Chapter 65: Tactical Moves

"Wow! What just happened is truly a spectacle! First, Mallorca hit the post right at the start of the second half, then Arsenal quickly counterattacked, and Kion missed a sitter from practically point-blank range! Both teams narrowly avoided disaster! It's exhilarating—I'm sure many fans' hearts are still racing. This is the beauty of football—who would've thought that Mallorca's first threatening attack nearly resulted in a goal? And no one could have predicted that after creating a solid goal-scoring chance, they'd almost concede right away..."

"Luck still favors Mallorca! Although Tristan's shot that hit the post was unfortunate, slow-motion replay shows that his shot actually grazed Adams' foot. Arsenal's defense did everything they could to block Mallorca's attack, but when it came to Arsenal's counter, Mallorca could barely mount any defense. Kion, however, missed a clear-cut chance. The score is still 0-0, meaning the match remains in a stalemate!"

In reality, both of these attacks left both teams' coaches and players in shock.

Arsenal was surprised by Mallorca's attacking power—Tristan's shot hitting the post showed they had the ability to score against them. Even though that attack had a bit of luck due to Arsenal's defenders being caught off guard, the Mallorca players were keenly aware that if they pushed forward and got caught by a counter, Arsenal's attack could be terrifying. Despite Mallorca's defense staying solid throughout, they still created a killer chance. Fortunately, the coach had opted for a defensive strategy; if it had been a back-and-forth exchange with the opponent, the defense might have already been torn apart...

This scare was a valuable lesson for Mallorca: even Eto'o and Tristan realized that it was better to play it safe with defense…

So after everyone's emotions were stirred up, they were disappointed to see the match return to a boring deadlock, with Mallorca's tight defense and Arsenal having no effective solution.

The only difference from the first half was that Mallorca's defense was even more resolute and stable!

Arsenal's players continued their patient attacks. Following Wenger's instructions during halftime, they first tried breaking through the flanks, then suddenly switched sides to mount another attack, but the results weren't good. Mallorca's defense was a collective effort, and their numbers allowed them to quickly concentrate force in key areas, covering any gaps with only a few steps.

After a few attempts at this back-and-forth approach, Arsenal's players realized this wasn't effective. They returned to their previous attacking method—relentlessly pressuring Mallorca's defense, hoping to create cracks in the wall with constant force. It was the simplest approach, yet, in some ways, the most effective.

Although Mallorca's defensive wall seemed unbreakable, it wasn't the "Wall of Sighs" from Greek mythology (a wall separating the underworld from the paradise).

José bit his lip. This was the critical moment. He could tell Arsenal's players were starting to show signs of fatigue. Such intense attacking could not be maintained for long, and after a few more attacks, their momentum would surely start to wane. That's when Mallorca, whose players were in top condition, would have the upper hand!

Whether it was the schedule or other factors, Mallorca had the advantage. The adjustments made earlier had brought their players into peak physical condition. José was putting everything on the final fifteen minutes!

The earlier part of the game was all about gritting their teeth and withstanding the pressure!

Wenger's expression grew more serious. He knew the importance of this period. He believed in his players and trusted they wouldn't let him down.

And his players didn't disappoint.

No matter how good Mallorca's defense was, no team can play without flaws.

Minute 64:

Henry dropped back to receive the ball, drawing Mallorca's attention before suddenly passing to the left to Overmars. The Dutch winger immediately surged toward the byline.

Stankovic and Olešola desperately blocked Overmars' route but failed to stop him from finding space and delivering a cross!

Back post—again, the back post!

The ball flew over the heads of players at the near post and the center, landing at the far post. Parlor, arriving late, used his pace to shake off Soler and volleyed it!

Wenger nearly raised his arms in celebration, but then—Parlor's shot flew high over the bar...

"Oh! Another miss! Arsenal created two great chances from crosses on the left to players arriving at the far post, but both were fired over the bar! What a shame! Mallorca's luck is unbelievable!"

Among the gasps of relief from Mallorca fans and the disappointed sighs from Arsenal supporters, José sat back, clutching his pounding heart. Two missed chances back-to-back couldn't be a coincidence...

Then, it dawned on José why: Mallorca's right-back, Miguel Soler, was nearing thirty-six. While his experience and positioning were solid, his speed had declined drastically. In general defense, he was still reliable, but when it came to defending against late runs, he was often left behind.

However, there weren't many good full-backs on the bench. The best option was Armando, a twenty-seven-year-old left-back, but he couldn't play on the right. Should he move Olešola to the right? He was capable of playing both flanks...

But José quickly dismissed this idea. Such a move would only disrupt the balance. With all the previous lessons, José was not foolish enough to make such last-minute positional changes, especially not switching Olešola's role mid-game.

After considering his options, José's gaze shifted to Mota on the bench. Though not a full-back, Mota was a defensive midfielder—young, strong, and defensively solid. He had received defensive training for over a year, so he could contribute effectively at the back.

And there was also Francisco Soler, another midfielder, who could play full-back with no issues defensively.

"Get ready, Thiago," José called out to Mota.

Mota was taken aback. He hadn't played in the league in months, and he thought he was just there to warm the bench. But now, he might actually get a chance to play…

Once José gave him a confident nod, Mota quickly sprinted to warm up, though he kept to his usual thorough routine. José had often reminded him, "You suffered a major injury when you were young, and though it healed, it left your body a bit more fragile. I'm not a doctor, but I can tell you—thorough warm-ups before each match reduce the chances of injury."

Mota had full faith in this advice.

After sending Mota to warm up, José turned to the bench again and called for Luke and Armando to prepare as well. Luke could play left-midfield, and Armando was a left-back. Arsenal had been heavily attacking Mallorca's left side, and Overmars had been particularly dangerous. Olešola's stamina was starting to fail, and Stankovic's was dropping due to constant tracking back.

"Once you're on, partner with Vicente in the midfield. Your main job is defense. If you get possession, link up with Vicente, but if they press you hard, quickly pass the ball to Diego or Samuel up front. Armando, you'll take Miguel's place at right-back. Your task is to defend. Nothing else. Got it?"

Mota nodded firmly. He was a smart player, which was why he had once played a key role at Barcelona under Guardiola.

When the world's commentators saw José replacing the veteran right-back Soler with an 18-year-old midfielder, they thought José had lost his mind. But within minutes, when Francisco Soler moved to right-back, and Mallorca's defense became more solid, everyone realized the genius of José's decision...

In contrast to José's quick and decisive adjustments, Wenger's changes came later. It wasn't until the 74th minute that he substituted Kanu for Bergkamp, hoping Kanu's height could create some opportunities.

However, as soon as Kanu entered, Nino stuck to him, and despite being five centimeters shorter, Nino's physical strength gave him the upper hand. Moreover, Kanu wasn't known for his heading ability...

"If Wenger is hoping Kanu's arrival will lead to a goal, he's probably being too optimistic. Kanu has never been a powerful striker, and his technical footwork is actually quite good. Against Mallorca's tight defense, his impact has been minimal. If Bergkamp were still on the field, maybe his brilliance would have solved the problem..."

As the commentators speculated, the deadlock continued. Arsenal's relentless attacks couldn't break Mallorca's defense, and even though Mota's presence provided an outlet in midfield, Arsenal's aggressive pressing prevented him from showing his strengths. Yet his imposing physical presence proved useful at the back.

"Alright, that's enough," José glanced at the clock. Arsenal's attacks were slowing down now. It seemed they were preparing to save energy for one final assault!

The match was nearing the 80th minute. The counterattack José had been waiting for was now almost upon them!