The high-pressure opening for 30 minutes was a tactical decision made by Aldridge before the game. This decision gave Millwall a surprising return.
But thirty minutes later, when Millwall took the initiative to shrink, this decision did not seem as good as expected.
The outside world is saying that Chelsea has become stronger, but where exactly is it stronger?
Is it just that the lineup looks strong?
Of course not. There are many teams that buy stars every year, but there are also many teams whose records are a mess.
The most obvious improvement in Chelsea is in attack!
Since 1995, Chelsea's league goals have been rising every year, and their offensive firepower ranking has soared from a mid-table in the league. Last season, it was the second-ranked team in the league in offensive firepower, second only to Manchester United by 73 goals.
goals, they scored 71 goals, more than Millwall, when
However, Millwall focused on the European war last season, and its offensive firepower in the league has declined. This is obvious to the outside world. Coupled with its defensive ability, the outside world does not think Chelsea is a team in the top three of the championship group. But
There is no doubt that their offense has improved significantly compared to the past few years.
It's just that they have never encountered a high-pressure press by a strong team. Even if Manchester United defends tough, they will not take the risk of pressing forward. Arsenal is even using wing counterattack tactics. Only today's Millwall made Chelsea suffer.
Unprecedented siege pressure.
They regrouped after conceding three goals in a row. Millwall's contraction gave them room to stabilize their mentality and rhythm. After they could calmly pass through the midfield, their offensive advantage began to be reflected.
It’s not difficult to understand. Chelsea’s main lineup has been relatively stable over the years. Even if there are changes every season, they have become stronger. For example, Flo replaced the aging Mark Hughes, who was close to retirement, Freire replaced Clark, and Desailly.
Replacing Duberry and more.
As long as after a period of running-in, it is confirmed that the new and old players can work together, the team's combat effectiveness will immediately appear.
In the 34th minute of the game, Poyet carried Lampard from outside the penalty area and took a long shot. The ball missed the crossbar and flew out of the baseline.
There was a sigh of disappointment in the stands at Stamford Bridge, but soon the fans applauded the team.
Trailing by three goals, Chelsea fans probably have no hope of reversing the score or evening the score. But if they don't score a goal against Millwall at home, they will be embarrassed.
Come in, damn, come in!
At least don’t lose your dignity too!
The bearded Bates in the VIP stands, his face as black as carbon, is a chairman who likes to show off. When looking forward to the game before the game, he said boldly: Chelsea has completely surpassed Millwall. The difference between us is only honor.
, but in the near future, Chelsea will also be far ahead on this point.
When the Chelsea Village he spent huge sums of money to build began to reap rewards after the team's performance improved, he couldn't wait to announce that the "Rome" he had spent so much effort to build could have a place in English football and European football.
But at this point in the game, the live broadcast cameras frequently pointed at Bates, seemingly mocking him.
Compared with Chelsea's large-scale borrowing and investment, whether in English football or European football circles, people appreciate Millwall's successful model more. Aldridge's team invests heavily in youth team construction every year. It is no exaggeration to say that,
Over the past four and a half years, Millwall has invested far more in youth training than the first team.
When the outside world analyzes Millwall's success, youth training is always regarded as one of the important factors. It is precisely because of the success of Millwall's youth training that the success of the first team is guaranteed, and this is better than many teams spending huge sums of money to introduce outstanding players.
The risk is lower.
The Football Association of England has also changed its tone. They used to be very grateful to Chelsea because Chelsea can bring late superstars to enhance the appeal of the Premier League and increase the visibility and influence of English football.
But now, they hope that other teams will follow Millwall's business model. Invest wisely and focus on youth training, especially the cultivation of local players.
Millwall is flocking to produce outstanding local players such as Lampard and Ferdinand. It has great hopes from the English football world, not to mention that there are also good prospects like Joe Cole and Carrick in the youth team waiting to grow up.
Taking the lead.
Bates remained silent in the stands. He was probably still congratulating himself on his wise decision. Before the game, Arthur sent a text message asking if Chelsea had a box and wanted to watch the game with him.
Bates reacted wisely, deleting the text messages and turning off his phone.
Otherwise, I would probably be ridiculed and ridiculed by that old gangster again.
With Chelsea's main attack, Millwall's counterattack became even sharper.
When Wise passed Flo's header and was caught by Butt, Butt rushed to the edge of the penalty area with the ball in his arms, and then threw the ball vigorously to Schnee, who was running forward at high speed from the right wing.
At the feet of virtue.
After Schneider got the ball, he no longer dribbled, but chose to pass the ball directly. Henry responded at the forward, and directly cut inside after getting the ball. His lightning speed could not be stopped. When the Chelsea fans in the stands were worried, they thought
When the team conceded the fourth goal, Henry's through ball outside the penalty area and Van Nistelrooy did not expect to go together. Van Nistelrooy wanted to take the ball, Henry gave the ball through, and Leboeuf easily chased the ball back.
Passed the ball to Freire.
Fanny and Henry looked at each other, Fanny pointed at his feet, and Henry sighed helplessly.
There's not enough tacit understanding.
After all, Henry has played too few official games since returning from injury. This is his second appearance and first start. His first assist on Nedved's ball was very safe. Nedved ran forward.
position, he passed the ball in front of Nedvěd, and he was sure of it.
