I Am Jose-Chapter 190 - : The Streak is Over

After returning from France, Mallorca resumed full-team training. Franco rejoined the starting lineup, much to the relief of the defenders, as his presence eased the pressure on the backline.

Franco was visibly happy to be back on the training ground. During his injury layoff, he had worried about being sidelined for an extended period, which could have cost him a place in the World Cup. Fortunately, he recovered in less than a month, leaving him with two to three months to prove himself before the season ended. The national team was still within reach.

Roa, on the other hand, was much more relaxed. He no longer had ambitions for the national team. Had he not retired earlier, he might have continued as Argentina's first-choice goalkeeper for the next World Cup. However, after such a long absence—even missing the Copa América—there was no way the national team would recall him. Now, his focus was on playing a few more years to secure his post-retirement future.

With these circumstances, Mallorca's training sessions had a calm and steady atmosphere, which was exactly what José wanted. The upcoming fixtures were intense, with consecutive weeks of midweek and weekend matches, a crucial period for Mallorca's season. Franco's return from injury was a timely boost.

Mallorca's schedule included a league match against Sevilla on February 24, a Champions League clash with Nantes on February 27, an away game against Rayo Vallecano on March 3, a home match against Osasuna on March 10, a Champions League battle with Bayern on March 14, an away fixture against Tenerife on March 17, a Champions League trip to Boavista on March 20, and a home game against Real Sociedad on March 24. Eight matches in one month, with only one midweek break, posed a massive test of endurance.

Every team chasing glory had to face such challenges. Those who could endure them proved their worth as elite clubs. José understood that, in this stretch, the league was the real priority. Mallorca had already secured seven points in the Champions League group stage, meaning qualification was within reach as long as they didn't collapse. The league, however, required careful management to accumulate enough points before the Champions League knockout rounds began.

The upcoming league opponents were not particularly strong. Tenerife, Rayo Vallecano, and Real Sociedad were fighting relegation, while Osasuna and Sevilla were mid-table teams. Taking maximum points from these matches would allow Mallorca to approach tougher fixtures with more strategic flexibility.

Sevilla, a newly promoted side, had performed well, ranking second-best among the promoted teams. Real Betis, another promoted team, was the standout, sitting fifth in the league. Sevilla was comfortably mid-table, while Tenerife struggled at the bottom and was likely to be relegated.

This week was crucial. After four winless matches, facing weaker teams was the perfect opportunity to stabilize the squad.

The day before the match, José announced the starting lineup. Franco's return to the starting XI was the biggest highlight. José also rested Jorge and Rufete on the right flank, opting for Campano and Novo. In midfield, Motta was given a break, with Pablo García and Kaladze joining Novo in a three-man setup. Ronaldinho was pushed into a forward role as Mallorca lined up in a 4-3-3 formation.

As Franco stepped onto the pitch, Mallorca fans greeted him with warm applause. He raised both hands in acknowledgment. Over the past two years, he had matured into a reliable goalkeeper. Though not a household name, he was a reassuring presence for Mallorca's defense. Despite changes in the backline, Franco had built strong chemistry with every defender, never missing a beat.

From the opening whistle, Mallorca launched a fierce attack, fueled by the passionate home crowd. Despite lacking Motta's support, Novo distributed the ball well, creating numerous opportunities. However, José soon noticed an imbalance in the attack. Ronaldinho naturally drifted to the left, as did Luke, who often cut inside from the left flank. Meanwhile, Kaladze also operated on the left side of midfield. This caused Mallorca's attack to become too left-sided, leaving the right flank underutilized.

Eto'o, though capable of playing on the right, was a traditional center-forward. Novo's positioning was more central, making the attack less fluid. Seeing this, José shouted instructions for Eto'o to move to the right while keeping Luke in a central role. The adjustment made the attack more structured and balanced.

This match highlighted a need for reinforcements on the right wing. While Mallorca had right-sided players, none were truly elite. Rufete was reliable, but Novo lacked his quality. Novo's strengths suited a more central role, making him a better backup for Ronaldinho. As for Rufete's substitute, either Jorge or Campano could fill in, given their versatility on the right.

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Despite the initial imbalance, Mallorca's attack was still too much for newly promoted Sevilla. After all, this Sevilla team was far from the dominant force that would later win two UEFA Cups.

In the 37th minute, Eto'o burst down the right flank and sent in a cross. Luke's header was saved, and the defender's clearance fell to Novo, who struck a first-time volley past the scrambling goalkeeper. The crowd erupted in celebration, and Novo pumped his fists, fueling the fans' excitement.

Novo wasn't as skilled as Rufete in dribbling, control, or crossing, but his ability to make late runs into the box and score from distance made him a fan favorite. However, from a tactical perspective, Rufete's contributions were more valuable. Mallorca already had several midfielders with goal-scoring ability, including Motta and Kaladze, both of whom could strike from distance while also providing defensive coverage. Novo remained a useful backup.

José pondered Novo's potential. His work rate was average, and his movement wasn't particularly active. If he had a better engine, he might thrive in a Chelsea-style system, developing into a Lampard-like player.

After taking the lead, Mallorca maintained their offensive pressure. The players wanted to minimize Franco's workload in his return match. Keeping Sevilla on the defensive was the best way to protect their own goal.

The recent four-match winless streak wasn't entirely Roa's fault. A lack of attacking pressure had left the defense overexposed. Football was always a balance between attack and defense.

Despite the squad rotation, Mallorca's attacking threat remained potent. With the front three intact, their offense could trouble any opponent.

Just before halftime, Mallorca's three forwards combined beautifully. Luke's off-ball movement drew two defenders on the left, allowing Ronaldinho to slip a pass to the center. Eto'o, making a well-timed run from the right, slotted the ball past the keeper to double the lead.

Eto'o spread his arms and ran in celebration, soaking in the cheers. Luke joined him, though his emotions were mixed. After scoring in eleven straight league matches, he had now gone four games without a goal. Mallorca was on the verge of breaking their winless streak, but his personal goal drought continued.

At halftime, José praised Luke. "You played well in the first half, Albert. Goals aren't everything. Your movement and passing helped the team a lot. I'm glad you remember what I told you in the youth team—helping the team doesn't always mean scoring."

Luke nodded. He understood his role in Mallorca's system. Though he was the starting striker, his job was to link midfield and attack, occasionally scoring. His earlier goal streak had come largely because Eto'o had been off form and played deeper, giving Luke more shooting opportunities. Now that Eto'o was back to his best, he naturally took more shots.

No one knew what Luke truly felt. Some players were destined to be supporting characters, but not everyone was content with that role. Everyone wanted to be the star.

However, with a World Cup on the horizon, Luke kept his thoughts to himself.

In the second half, Mallorca continued to control the game. Sevilla attempted a comeback but failed to break through. At the 70th minute, José made changes, bringing on Marcos, Klasnić, and Drogba to replace the front three, shifting to a counter-attacking approach to secure the win.

With Marcos on, Kaladze was free to push forward. Before, he had been the only defensive presence in midfield, but with García and Marcos providing cover, he could now showcase his attacking ability.

Kaladze's dribbling was average, but his late runs and powerful shots were excellent. Mallorca's attack revolved around Klasnić stretching the defense, Drogba holding the ball, and Kaladze and Novo finishing from deep. This strategy paid off when Drogba flicked on a header, and Kaladze smashed in a volley to seal the win.

As the final whistle blew and the crowd roared, José stood up. The streak was over. Four matches without a win were now history.