Chapter 32: A Big Win and the Troubles It Brings

Puel shook his head helplessly. At this stage of the match, there was nothing a coach could do to turn things around. Two goals down, one man short on the field—if they attacked, it would only invite more goals from the opponent. If they defended, they were already two goals behind. No matter what choice he made, the situation was dire.

But Mallorca had no intention of ending the game there. Two goals? That wasn't enough—not even close.

After congratulating Stankovic on his hat trick, the Mallorca players resumed their relentless attacks. Despite Stankovic's popularity within the team, no one wanted to see him hog all the glory. Now that he had his hat trick, it was their turn to shine. With Monaco down a man, it was the perfect time to hit them while they were down.

And so, embodying the spirit of "kick the dog when it's down," the Mallorca players pummeled Monaco's defense mercilessly. Meanwhile, Puel shouted instructions for his team to retreat and defend. Losing by two goals was still better than losing by more.

José subbed in two fresh defenders, replacing the fatigued fullbacks to prevent counterattacks. Then he stood on the sideline, shouting at his players to keep up the pressure. "One more goal, and we can seal this tie once and for all!"

Monaco endured over ten minutes of relentless bombardment but couldn't hold out.

Eto'o, who had drifted to the wing, received a pass from Ibagaza. He powered through the defense, reached the byline, and sent a cross into the box. Tristan rose high, outjumping Monaco's defenders, and smashed a header past Barthez. 4-1!

Tristan finally got his goal, and his stoppage-time header secured Mallorca's dominant 4-1 victory, effectively putting one foot in the UEFA Cup quarterfinals—a nearly perfect win.

On the sidelines, José pumped his fists emphatically. Mallorca's attacking line had been brilliant. Tristan scored, Stankovic netted a hat trick, and Eto'o, though he didn't score, showcased his speed and skill, winning two penalties and assisting Tristan's goal. He'd completed a "hat trick of assists," proving his value and role within the team, even if his explosive scoring ability hadn't fully emerged.

With Tristan as a strong finisher, and Eto'o able to support as well as score, Mallorca's attack was formidable.

When the referee blew the final whistle, the Son Moix Stadium erupted into a sea of joy. The Mallorca fans seemed to relive last season's magical run to the Cup Winners' Cup final.

"Great game, mate," said Puel, showing sportsmanship despite the loss. "But don't think we'll give up at home next week."

"Every European game is tough," José replied with a smile as they shook hands. After Puel left, José turned to the stands and raised his arms, riling up the crowd.

"Celebrate to your heart's content! Now's the time to be happy and wild!"

The cheers grew louder. For Mallorca fans, who had endured a rough first half of the season, the last month had been pure heaven. They didn't care how long their joy would last. All they wanted was to enjoy this exciting night to the fullest.

"Diego, Samuel, Jovan... fantastic work!" José said as he walked onto the field, patting his players on the shoulder and smiling at each of them.

By sacrificing a league match, José had achieved a resounding European victory. He knew this would solidify his authority in the players' eyes. For the foreseeable future, they'd follow his lead without question.

In the Spanish media the next day:

"After intentionally sacrificing their away match against Deportivo La Coruña, José's Mallorca bounced back spectacularly in the first leg of the UEFA Cup Round of 16. Despite conceding in the first minute, they calmly turned the game around with a free kick and two penalties. Veteran midfielder Jovan Stankovic scored a hat trick, and Tristan's late header sealed a 4-1 win over Monaco. This commanding victory has all but guaranteed Mallorca's spot in the quarterfinals. José's tactical awareness is remarkable. The young coach knows exactly how to pick his battles…"

Meanwhile, other Spanish teams in the UEFA Cup struggled. League leaders Deportivo were thrashed 5-1 by Arsenal, with Bergkamp, Kanu, and Henry running riot. Though Djalminha scored a penalty, Deportivo's chances of advancing were slim. Celta Vigo lost 1-0 away to Juventus, and Atlético Madrid only managed a 2-2 home draw against Lens. Mallorca, the smallest of the four teams, was suddenly Spain's only hope in the competition.

While Mallorca fans basked in the praise, José was less than thrilled.

"These reporters are such troublemakers," he fumed.

By painting Mallorca as the "heart and soul of Spanish football," the media had inadvertently made them a target. Other La Liga teams, already unimpressed by Mallorca's rise, would now take them even more seriously, determined to knock them down a peg.

Three days later, Mallorca faced sixth-place Zaragoza in La Liga. Eto'o scored early from Tristan's header, but Zaragoza fought back fiercely, earning a penalty to equalize. Despite Zaragoza going down to nine men in the second half, Mallorca couldn't break through their packed defense. The match ended 1-1—a frustrating result, even if a draw against a top team was acceptable.

In the post-match press conference, José said nothing, his cold demeanor warning the press not to push him.

"Zaragoza's performance wasn't normal," said assistant coach Natal privately. "They usually don't fight so hard when trailing."

"Didn't you see the media hyping them up these past few days?" José snapped. "Calling them brave and honorable—those idiots let it get to their heads!"

After venting, José shook his head. "Our problem is still breaking down defenses. Our fullbacks aren't great attackers, and we can't rely solely on our forwards. But with our current squad, what can we do? We can't ask these old legs to bomb up and down the pitch all game."

As they flew to France for the second leg against Monaco, Natal asked, "So, defensive counterattack next game?"

José chewed on his gum, thought for a moment, then shook his head. "No... we're going all out."

"All out?" Natal was baffled. With a three-goal cushion, defense seemed like the logical approach.

"Exactly! Puel knows how we play. With three goals down, they'll throw everything forward at home. We'll hit them head-on, score a couple early goals, and decide the tie right there. After that, we'll dictate how the game goes."

"But… what if they score first?" Natal asked cautiously.

"We've got a three-goal cushion! One goal won't kill us. If we score, they'll need four just to draw. Two, and they'll need six to win. It's simple math—this is a gamble worth taking!" José laughed.

Natal hesitated but had to admit... the logic was hard to argue with.