But in this kind of counterattack, the choice of whether to pass the ball or pass the ball seems to be 55. If teammates do not have a tacit understanding, it is easy to make passing and running errors.
Before Millwall could lament that an excellent numerically balanced counterattack failed, Chelsea defended successfully and right back Freire dribbled the ball forward.
Ronaldinho originally sandwiched Petrescu, but Freire brought the ball forward and never passed it, so he could only step forward to harass him. Freire finally passed the ball, and the moment Ronaldinho stepped forward to grab it,
He passed the ball behind Ronaldinho.
Petrescu dribbled the ball and made a cross at 45 degrees. Flo grabbed the point and headed the ball to Poyet, who seemed to be about to take a long shot again. Makelele came in front of him.
Blocking the shooting space. But Poyet chose to pass the ball when the ball fell.
He wanted to pass the ball back to Flo, but the ball hit Makelele's leg during the pass, and the ball changed direction and rolled towards Zola by accident.
Southgate defended head-on. The moment Zola caught the ball, he pulled the ball 45 degrees and turned forward. Southgate faced such a small and fast opponent, and the ball rolled over unexpectedly. He stretched his feet a step too slowly.
, Zola brushed him past and shot towards the goal from a small angle!
"Zola shot, Butt made a contribution! Wise succeeded in the supplementary shot! Chelsea pulled one back before the end of the first half!"
Bute fell to the ground and saved Zola's shot, but Wise, who had moved forward when the attack started, was right in front of the goal line and sent the ball into the goal with a late shot.
After Wise scored, he immediately hugged the ball and ran back. He high-fived Zola on the way to celebrate.
Chelsea fans in the stands at Stamford Bridge were delighted.
It’s not easy, I finally scored!
Millwall's players were a little depressed about the goal they conceded, and it was hard to blame who was at fault.
Aldrich was on the sidelines with his hands on his hips and a calm look on his face.
He doesn't blame the players, and he shouldn't take it to heart when he loses the ball.
If Millwall had succeeded in the counterattack just now, the score would have been 0:4, not 1:3.
It's not that Millwall's defense has a problem. It's that Chelsea's offense has become strong to a certain extent.
If Millwall faces mid-to-lower teams, if they hold back and reduce the risk of being counterattacked by the opponent, then Millwall's probability of not conceding a goal is very high, almost 100%.
With frontal defense in a positional battle, the possibility of Millwall being breached by a mid-to-lower team is almost non-existent.
But if it is against the top seven teams in the league, even if Millwall stops playing, there is still the possibility of being penetrated by the opponent. The stronger the opponent, the higher the probability. This is normal, unless he replaces all the backcourt players.
Become a full-time defensive player.
After losing the ball, the players' mentality was still stable, there was no need to be anxious, and they were still leading by two goals.
Keep fighting. Don't panic.
When they played Inter Milan, they didn't panic when they fell behind by two goals in the away game. Now they are still leading, so their mentality will not be greatly affected.
Chelsea got a goal back and their morale was restored a lot. The first half was coming to an end, but they refused to waste a minute. As soon as Millwall kicked off, they all rushed to press, and Lampard made a decisive long pass.
, Ruud van Nistelrooy was carrying Desailly on his back in the forward line. The latter took off and headed the ball to clear the ball, but the ball fell at the feet of Nedvěd.
Di Matteo immediately went to grab Nedvěd, who accelerated and threw away Di Matteo.
When Nedvěd brought the ball to the penalty area, because he was attacking head-on, the attack benefited from Chelsea's header to clear the ball. Desailly and Leboeuf were not in good positions, and they were parallel, so Desailly
Leigh gave up Ruud van Nistelrooy and turned to press Nedvěd.
As soon as he made a move, Nedvěd chose to go straight behind him.
Van Nistelrooy took the ball, faced the goalkeeper alone, and easily pushed the ball into the goal.
But after the goal, Ruud heard the referee's whistle, indicating that he was offside.
Ruud turned his head and saw that the linesman was holding a flag, indicating that he was offside.
Leboeuf just knew that as long as Desailly went up, it would be too late for him to keep an eye on Ruud Ruud, so he chose to step forward and take a gamble!
He won the bet. Due to the positional conditions between him and Desailly, when Nedved passed through, Ruud van Nistelrooy was just offside, just one body away.
The Lions fans in the stands were unhappy.
In fact, their minds are relatively "fragile" now. As long as there is a penalty that is not conducive to them, they will feel oppressed. The match against Wimbledon did too much damage to their minds, as if there is a lingering wave.
A shadow hangs over my heart.
Ruud van Nistelrooy's goal was disallowed, and the Lions fans booed the referee excitedly.
Aldridge accepted this reality calmly. He observed the game. Although he could not see it as clearly as the linesman, he did observe Leboeuf's forward movement when Ruud van Nistelrooy moved. Wait for the midfielder
Watch the replay during the break to confirm. If there is a dispute, he will communicate with the referee. After all, the referee's law enforcement is allowed to have errors.
With the danger just now, Chelsea did not dare to attack too hard. The first half of the game was uneventful. Millwall entered the dressing room with a two-goal advantage.
The team pulled one back before the end of the first half, which made Vialli's face look much better. He turned and walked into the tunnel with a solemn look on his face. It seemed that the expectations for the second half were very high, and he understood it deeply.
, the game between Chelsea and Millwall is by no means an ordinary game, it may be more important than the championship!
