I Am Jose-Chapter 181 - : We Have No Trouble

Although José didn't see the Copa del Rey as particularly important, suffering consecutive defeats in both La Liga and the cup within just two weeks had left Mallorca fans deeply concerned. The end of their perfect home record before the winter break further shook their confidence. Since Mallorca had exceeded expectations earlier in the season, their recent inconsistency made fans feel as if the team was "returning to its original form."

The media, however, remained cautious in their assessments. They weren't blind—they could see that Mallorca had significantly improved compared to last season. The recent struggles weren't insurmountable problems but merely a dip in form. Under such circumstances, a single victory might be enough to restore Mallorca to their early-season rhythm.

When a team performs well in the first half of the season but struggles in the second, there are usually a few explanations. First, their early success might have been due to other teams' unfamiliarity with them—many newly promoted teams start strong but struggle once opponents adapt. Second, they could have lost key players to injury or transfers, as seen with Hoffenheim, whose form collapsed after Vedad Ibišević got injured. Third, a widespread loss of motivation among players could lead to a drastic decline in performance.

Mallorca's recent slump didn't fall into any of these categories. Their tactics were well-drilled, so opponents weren't suddenly figuring them out. They hadn't suffered major injuries or player departures. And with the World Cup approaching, motivation wasn't an issue—whether or not they cared about Mallorca's results, players certainly cared about their spots in their national teams.

In short, Mallorca was facing only minor setbacks, not a crisis.

For Athletic Bilbao, their upcoming away match against Mallorca was a must-win. After 20 league rounds, they sat third with 34 points, just two behind Mallorca. A victory would propel them into second place. From first-place Real Madrid to ninth-place Real Betis, every team had their eyes set on a top-four finish and a Champions League spot—a prize too lucrative to ignore.

The league table was chaotic:

Real Madrid: 38 points

Mallorca: 36 points

Celta Vigo: 34 points

Betis (9th place): 32 points

Teams ranked 4th to 8th (Celta, Barcelona, Valencia, Alavés, Deportivo) all had 33 points.

With such tight competition, beating direct rivals became crucial.

José saw this match as an opportunity to break Mallorca's slump, while Bilbao aimed to eliminate a competitor and strengthen their own Champions League bid. Having spent four or five days in Mallorca due to a midweek Copa del Rey match, Bilbao had also adapted to the local climate.

The media predicted an even contest—Bilbao was unlikely to break Mallorca's home dominance, but Mallorca would also struggle to overcome the relentless Basques.

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"If we go all-out in an end-to-end battle, we fear no one. But there's no need to go toe-to-toe with them. What's our advantage against Bilbao? Technique and midfield control. So in this game, don't rush attacks. Keep possession, wear them down, and when they grow impatient—strike hard."

José laid out his tactical approach, his keen insight into human psychology once again shaping his game plan.

He fielded a technical midfield trio—Ronaldinho, Motta, and Rufete—replacing Kaladze with Pablo García, whose job was to shield Motta and allow the other three to flourish. At right-back, Campano started to shore up the defense, ensuring Bilbao couldn't easily break through the midfield. In the box, José wasn't too concerned—while Urzaiz was a Spanish international, he wasn't an unstoppable striker. Van Buyten and Nadal were enough to handle him.

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As expected, Bilbao came out pressing aggressively, hoping to catch Mallorca off guard.

"I've seen this before," José thought dismissively.

This strategy was only effective when unexpected. With prior preparation, its impact was limited. José had enough experience both countering and using such tactics.

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The solution? Stability and patience.

Mallorca maintained their shape, allowing Bilbao space on the flanks but protecting the box and the area in front of it. They forced Bilbao into crossing repeatedly, neutralizing wave after wave of attacks.

Once they weathered the storm, Mallorca started passing the ball around midfield, gradually sapping Bilbao's energy. High-pressing football required relentless pressure in the final third, but against a team with skilled midfielders calmly circulating possession, such efforts were wasted and physically draining.

Realizing their press wasn't working, Bilbao adjusted, slowing down their pressure. At that moment, Mallorca seized their opportunity.

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Motta received the ball and, instead of passing, boldly carried it forward. His unexpected surge caught Bilbao off guard, and only when he neared the center circle did they close him down.

Unfazed, Motta calmly passed left to Ronaldinho. With a quick turn and a delicate left-footed flick, Ronaldinho sent a cross-field pass to Rufete on the right wing.

Rufete sprinted onto the ball, took a touch forward, glanced up at the box, and delivered a curling cross from 45 degrees out.

The ball arced over the near post. In the middle, Eto'o's leap drew defenders' attention. Then, charging from deep, Albert Luque dived forward for a header!

The ball rocketed past the Bilbao goalkeeper. The stadium erupted!

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"Albert Luque! Again, Luque! His form has been sensational! From before the winter break until now, he's been Mallorca's brightest star! Camacho, take him to the World Cup!"

The Spanish television commentator was ecstatic.

Luque had now scored in ten consecutive La Liga matches, netting 11 goals in that stretch. With 15 league goals overall, he trailed only Diego Tristán and Fernando Morientes in the scoring charts. Remarkably, the top three scorers in La Liga were all Spanish—a rare sight in recent years.

With Celta's newly naturalized Catanha, Espanyol's Tamudo, Bilbao's Urzaiz, and Real Madrid's Raúl also among the top ten, seven of the league's top ten scorers were Spanish—only Barcelona's Kluivert and Saviola and Deportivo's Makaay represented foreign strikers.

Luque was ecstatic. He wasn't known for prolific scoring, but this season, he had outscored even Eto'o by five goals. A Pichichi Trophy would guarantee his spot in Spain's World Cup squad.

Sprinting to the stands, Luque turned and embraced Rufete, whose perfect cross had made the goal possible.

José clapped twice, then glanced at his watch. 35 minutes in. Mallorca had sapped Bilbao's energy before pouncing at the right moment—a clear sign that his players were regaining form.

Bilbao might have been third in the table, but if Mallorca was at their best, José was confident they could beat anyone at home.

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With the lead secured, victory was within reach.

In the second half, Mallorca continued controlling the midfield, never rushing but striking fast when opportunities arose. This unpredictable rhythm unsettled Bilbao, and Mallorca's dominance grew.

In the 70th minute, Rufete burst into the box and was fouled—penalty! Ronaldinho calmly slotted it home, 2–0.

In stoppage time, Rufete's corner found Van Buyten, who powered in a header—3–0! Mallorca crushed Bilbao, solidifying their hold on second place.

At the post-match press conference, José smiled.

"It's great to see our players back in form. This is a crucial period for us. God hasn't abandoned us. In the league and the Champions League, we'll push for even better results.

We have no trouble.

We never did."