The Rise of Millwal

The controversies and scandals on Italian football fields have become increasingly common in recent years.

Verón found himself embroiled in a nationality dispute. In September, a ruling determined that Verón was considered a non-EU player, requiring him to occupy a foreign player slot in Serie A.

This put Lazio in a challenging position. The club, known for its heavy reliance on foreign talent and years of big-spending summers—often splashing close to £100 million on transfers—faced a dilemma. With so many top-tier foreign players, who could they afford to sideline?

However, considering Verón's status at Lazio, even if they had to free up space for foreign players, it certainly wouldn't be him who had to go.

Ferguson was merely keeping an eye on developments at Lazio. There were reports that the parent company, CIRIO, was experiencing a financial crisis. While Lazio's aggressive signings had brought undeniable success, the club's income was far from sufficient to cover their financial shortfalls. In such circumstances, selling star players to generate cash appeared to be the club's only viable option.

Seventy-five million dollars was a hefty price tag. If it could be lowered a bit, Manchester United might be willing to take the risk.

These thoughts briefly flashed through Ferguson's mind as he processed various pieces of information. It gave him new ideas for reshaping his team.

With 20 minutes left in the match, Ferguson and Aldrich stood on the sidelines, gesturing and shouting instructions. The live broadcast frequently cut to their tense battle of wits, stealing the spotlight.

The atmosphere at Old Trafford was electric.

Although it was just the 19th round of the Premier League, this match posed the greatest obstacle for both teams in their quest for the title. Defeating such a rival would provide an immense confidence boost and spiritual uplift.

Manchester United fought fiercely, showing no signs of holding back, while Millwall matched their intensity.

Giggs's left-wing breakthrough was cut short when he was closed down and brought down by Schneider and Pirlo. Van Nistelrooy, in the penalty area, was jostled off balance by Materazzi and fell, complaining about the contact. Materazzi retorted that Van Nistelrooy was diving. On the right wing of the box, Solskjaer was dispossessed by Zambrotta after a shoulder-to-shoulder clash. The referee waved play on, prompting a chorus of boos from the Old Trafford stands.

Millwall's forwards faced their share of struggles too. Larsson was fouled twice by Silvestre, who eventually received a yellow card. Keane's sliding challenge nearly injured Klose, and when Henry attempted a breakthrough, Neville used his arm to obstruct him, with the referee again ignoring calls for a foul.

Both Aldrich and Ferguson expressed their dissatisfaction with the referee's decisions from the sidelines.

The intensity on the pitch was matched by heart-stopping moments of dangerous play.

Van Nistelrooy found his chance inside the six-yard box, firing a low shot from a tight angle that sent Keller diving the wrong way. But it was Southgate's last-ditch slide that saved the day, clearing the ball off the line.Moments later, Klose connected with Larsson's cross, rising above Brown to deliver a powerful header, only to see it crash against the crossbar and bounce back into play.

Aldrich didn't know if Ferguson's heart could handle the pressure, but his own adrenaline was surging. Despite the emotional highs and lows, he felt exhilarated.

In the 83rd minute, Millwall launched an intense counterattack into United's penalty area. Ronaldinho danced past Scholes and Beckham, played a one-two with the cutting-in Larsson, and broke through Keane's defensive line. With Henry and Klose pulling Stam and Brown out of position, Ronaldinho charged diagonally into the box. But his final shot was spectacularly saved by Barthez.

Barthez not only guessed the right direction but also securely held onto the ball, delivering a world-class performance!

Thunderous applause erupted from the Old Trafford stands as commentators praised Ronaldinho's dazzling build-up play and Barthez's heroic save.

With the danger averted, Manchester United quickly launched a counterattack.

Barthez sprang to his feet, holding the ball, while Millwall's attacking players immediately tracked back. Defenders scrambled to mark their targets and retake their positions.

But Barthez's swift throw-out started the attack faster than Millwall could react. As the saying goes, no one outruns the ball.

Beckham had already begun his forward sprint the moment Barthez secured the save. Positioned deeper initially, Beckham found ample space to exploit on the transition. His stamina was more than sufficient for the burst, a skill honed through his experience with England's tactical setups.

If he were still playing as a winger, he would have to cover a long distance to track back, making repeated sprints a challenge for his stamina. However, starting from a deeper position means defensive duties require less long-distance sprinting, and during counterattacks, his forward runs become more threatening—provided no one blocks his path.

And now, Ronaldinho hadn't returned to his position, leaving him with an open lane.

Barthez's throw reached Beckham's path, allowing him to accelerate without pausing to control or turn. This made the counterattack impossibly sharp.

Beckham surged forward, heading toward the center after crossing midfield. Before Pirlo and Neill's defensive line could react, Beckham and his teammate Giggs executed a stunning combination.

Beckham's central move caught everyone off guard, and Giggs abandoning the wing to act as a central support point was equally surprising.

Manchester United broke away from their trademark wing-based attacks, launching an all-out assault through the middle. It was a bold and calculated shift, likely triggered by the evident cracks in Millwall's midfield defense. 

Giggs, with better ball control than Beckham, received the pass and immediately drove forward, effortlessly bypassing Pirlo. As Neal moved in to close him down, Giggs calmly delivered a horizontal pass to the edge of the box. Scholes, who had just been tightly marked by Pirlo and Neal, suddenly found himself completely unmarked.

