Chapter 85: A Reality More Severe Than Expected

After promoting Mota and Luke to the first team, José proved that he wasn't just making empty promises. Both players were young and had shown great potential. Mota possessed excellent ball control, precise passing, and solid defensive skills, while Luke was an active runner with decent technique. Apart from being a threat in the box, he could also provide assists for teammates. Their talent was already apparent to Mallorca's veterans last season, and this season, they were continuing to improve.

"If Basques didn't use these two young talents, he deserved to be sacked," some Mallorca players secretly thought.

José's actions also reinforced his previous statement about bringing in new players to strengthen the squad. Today, he promoted talents from the youth team. Tomorrow, he could easily sign reinforcements from the transfer market. After all, it was no secret that Mallorca had a budget of $15 million for the winter transfer window. Club president Alemany had made a high-profile announcement about it, aiming to boost team morale and increase fan confidence in the club.

Another crucial reason for this announcement was to put pressure on some of the senior Mallorca players who had grown too comfortable.

José believed this was extremely important. Even clubs that had built dynasties needed to introduce fresh blood to maintain competitiveness and inject new energy. In recent seasons, Mallorca had sold several players, yet the core of the squad remained intact. A strong internal hierarchy had started to form—not fully visible yet, but José was already preparing for the future.

In the following days, José carefully observed his players' condition. This was a critical step. He needed to assess their current form to adjust his tactics accordingly.

His three years of professional coaching studies, combined with over two years of practical experience, had given him a sharp eye for evaluating players. Moreover, having worked with these players before, he had a deep understanding of their abilities, allowing him to make the best choices.

Through his observations, José realized that compared to last season, several players over the age of 30 had experienced a significant decline in form.

The most concerning case was captain N'Gonga. After winning the UEFA Cup last season and representing his national team in the Euros, he seemed to have lost his hunger for competition. His movements in training had slowed considerably—unsurprising for a player approaching 36. Furthermore, the actual age of African players often remained uncertain. His passport claimed he was born in 1965, but José wasn't entirely convinced…

Fortunately, despite his decline, N'Gonga's experience remained invaluable to Mallorca. He could also serve as a mentor for Mota, who was almost a carbon copy of him. That was precisely José's plan—having Mota learn firsthand from N'Gonga.

Among the other two veterans around 35, Nadal's form had not dipped much. Though he had lost a step in speed, his positioning and defensive awareness were still top-tier. At his current level, he could easily play another one or two seasons. With Nadal leading the defense, alongside the physically imposing Nino and the versatile Kaladze, Mallorca's center-back situation was stable.

The real issue lay with fullbacks.

Miguel Soler, the veteran fullback, had declined even more than N'Gonga. Years of bouncing between clubs seemed to have drained his motivation. His defensive performances were worsening, and Mallorca's defensive struggles were closely linked to the declining effectiveness of their fullbacks. Oleśola was somewhat reliable, but Soler had turned into a glaring defensive liability.

That night, José found himself in a dilemma.

Kaladze could fill in at left-back, but who would play on the right? Let Soler continue being a defensive black hole? Or shift Francisco Soler to that position? The team had enough cover for the defensive midfield role, with Mota and N'Gonga forming a capable double pivot. However, Francisco Soler, already aging, was a natural defensive midfielder, and if he played right-back, Mallorca would lose any attacking threat from that flank.

This wouldn't have been a major problem last season. But this season, José wanted the team to play more proactively, which made the issue a serious one.

"I'll have to wait for the winter transfer window and see if I can find the right player," José thought.

As for the attack, he wasn't too worried. Stanković was still available, and he, alongside Ibagaza, would form a strong creative duo on the wings. Once the transfer window opened, Ronaldinho would also join, providing another option.

Up front, however, Viagini was no longer reliable. His recent performances in training had been poor, and despite starting regularly, he wasn't scoring goals. On the other hand, Delgado could offer variety in attack, and Luke had the potential to be a starter. Plus, José had a top-choice striker in mind. The forward line was not a concern.

A Tactical Shift

José had no intention of sticking to last season's 4-4-2 flat formation. Back then, opponents were unfamiliar with him, and Mallorca's squad suited a defensive counterattacking approach. But now, things were different.

His impressive results last season had drawn attention. Opponents would be analyzing his coaching style under a microscope. Sticking to the same tactics would be foolish.

Last season, José had simply followed the foundation laid by his predecessor. But this season, he needed to establish his own tactical identity.

The once rock-solid defense—arguably one of Europe's top five—was now showing cracks, while the attacking options had improved. If he continued to rely on last season's ultra-defensive approach, he would lose respect for himself.

The day before their match against Numancia, José announced the starting lineup.

Burgos was dropped as the starting goalkeeper, replaced by Franco. The back four remained unchanged: Oleśola, Nadal, Nino, and Miguel Soler. José saw no reason to alter the defensive lineup until reinforcements arrived.

In midfield, Mota earned a starting spot alongside N'Gonga in central midfield. The wings featured Ibagaza on the left and Stanković on the right. Up front, Delgado partnered with Luke.

This move signaled that José's commitment to a youth-driven rebuild was real. By dropping veterans like Jorge and Viagini from the starting lineup, he made it clear that he wasn't afraid to enforce his decisions.

Tactically, there weren't too many changes for this match. The system resembled last season's—defensive stability while utilizing the wings to create chances. Delgado was set to play a role similar to Tristan's last season, while Luke, though not as fast as Eto'o, had comparable technical skills. Against a lower-table side like Numancia, this setup should have worked.

Additionally, Mota's ability to push forward could compensate for any deficiencies in attack. Despite Numancia sitting higher in the standings than Mallorca, they were still just a perennial relegation battler.

Reality Hits Hard

However, the November 19th match turned out to be a wake-up call.

Mallorca fans had high expectations for José's return. Many hoped for a repeat of last season's resurgence—the team bouncing back under his leadership, climbing the table, and making a charge for the top.

José also believed in his team, but as soon as the match kicked off, he realized he had been overly optimistic.

Stanković's form had dipped after spending too much time on the bench. Delgado's finishing ability was nowhere near Tristan's. Luke was still adjusting to the first team and lacked chemistry with his teammates. Mota had the same issue.

With only N'Gonga and Ibagaza performing at their usual level, Mallorca struggled to create chances against Numancia's compact defense.

Then, in the 20th minute, a defensive blunder cost them. Soler attempted a rushed slide tackle but completely missed the ball, leaving a huge gap in the backline. Numancia's forward latched onto the pass, burst into the box, and squared it across goal. His teammate smashed it home. 1-0.

Just before halftime, Numancia nearly doubled their lead. If not for a brilliant save by Franco and a last-second clearance by Nino, Mallorca would have been two goals down.

As the halftime whistle blew, Mallorca fans fell silent. They had hoped for a triumphant return. Instead, they saw a team struggling to keep up.

José remained silent on the sidelines throughout the first half, observing every detail.

Now, he had his answer.

The situation was even worse than he had imagined.