their technical prowess appear to disdain such gritty tasks, focusing solely on showing off their skills.

As a result, Nedvěd's technical talent often goes unnoticed. No matter how high his dribbling success rate, audiences find it hard to associate him with technical brilliance.

But today, Ronaldinho shattered that stereotype.

He showcased two extremes.

When switching from attack to defense, he pressed aggressively, more diligent than any workhorse, and when moving from defense to attack, his runs opened up space, his skill shining from the first touch.

Combining control and movement was second nature to him. His no-look, back-heel passes were jaw-droppingly precise, and his small-space dribbles and sharp turns were unstoppable.

What had come over him?

Lions fans found themselves wondering—this was not the Ronaldinho they'd seen before.

The Brazilian who used to wear a bittersweet smile after mistakes or lost balls, apologizing to teammates, was gone. Today, even after failing to get past a defender, he didn't hesitate for a second to chase back, constantly keeping himself busy, not giving himself a moment to breathe.

Aldrich thought that Ronaldinho might still be haunted by the emotions of last season's semifinal loss. Yet, seeing the drive it sparked in him now, that failure might ultimately be a blessing for his career.

Relying on even numbers for defense was out of the question for Tottenham, so they reinforced their lines with nine players, building a fortress layer upon layer.

Millwall's defense felt no pressure in the backfield, with the forwards pressing up front to open up space behind. Zambrotta and Schneider advanced to provide support on the perimeter or take shots from distance.

In the first 25 minutes, despite failing to score, Millwall dominated play, bombarding Tottenham's goal and stunning their defenders.

Millwall's attacking unit could pass and dribble effectively, prioritizing simplicity and speed. Players aimed to dribble past their opponents immediately after receiving the ball or to make quick passes, maintaining a fast and smooth rhythm. Even with Tottenham's numerical advantage, they still struggled to defend against the onslaught, facing constant danger. Had it not been for sheer effort defending, they might have already conceded.

"Larsson is fouled on the right side of the box, and the referee calls it—Millwall's awarded a free kick. Schneider steps up and decides to go for a quick restart, tapping it short to Nedvěd. Spurs seemed set to build a wall, but their backline is wide open! Nedvěd surges into the box, crossing it low along the line! Henry's there, diving in to meet it—goal! Millwall takes the lead in the 29th minute, with Henry finding the net!"

Henry's goal ignited a fire in the stands, and Aldrich jumped up, fist pumping with a wild expression of joy.

Graham's expression was grim. If anything, Tottenham wasn't executing counter-attacks; they were completely on the defensive! Nôv(el)B\\jnn

As Millwall's players returned to their half to celebrate, Aldrich glanced over at Graham.

"You've conceded first; what now? Are you not going to take a gamble? Can you really go home to White Hart Lane after losing like this?"

Graham remained still on the sidelines, making no proactive adjustments, but Tottenham's players began to change things on the field.

They didn't want to lose, and being continuously on the receiving end without fighting back was intolerable. They needed to muster the courage and push forward!

After the restart, Tottenham's formation shifted up, increasing options at the front. However, they couldn't hold their ground in midfield, and after losing control, their entire formation fell apart under Millwall's high-pressure game.

Makélélé succeeded in a tackle and passed to Pirlo, who delivered a pinpoint long ball to Henry. Henry received a one-on-one chance but shot just over the bar, eliciting sighs from the crowd, followed by applause. Even after missing the opportunity, Henry turned back and gave Pirlo a thumbs-up.

Four minutes later, Tottenham played a high ball to find a forward outlet. Materazzi headed it clear, and Nedvěd, stepping back, skillfully flicked the ball to Zambrotta on the wing. Zambrotta surged forward, and just after crossing midfield, faced pressure, passing to Ronaldinho on the flank.

After receiving the ball, Ronaldinho first evaded the opposing full-back, then cut inside. Facing stalwart defender Sol Campbell, Ronaldinho maintained his speed but glanced over at the returning Henry just two meters away, causing Campbell to hesitate. In a flash, Ronaldinho darted past him, then immediately cut back, leaving his back to Campbell. With the keeper rushing out, Ronaldinho suddenly stopped, gently nudging the ball rightward for Larsson, who calmly slotted it into the open net.

"My God! Martin, did you blink just then? Blink? Ronaldinho just obliterated Tottenham's defense! What an incredible display! Unbelievable!"

