I Am Jose-Chapter 165 - : A Different Mallorca

"With a last-minute winner from Croatian striker Klasnić, Mallorca secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory at home against Villarreal, extending José's perfect home record as head coach! This win propelled Mallorca back to the top of the league, leading on goal difference, just ahead of newly promoted Real Betis! This season has been full of dark horse surprises—while Mallorca were last season's league runners-up, Betis achieving such success as a newly promoted side is reminiscent of Rayo Vallecano's stunning run two seasons ago..."

With this round of fixtures completed, Mallorca climbed to the top of the table, but José wasn't in a celebratory mood. Eto'o had received a red card, meaning an automatic one-match suspension. Even if Mallorca appealed, it was certain that Eto'o would miss the upcoming away game against Barcelona.

Barcelona had been in good form recently, remaining unbeaten with three wins and two draws, collecting 11 points and sitting in third place. Their newly formed attacking trio of Saviola, Kluivert, and Rivaldo was beginning to show its strength. Without their top scorer, Eto'o, the trip to Camp Nou was bound to be a tough challenge.

While Klasnić and Drogba were both capable forwards, they were nowhere near Eto'o's level. Drogba was still refining his finishing skills, and Klasnić was more of a wild card. With Eto'o suspended, José struggled to find a suitable strike partner for Luque.

Adding to his concerns, Mallorca had been drained from their hard-fought win against Villarreal while playing with a man down. After much consideration, José decided to set up in a 4-3-3 formation at Camp Nou, deploying three defensive midfielders—Kaladze, Motta, and Pablo García—to shield the backline, while the front three of Ronaldinho, Luque, and Klasnić were tasked with leading the attack.

However, things took a disastrous turn. In the first half alone, Mallorca's defense crumbled under Barcelona's relentless attack, conceding three goals. Luis Enrique scored twice, and Saviola added another, leaving Mallorca trailing 0-3 at halftime.

Though Mallorca fought back in the second half, with Ronaldinho assisting Luque and Kaladze for two goals, it wasn't enough to turn the tide. The match ended in a 2-3 defeat, marking Mallorca's second loss of the season and dropping them to fourth place in the standings.

José wasn't too concerned about their league position—early-season rankings fluctuated constantly. Even Real Madrid was still struggling outside the top ten. What troubled him more was that he had underestimated how difficult it would be for his squad to adapt to playing two matches a week.

The only good news? Upon returning from Barcelona, José discovered that Natal had finally come back.

And he wasn't alone. With him was the bearded goalkeeper, Roa.

"Welcome back to Mallorca, Carlos!" José greeted Roa with a broad smile, extending his hand.

Though the two hadn't interacted much before, they had crossed paths frequently. During Roa's final season at Mallorca, José had been the assistant coach for the latter half of the campaign, so they were at least familiar with each other.

But this time, José noticed something different about Roa.

Previously, Roa had been an outspoken and commanding presence, exuding confidence on the pitch. Off the field, despite his strong religious beliefs, he had always been a stubborn man—something José was well aware of.

Yet, after two years away from football, Roa seemed to have undergone a transformation. He now carried a calmness that was almost unrecognizable. Perhaps his time in seclusion had made him more introspective, so much so that José nearly didn't recognize him at first.

"I was foolish to believe in something so vague and uncertain," Roa said with a chuckle after they sat down.

"I sincerely apologize for the way my retirement affected the club back then. For the past two years, I've always felt that I owed Mallorca something... When Antonio came to find me and said the club needed me, I knew I had to return. Whatever contract you prepare is fine—I'll even accept a backup role."

Roa's straightforwardness put José at ease. Finding a reliable backup goalkeeper was not just about skill; personality was just as important. A backup unwilling to accept his role could easily disrupt team harmony.

After a brief discussion, the contract was settled—three years, with an annual salary of $150,000. Previously, Roa had earned $200,000 per year as a starter, but now as a backup, he had no issues taking a pay cut.

However, Roa wouldn't be able to play right away. Since the league and Champions League had already started, he wasn't registered and would have to wait until the winter transfer window to be officially included in the squad.

Not that it mattered to Roa. Having been out of the game for two years, he needed time to regain his form before stepping onto the pitch again.

With Natal helping Roa settle in, José shifted his focus to preparing for the next league match.

Roa's arrival added depth to Mallorca's bench, but it wouldn't immediately solve their current challenges. José knew his players simply needed time to adapt to the demands of playing two matches per week—once their bodies adjusted, things would improve.

Fortunately, their next match was at home against Zaragoza. Though not an easy opponent, they were still preferable to some of the league's top teams.

More importantly, after this match, the team would have a brief break—a crucial opportunity to recharge before diving into another grueling stretch of fixtures.

October 8

Wearing sunglasses, Roa sat quietly in a corner of the stadium. He had just settled in and hadn't even started training with the squad, but he wanted to see firsthand what Mallorca had become over the past two years.

He had been deeply familiar with the Mallorca of his time, playing two seasons with the club during its most successful years—finishing as Copa del Rey runners-up, third in La Liga, and UEFA Cup Winners' Cup runners-up.

However, over the past two years, Roa had lived in complete isolation, disconnected from the football world. Now, listening to Natal describe Mallorca's recent success, he was shocked. He knew Natal wouldn't lie—after all, these were facts—but it was still hard to believe just how much the club had changed.

That's why he had to see it for himself.

As the stadium erupted with cheers, Roa took a deep breath, feeling the electrifying match-day atmosphere he hadn't experienced in two years.

Today, José made some adjustments to the starting lineup—Gamarra partnered with Van Buyten at center-back, with Campano on the right and Kaladze on the left. Motta and García formed the double pivot in midfield, with Ronaldinho and Rufete on the wings. Up front, Eto'o returned to partner Luque in attack.

From the opening whistle, Mallorca launched wave after wave of attacks, relentlessly pressuring Zaragoza's defense. Eto'o, eager to make up for his suspension, was unstoppable—every time he took a shot, the crowd roared in approval.

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"The attacking play is actually this good?" Roa thought in amazement.

During his time at Mallorca under Héctor Cúper, the team had played some of the most uninspiring football in Spain. Their compact defensive setup and rapid counterattacks made them a nightmare for opponents, but they were far from entertaining.

Now, under José, Mallorca played breathtaking attacking football.

"Is this all because of José?"

Roa turned his gaze toward the touchline, where José was passionately orchestrating the game. He remembered José from his assistant coaching days—always quiet, always scribbling notes in his little notebook. Unlike Gómez, José rarely stood out. Back then, Roa had acknowledged José's coaching ability but never considered him exceptional.

Now, José had completely transformed Mallorca in just two seasons—turning them into a free-scoring, title-winning team without spending much money. This was something even Cúper had never achieved.

Roa had great respect for Cúper, but now, José seemed to be surpassing him.

At that moment, Roa knew—he had made the right decision in returning. Even as a backup, he was more than content.