I Am Jose-Chapter 123 - : Carving a Bloody Path

Mallorca did not disappoint their supporters. In the following minutes, they pushed forward aggressively without hesitation.

Their attack was direct and fast-paced, constantly testing Valencia's highly regarded defense. Meanwhile, Valencia wasn't sitting back either. Every time Mallorca launched an attack, Valencia responded with one of their own, using counterattacks to relieve the pressure on their defense.

"I just realized that both teams' attacking setups are quite similar," Hidalgo commented. "Each side has a deep-lying playmaker and an advanced playmaker leading the attack—Mallorca has Thiago Motta and Ronaldinho, while Valencia relies on Gaizka Mendieta and Pablo Aimar. Up front, Mallorca's main attacking threat is Samuel Eto'o, while Valencia's focal point is John Carew. Their second strikers—whether it's Mista or Angulo—are more about movement and link-up play. Both teams also have a pacy winger, with the emphasis on Mallorca's right flank."

"Clearly, both managers have realized they can't completely neutralize each other tactically, so they've opted for an end-to-end battle," Bones added. "For Héctor Cúper, this makes sense because Valencia is the stronger side. But for José... well, I have to admire his courage."

José wasn't just relying on blind bravery—he recognized Valencia's quality but also believed his squad was just as talented. The only thing they lacked was experience, and only high-intensity matches could accelerate their development.

Cúper's decision to play an open game suited José perfectly.

Valencia was a whetstone, and Mallorca's players could only become sharper by going up against them.

Valencia's defensive organization was top-tier. Even though Cúper encouraged his team to attack more in this match, their backline remained a cohesive unit, stronger than Mallorca's had been last season.

But it was precisely this high-level defense that could push Mallorca's attack to new heights.

Ronaldinho faced a more structured defensive setup. Eto'o had to deal with tighter marking. Motta had to navigate a tougher midfield battle. Defense had always been Valencia's calling card under Cúper—he had instilled a defensive identity in Mallorca before moving to Valencia and reinforcing their already solid backline.

Mallorca kept attacking like relentless waves crashing against a seawall. Even though each attempt seemed to break apart, they regrouped and surged forward again, undeterred by setbacks.

Despite Valencia's counterattacks, Mallorca maintained their intensity. Alongside their quick passing in the final third, their most technically gifted players looked to take on defenders one-on-one to break through.

Ronaldinho, Ibagaza, and Eto'o were the main threats in this regard.

In the 24th minute, Motta played a well-timed pass, and Ronaldinho surged forward through the middle.

With Aimar playing well, Ronaldinho wasn't about to be overshadowed. Even though he was younger, he didn't believe he was inferior—in fact, he saw himself as the better player.

Valencia had taken note of his threat. As soon as he picked up speed, their defense quickly moved into position.

David Albelda was the first to engage. Since joining Valencia this season, he had quickly made people forget about Gerardo—he was more physical, more aggressive, and a stronger defender overall.

Mendieta formed the second line of defense, with Aimar also tracking back from the side. Valencia's three-man coverage was well-drilled and disciplined.

But Ronaldinho kept driving forward. Just as the trap was about to close around him, he executed two step-overs, then flicked the ball with the outside of his left foot, slipping it between Albelda and Mendieta.

Visit freewebnoveℓ.com for the best novel reading exp𝒆rience.

"Great pass!" José shouted from the touchline. The flair was impressive, but what truly mattered to him was the timing and accuracy of the pass.

The ball zipped past the white shirts and landed precisely at the feet of Eto'o.

Eto'o had defenders closing in—Angloma from the side and Ayala straight ahead.

It wasn't the ideal receiving position, but his two markers weren't particularly quick.

Angloma, the French veteran, was solid defensively but lacked pace. Ayala, while agile and experienced, had shown in the 1998 World Cup—when Michael Owen famously breezed past him—that acceleration wasn't his strong suit.

The moment Eto'o controlled the ball, he burst forward, shaking off Angloma slightly. Now, all his focus was on Ayala.

Both had played in the 1998 World Cup, but back then, Ayala was already a star and a leader for Argentina, while Eto'o was barely getting minutes for Cameroon.

Now, Eto'o was ready to take him on.

With the ball at his feet, he gradually increased his pace, closing in on Ayala.

"Go past him, Samuel. You can do this..." José muttered to himself, his fists clenched.

This scenario had been covered in pre-match preparations. Ayala wasn't a traditional sweeper staying deep—he often stepped up to challenge attackers one-on-one. Beating him meant a clear path to goal.

And that's exactly what Eto'o planned to do.

As he neared Ayala, he dipped his left shoulder and shifted the ball to the right in one swift motion, going for a pure speed-based take-on—almost identical to Owen's famous goal against Argentina.

Eto'o knew Ayala had likely studied that moment from 1998. But knowing and stopping were two different things. He trusted his pace to win the battle.

In terms of experience, Ayala had the edge. But in terms of raw speed, Eto'o feared no one—not even Owen.

If Owen could do it, so could he.

He accelerated even more at the critical moment, just enough to evade Ayala's outstretched leg. The Argentine's sliding tackle missed, and Eto'o left him behind.

With Ayala beaten, Eto'o charged into the box.

The Mallorca fans erupted, chanting rhythmically: "Go! Go! Go!"

Ronaldinho's flashy dribbles had their own appeal, but Eto'o's raw speed had a beauty of its own.

Mauricio Pellegrino scrambled over to cover, but Eto'o didn't slow down. He simply pushed the ball past him and sprinted through.

Fighting through the defense!

It was just a dribble, but the sheer determination made it feel like a battle. Eto'o's face, tense with effort, resembled a predator breaking free from a storm of challenges.

Santiago Cañizares had no choice but to rush out. With both center-backs beaten, staying on his line wasn't an option.

Cañizares wasn't just any goalkeeper—he was Spain's number one, even keeping Iker Casillas on the bench.

The veteran shot-stopper launched himself forward, exuding the same kind of presence as Oliver Kahn at his best.

But Eto'o wasn't intimidated—his focus was solely on the ball.

After his sprint, the ball had slightly rolled ahead of him. But his long strides quickly caught up to it, and he struck it cleanly with his left foot.

A low shot. The ball skimmed the turf, zipping toward the far post.

Cañizares had already started his dive, but he was a fraction too slow.

The ball slipped under his arm and rolled toward goal.

A desperate last-ditch effort from Amedeo Carboni came too late—the ball rolled past his outstretched foot and into the net.

For a moment, Estadi de Son Moix erupted like a volcano.

José leaped into the air, letting out a triumphant roar.

What a goal! Eto'o's blistering pace and finishing were on full display.

The "African Cheetah" had lived up to his name.

Eto'o ran straight to the stands, arms wide, pounding his chest over the Mallorca badge, shouting at the fans.

Mallorca had given him a chance to shine. His best way to repay them was with goals.

José clenched his fists and pumped them into the air. His team was sharpening their edge against Valencia's defense.

And at the tip of that blade was Samuel Eto'o.

After scoring a goal like this, he would never be the same player again.