A Crucial Loss: The Press Conference Blues

The atmosphere in today's post-match press conference was somewhat strange. 

The final score was a glaring 1-0.

Millwall lost the match, and no one could change that fact.

In reviewing the game, it was clear that Schneider and Elghra were caught off guard in defense. Schneider's failed interception left a gap behind, and Elghra recklessly collided with the ball-carrying Owen in the penalty area, conceding a vital penalty that brought Liverpool victory.

But now that they had lost, the responsibility lay with the head coach.

Aldrich's face was grim, but he didn't consider shifting the blame to anyone else. He mentally prepared himself for how to handle the media.

As he sat down, ready to face the onslaught from the press, David Miller stunned him with a question.

"Mr. Hall, what do you think of Liverpool's conservative tactics today? For much of the match, Liverpool seemed to hunker down at Anfield, often with six players defending in the penalty area, and for nearly 70 minutes, they had nine players back defending within 40 yards of their goal. Isn't this a negative tactic that goes against the spirit of football?"

Huh?

Uh!

Aldrich scanned the room, noticing that the reporters were all focused on him, most wearing worried expressions as if they were concerned about something.

The atmosphere didn't feel like they were there to condemn him or to watch him fail.

"I'm not quite sure what you're asking. Liverpool won today."

Aldrich questioned if he had misheard.

David Miller, serious as ever, replied, "That's right; they won, but in a very ugly manner. If Liverpool continues to employ this tactic, even if they keep winning, they'll be even less appealing to watch than the Arsenal team from the Graham era. This style of football isn't what fans want to see. Although Millwall lost today, you maintained dominance for most of the match. Thirty-one goal opportunities without scoring just shows that luck wasn't on your side."

As Miller articulated his viewpoint, other reporters nodded in agreement, while those from Merseyside appeared furious, thinking these London journalists were shameless for praising Millwall despite their loss.

Aldrich began to understand the reporters' mindset.

Aldrich started to grasp what the reporters were thinking. From a viewer's standpoint, the intense clash between Millwall and Liverpool could hardly be called boring; Millwall had taken the initiative, putting Liverpool under constant pressure and keeping the fans excited.

However, the very team that thrilled the crowd ended up on the losing side, a contradiction that was difficult for many to digest.

 Richard from the Daily Mail asked indignantly.

Having reported on Millwall for over three years, he had nearly turned into a hardcore fan, writing articles that were more professional and objective rather than mere fluff.

Ahem.

Aldrich cleared his throat and responded earnestly, "I can't accept this calmly because Millwall lost, and I'm disappointed with the outcome and the team's performance. You say it was bad luck in front of the goal, but I see it as a matter of skill. Luck only favors the skilled teams on the pitch, and any miracle must stem from a solid foundation of strength. Millwall isn't strong enough yet; breaking through a dense defense remains a challenge. But I firmly believe the team has room for improvement, and we will do better in the future. As for Liverpool, they won the match, and that's what matters most, more than any talk of style."

"But you once scoffed at Arsenal during the Graham era."

"No, I never denied the Graham era Arsenal; I only stated objectively that their style was dull. That doesn't mean their tactics were wrong or 'anti-football' as you put it. Football has rules, and there's no scoring bonus for style; victory and defeat are reflected in the scoreline. I've seen many training materials for coaches across Europe, and none define strength through aesthetics. As a head coach, whether or not you have your own style, your primary job is to help the team win. Winning a game is the fundamental goal, and if you can make it visually appealing, that's ideal. But when that primary goal isn't met, you can't expect every coach to chase idealism."

Aldrich's remarks earned unanimous approval from the Merseyside media.

They viewed this young manager as a respectful figure.

While they were also dissatisfied with Evans' conservative tactics, the victory brought them joy.

If they hadn't played this way, Liverpool might have faced another devastating defeat.

Everyone knew Millwall was formidable, and Liverpool's roster wasn't on par with The Lions, so a more cautious approach made sense.

Neutral viewers, who didn't care about Liverpool's league ranking, certainly wanted to see both teams play attacking football, but that would have been playing with fire for Liverpool.

If Evans dared to face Millwall with six losses in a row, he might lose his job, making the notion of ideal football an impractical one.

Herrera, the father figure of Inter Milan, initially had his team playing with incredible flair, but they just couldn't secure those all-important trophies. In a desperate move, Moratti laid down an ultimatum, forcing Herrera to switch tactics and implement a defensive chain approach. He was willing to do whatever it took to win, and this shift ushered in a remarkable era for the club.

"What if all opponents adopt this negative tactic against Millwall? How will you deal with it?"

"We'll find our own ways. I won't blame the opposing team for their formation. Even if the other side has all 11 players guarding the goal, I don't mind because they aren't breaking any football rules; they can play that way, just as we can send seven players into their half. The opposition is free to defend with nine."