"Aside from Tottenham's fans, I believe everyone watching this game is in awe of Ronaldinho's performance. Every touch has been a highlight! Dodging defenders on the wing, his speed was mesmerizing. It seemed Campbell was easily beat, but upon replay, we can see Ronaldinho's look to Henry was a masterstroke in deception! Campbell was tricked by that gaze! Ronaldinho could've shot himself; although the keeper rushed out, he had the skill to finish, but instead, he selflessly assisted Larsson. And let's not doubt that Real Madrid's £30 million bid for him last summer was anything but crazy! He's worth far more than that!"

"Ronaldinho has the potential and is becoming a superstar! Martin, if he can keep this up, he'll undoubtedly be one of the few superstars in world football!"

"And how do you define a superstar, Andy?"

"We often see a phenomenon where an exceptional player has a breakout season and gets labeled a star, but then they may not meet expectations in subsequent seasons. It's not that their ability declines; once they gain fame, opponents study them, placing restrictions on their performance. A typical star performs solidly over a season, while a superstar, even when heavily marked or targeted, finds a way to shine despite it all. Ronaldinho has gained a reputation; today, Tottenham marked him tightly, yet time and again, he utterly dazzled."

"Maybe Tottenham's defense is just that poor?"

"Perhaps. That's why I think he has the potential to become a superstar. But it's too early to call it; he can still improve. Right now, however, we can hardly find a player performing better than he is at his age."

Larsson's instinct as a striker drove him to make that run for the goal, though he hadn't really thought Ronaldinho would pass it out. His steps were a little unsteady, and he had to twist his body to hold his shooting form, carefully tapping the ball into the open net before stumbling to the ground.

Ronaldinho went over to help him up. Larsson laughed and asked, "Why didn't you shoot?"

The keeper had rushed out, but there was plenty of space. Ronaldinho had even paused; a calm shot would've definitely gone in.

Ronaldinho scratched his head, glancing at Henry, saying, "He just fluffed a one-on-one; I was afraid I'd miss too, so I played it safe and passed it."

Henry gave a wry smile. "What's that got to do with me?"

Finally, Ronaldinho broke into a grin, the familiar smile that brought joy to the fans.

Aldrich found himself in a "happy dilemma" on the sidelines, turning to his coaching staff with a shrug. "Why did he pass?"

It's not that passing was off-limits, but Millwall's training heavily emphasized shooting efficiency. Players were drilled to keep it simple, to seize chances with no hesitation—if there's a shot, take it.

Klinsmann and Jansen shook their heads with a laugh. There was no real answer to a question like that.

In the heat of the moment, a player's choices are often instinctive, not planned.

Klinsmann turned to Jansen and murmured, "He never played the game. If you've been playing professionally for over a decade, you're not thinking much as you touch the ball. A lot of it's just reflex."

Jansen raised an eyebrow with a smirk. "I never played either. Ajax dropped me, so here I am coaching."

Klinsmann's expression turned awkward, and Jansen burst out laughing.

Graham's face was filled with bitterness.

Tottenham, oh Tottenham, was simply no match for Millwall. When the disparity in player ability reaches a certain level, even the best tactics can't turn the tide.

Tottenham was a mix of the old and the new, relying on veterans to get by, while every year they brought in some washed-up players to fill out the squad. Over time, it had all turned into this mess. Talk about a rebuild? There were young players in the team, but unfortunately, none could shoulder the responsibility. Talk about starting from scratch? All the money spent in the past would be a total loss, and the club's financial situation wasn't great either. Who could forget how the current chairman had been duped by the notorious "black gold" coach, Venables?

Millwall's fast-paced passing and pressing style lasted 60 minutes. By the 15th minute of the second half, the score was already 3-0, with Zambrotta scoring another long-range effort. Millwall then decided to slow the tempo down and play patiently.

Aldrich made consecutive substitutions to allow some of the starters to rest, but Larmore, who came on, pleasantly surprised him by taking Nedved's position. While the defense may have dropped a level, just five minutes after stepping onto the pitch, Larmore linked up beautifully with Larsson for a slick one-two. After passing, he darted into the box, and Larsson laid it back for him. Larmore then unleashed a precise shot from a tight angle into the top corner, increasing their lead.

Though this attack might seem simple, Aldrich recognized Larmore's knack for exploiting the most vulnerable areas of the opponent's defense.

In the end, Millwall triumphantly beat Tottenham 4-0, making a strong start in their quest for a new season title defense.