Southgate read the danger in a flash. He surged forward, gesturing behind him to Zambrotta to seal the box—a calculated move, a defender's instinct.

However, Scholes didn't give Southgate the slightest opportunity to defend!

Without breaking stride, Scholes shifted slightly to his right to align with the ball rolling toward him and unleashed a powerful shot with his right foot.

From about 30 yards out, the ball wasn't placed in an unreachable corner, but its sheer speed was breathtaking. Keller leaped, but his outstretched hand fell just short, and he could only watch as the ball thundered into the net like a cannonball.

"Scholes! Scholes! What a stunning world-class goal! Manchester United lead Millwall 3-2! That shot was absolutely sensational—unstoppable! Keller had no chance. Matches between Millwall and Manchester United never lack goals, and certainly not spectacular ones!"

Old Trafford erupted into a frenzy.

The Red Devils' fans were jubilant, cheering ecstatically in the stands. Scholes, initially expressionless as he sprinted toward the sideline, broke into laughter alongside Giggs as they celebrated.

Even Ferguson, the old man himself, raised both fists in an uncharacteristically passionate celebration.

Aldrich rubbed his forehead with a wry smile.

Perhaps it's time to bring in at least a first-rate goalkeeper as a backup?

Scholes' long-range strike was brilliant, no doubt.

But in truth, apart from the speed, the shot wasn't particularly well-placed. If Keller had remained composed, he could have stepped left before diving, making the save entirely possible. At least Aldrich was certain Butt would have saved it. If it had gone into the top corner, there would be no complaints.

The goalkeeper position demands consistency, not constant competition—it's not practical. A goalkeeper must maintain form through regular matches, and with only one spot on the field, true competition is rare unless the starter repeatedly underperforms or goes through a prolonged slump.

While Butt was reliable, today's situation made Aldrich realize Millwall needed a seasoned, experienced backup goalkeeper.

The third goal could be attributed to Keller's abilities—he simply lacked the quality of a top-tier goalkeeper, who would have had at least a 65% chance of making that save.

However, the second goal, his clear mistake, highlighted a deeper issue—his lack of mental fortitude. Being suddenly subbed into such a critical match without adequate preparation likely left him disoriented and overwhelmed.

This underscores the team's need for an experienced goalkeeper, especially one with a proven track record in high-stakes matches. Such a backup keeper would be better equipped to adapt quickly to unexpected situations and, at the very least, remain composed under pressure.

As the match entered the final ten minutes, including stoppage time, Ferguson made a sweeping gesture, ordering his team to pull back and secure their victory.

Aldrich, with no other choice, pushed for an all-out attack. It was now or never—a do-or-die battle.

Many Red Devils fans clasped their hands tightly against their chests. On Christmas Eve, what were their New Year's wishes?

"Just let the final minutes pass quickly. Please, God, let this match end already!"

Manchester United's formation shifted back, strengthening their connections across all three lines. This created a formidable midfield barrier. With more players focused on defense, Ferguson substituted Van Nistelrooy for Butt to bolster their solidity.

On the sidelines, Aldrich gestured for his full-backs to press forward, urging his players to utilize the full width of the pitch to stretch Manchester United's defensive lines.

In the center, Ronaldinho and Pirlo, supported by the advancing Zambrotta and Schneider, seemed to weave magic with their samba-style football. Their exquisite ball control, perfectly timed breakthroughs, and individual brilliance brought dazzling effects to localized areas of the pitch.

As Manchester United intensified their defensive posture, diminishing their offensive threats, Millwall countered by throwing even more players into the attack, making the clash between the two sides all the more direct and fierce.

In the 87th minute, Larsson and Henry suddenly switched positions. Larsson, receiving Pirlo's piercing through-ball on the left just outside the box, took a touch to adjust before unleashing a stunning shot.

"Larsson... is going for a lob!"

The ball, brimming with creativity, curved with a pronounced spin as it soared over Manchester United's defenders, heading straight for the far top corner of the goal.

Clang! The ball struck the top of the post and ricocheted back into play.

Barthez had already raised his hands in surrender, but luck eluded Millwall. The rebound fell to Henry, who charged forward, chesting the ball down and immediately attempting a shot. This time, Barthez reacted, managing to block the effort, and the ball was promptly cleared by Stam's powerful kick.

The Red Devils' fans collectively exhaled in relief. Some couldn't bear to watch—it was simply too nerve-wracking.

On the sidelines, Aldrich remained undeterred. He made a calming gesture, pressing his hands downward, signaling his team to stay composed and avoid rushing.

In the dying moments of many matches, teams—especially big clubs—often succumb to blind aggression when trailing. This impatience rarely yields goals and more often results in failure.

Millwall, however, had a clear attacking strategy, creating threatening plays consistently. What they needed now was patience and composure. A frantic mindset would render the remaining time irrelevant.

The match entered stoppage time.

Millwall had completely taken control, exerting relentless pressure in attack, dominating the second-ball opportunities, and continuously creating chances for follow-up efforts.

As the clock ticked down, the atmosphere grew so suffocatingly tense that it felt as though the stadium itself held its breath.