Aldrich spoke some hard truths again today. While his remarks stirred some grumbling among the Fleet Street crowd, who felt, "Hey, we're on your side here!"

But the Merseyside media highly praised Aldrich.

The young manager was a real man.

Winning is winning; losing is losing.

Faced with today's defeat, he held no grudges and vowed to win next time they met.

Isn't that what football is all about?

There's no point in whining or making excuses.

Moreover, Aldrich's tactics had been conservative when he first took over, effectively using counter-attacks that left other teams in the Championship dizzy. The media even mocked Millwall, labeling them as an athletics team on the football field.

Liverpool's victory over Millwall seemed to silently signal to other teams: if you're going to play Millwall, this is how you do it!

Just four days later, Aldrich lost his temper.

Millwall was up against Wimbledon away, and not only did they fail to win, but the game also ended in a scoreless draw. Wimbledon's tactics mirrored Liverpool's, hunkering down defensively, and they also employed a brutal playing style.

Pirlo and Capdevila both left the pitch injured, and with Lampard suffering a fractured leg in the Community Shield, Millwall had now lost three players in less than a month of the new season.

In the match, Aldrich protested the referee's decisions and ended up receiving a red card. Even after appealing post-match, the FA disregarded his plea, rejecting it outright and adding a three-match suspension.

At the end of August, in the final league match, Millwall faced Leicester City, managed by Martin O'Neill.

Aldrich watched the game calmly from the stands.

O'Neill, a coach known for practical tactics, also brought a defensive approach to the Lions' den.

Millwall still dominated the game but struggled to score against the packed defense.

"Son, is the team okay? Why is luck so against us lately?" Arthur, sitting next to Aldrich, asked with concern.

Millwall had control but could not find the net. Leicester City's static defensive setup compressed the space, leaving Millwall's players with no room to move. Attempts to create danger fell flat, and shooting from distance met either a blockade or simply flew wide; it seemed that scoring would hinge solely on luck.

"We were champions last season, and this year, all teams are particularly fired up to face us. This has nothing to do with luck."

Aldrich's mind was racing.

If Millwall faced a team like Arsenal or Newcastle United, which dared to attack, even when outnumbered on the offensive end, Millwall could exploit the space and break through the defense.

But when matched against a team like Liverpool, strong yet resolutely defensive, or Wimbledon's combative tactics, Millwall's advantages diminished significantly. Leicester City's approach today was nearly indistinguishable from Liverpool's.

O'Neill had coached the team for a year and a half. From Aldrich's perspective, if it weren't for certain player limitations, O'Neill could create a top-notch defense. His ability to transform average defenders into competent ones echoed memories of Kevin Keegan, who had high-caliber defenders but couldn't piece together a coherent backline.

Leicester's counter-attacks were straightforward, relying on the towering Tony as a focal point. Once the defense succeeded, the ball would reach van Nistelrooy, and one of the wings would rapidly push up, with Tony distributing the ball out wide. They couldn't put more than three players into the attack.

Makelele completed eight interceptions during the match, with two successful plays leading to wing attacks. Had Schneider and Zambrotta not chased back to thwart the opposition, Millwall's defense would have been reeling.

When the final whistle blew, the broadcast cut to Aldrich in the stands, with Arthur beside him covering his face in disappointment. Aldrich remained expressionless.

The defending champions had started the new season with two wins, only to stumble into two draws and a loss in their next three matches, earning just two points, while Aldrich's suspension lingered on.

"Hollis faces yet another test, likely the biggest challenge for all teams in the Premier League: how to break a packed defense? When an opponent sits back for 90 minutes, it may seem they have no ambition to win. However, this shows their respect for Millwall. Sure, they might not expect to win, but they're even more reluctant to accept defeat or suffer a humiliating loss. Last season, numerous teams were trounced by Millwall, including the traditional top three. For middling teams, fighting for a draw was their only option—who could blame them? Can Hollis steer a Millwall that has become the target of many back onto the road to victory? That's his challenge, and Millwall's too. Perhaps this is an epic battle of the Lions against all teams in the Premier League, and while we were disappointed with today's match, we should look forward to the ultimate outcome of this war in the future."

Martin Taylor offered this poetic reflection at the end of the match.

Aldrich was indeed planning a new transformation for the team. Truthfully, he didn't want to have to do it, especially since they needed to compete in the Champions League this year. While a complete overhaul was unnecessary, the expectations for the players would be much higher. If the team couldn't adapt to the changes quickly, the season might spiral into a disastrous early end.

Just as Aldrich was preparing to head to the UEFA Champions League group draw ceremony, devastating news shocked the UK and the world.

On August 31, 1997, Princess Diana tragically passed away in a car accident in Paris!