Chapter 86: A Brilliant Tactical Adjustment

At this moment, Mallorca's situation bears a striking resemblance to Inter Milan's second season after their historic treble-winning campaign.

To put it simply, they have the mindset of a champion, but no longer the strength of one.

Aging squad, excessive fatigue from last season, and a failure to properly reinforce the team—on the contrary, they even sold some key players. Meanwhile, their opponents now treat them like reigning UEFA Cup champions, approaching every match with heightened intensity. Worst of all, Mallorca no longer possesses the strength they had last season.

At first glance, the squad hasn't changed much, but the reality is different. The defense has weakened due to age and shifting mentalities, while the attack has suffered from the departure of two strikers. If José isn't careful, Mallorca could very well stumble into disaster.

So, after roughly assessing the current state of his players, José began contemplating how to adjust his tactics. His decision? Strengthen the attack. If the team lacks the clinical finishers they had before, then they'll just have to overwhelm the opposition's defense with sheer attacking force!

Of course, before implementing this approach, he needed to reignite his players' fighting spirit and sense of urgency.

The Locker Room Speech

José didn't speak immediately upon entering the locker room. Instead, he waited for the players' heavy breathing to gradually steady before he finally began.

"I remember something I said the first time I coached this team last season. I wonder if any of you still recall it."

Hearing this, the players who had been part of the squad last season began to think back, while the newer members looked puzzled.

José didn't leave them in suspense and continued, "I was trying to figure out how to quickly let my players understand what kind of coach I was. And the method I chose was simple—I told you all that if we didn't win that game, I would resign immediately.

"That match was against Rayo Vallecano, the team ranked third in La Liga at the time. Meanwhile, Mallorca had managed only twelve points from twenty rounds and was considered doomed for relegation. But I said it anyway. Later, some journalists called my decision reckless, but I thought they were idiots—relying solely on league rankings to judge the strength of two teams is plain foolish.

"Back then, I firmly believed that we were Mallorca—the team that reached the top eight in the world in '99! And what was Rayo Vallecano? Just a newly promoted team! A hawk may sometimes fly lower than a chicken, but a chicken will never fly higher than a hawk! We are Mallorca—we are that hawk! If I, as the head coach, couldn't even make a hawk fly higher than a chicken, then I had no business leading this team.

"And what happened next? We beat them 3-0! From that moment on, we proved we were still a great team—not some lowly, rootless, newly promoted club like them!

"This belief has never wavered."

As José's voice grew louder, Mallorca's players started raising their heads. Young players like Motta and Luque had a fiery gleam in their eyes, while even the older players regained their sharpness.

"Before this match, many Mallorca fans were excited because they thought my return meant the team's results would immediately improve. I appreciate their confidence, but last season's turnaround wasn't just my doing—it was the result of all your hard work.

"I know we don't have big names. But I also know that none of you are inferior to any other La Liga players. In the past few seasons, we've always given Spain's top teams a tough time!

"And today, we're facing a team that has fought relegation year after year—a team we defeated twice last season. Don't you think beating them should be a given?"

"Yes, Diego left. Samuel is gone too. But that has nothing to do with you! That was the doing of those damn shareholders who prioritized fixing the club's deficit over keeping our best goal scorers!

"But that ends now. That's why I came back. That's why I bought most of the club's shares. That will never happen again.

"And now, all we have to do is play like last season—take on every opponent with full force!

"Our goal isn't just to qualify for the UEFA Cup or have a brief run in the Champions League. Our goal is to win honors—all the honors that matter!

"So tell me—I've never lost faith in this team. Have you?"

At that moment, José slammed his fist onto the tactical board and roared.

"NO! WE HAVE NOT LOST FAITH!" The players erupted in unison.

"Good!" José withdrew his fist. "But confidence alone isn't enough. On the pitch, we need a better strategy to break down our opponents.

"Now, let's talk about our second-half tactics."

The Unexpected Change

"José's return to Mallorca hasn't yielded an immediate impact. In the first half, they struggled to break through and even conceded a goal due to a defensive mistake…

"This season, Numancia's results have been mediocre, but their defense has been solid—conceding just sixteen goals in ten matches. For a team hovering near the relegation zone, that's actually quite impressive.

"So the question is—can Mallorca break through them? Without Tristán, without Eto'o, the fans now place all their hopes on José..."

Hidalgo, the commentator, analyzed as the second half began.

Next to him, Bones frowned as he observed the players. Then, he suddenly said, "Wait, something's off. I see Finidi George out there… The Nigerian winger has been decent in previous games, with one goal and three assists. But in this match, José started Ibagaza on the right wing, leaving George on the bench.

"Has he come on? Who did he replace? Ibagaza? Or one of the forwards?"

Hidalgo started counting the players on the field. "Ibagaza is still there. Stanković too. Delgado, Luque… they're all on… In midfield, we still have N'Gonga and young Motta…"

Before Hidalgo finished counting, Bones let out a knowing hum.

"No need to count. George replaced Soler—the right-back! Is Mallorca shifting to a three-man defense? Olešola can play as a center-back, so this could be a 3-5-2 or even a 3-4-3. Looks like José is opting for sheer offensive firepower to tear through the opposition."

Hidalgo nodded, agreeing with the analysis.

However, the moment the match restarted, both commentators were left stunned.

At first, they doubted their own eyes. But after seeing George push forward from deep for the third time—receiving a pass from Motta, sprinting down the wing, and delivering a dangerous cross—they exchanged glances before simultaneously exclaiming:

"Wait—George is playing as a right-back?"

The Game-Changing Tactic

Although Delgado's header was slightly off-target, Mallorca's intensified attacks were putting immense pressure on Numancia.

José's decision to place George at right-back wasn't some impulsive idea—it was a carefully thought-out tactical shift.

Soler's decline meant the team lacked an ideal right-back. The alternatives were purely defensive players, unable to provide the attacking width José needed. And in an era where quality attacking full-backs were rare—especially with Mallorca's foreign player restrictions—internal solutions were necessary.

George had speed, strength, height, and a background in Ajax's total football philosophy. Despite being 29, he could still transition into this new role seamlessly.

And with Mallorca's spirit reignited, their superior strength tipped the scales even further. Numancia's defense, already struggling, was now overwhelmed.

"Keep pushing—tear their defense apart. Make them tremble under our attacks!"

José didn't shout these words out loud. He simply waited—waited for the moment the ball would finally hit the back of the net.