Chapter 88: What Position Should You Play?

After the match against Numancia, there was a week of adjustment time. During this period, José asked Karaze and Ronaldinho to come to Mallorca for joint training with the team. The transfer procedures and medical exams had already been completed, so the contracts were legally valid, and they were just waiting for the transfer window to open. José's idea was to get them integrated with the team as soon as possible. Even if they couldn't play yet, it would be good for them to familiarize themselves with the teammates early on.

Karaze, a versatile player, could play anywhere in the defense or midfield. José knew well that this guy had played as a left-back, center-back, left-winger, and even as a defensive midfielder in AC Milan. At least before his mysterious decline in form, he had been able to perform well in all these positions. So, despite not being a fixed first-choice player in such a prestigious club, he was still extremely important. When compared to the other famous Georgian player, Kinkladze, Karaze was clearly the more determined one—Kinkladze, despite his immense talent and incredible technical ability, had followed a downward spiral at Manchester City after being relegated twice, and after that, he never regained his former form. When European media compared the two famous Georgian players, they remarked, "When Kinkladze sat on the bench, lamenting his bad luck, Karaze was silently working hard on the training ground." Perhaps it was this difference that made Karaze eventually become a symbol of Georgian football, surpassing Kinkladze in reputation.

When Karaze first reported to the team, he appeared quite mature. After all, he had started playing abroad at the age of 19, setting a record for Georgian players. Kinkladze had left for foreign leagues a few months after him. The long-term training abroad made Karaze seem older than his actual age, and his impressive beard gave him a very mature look.

On the other hand, Ronaldinho had a completely different style. His dark face was always adorned with a bright smile, radiating positive energy. His buck teeth gave him a harmless and charming vibe, which made him likable. Ronaldinho's list of achievements—such as winning the U-17 World Cup, Copa América, and Confederations Cup Golden Boot—made the Mallorca players accept him with a respectful but non-competitive attitude. After all, Ronaldinho's achievements far surpassed any of the current Mallorca players. His arrival represented the club's growing confidence and stature—such star players hadn't been attracted to Mallorca before!

The team had promoted two players from the youth academy and signed two new ones, making this winter transfer window quite a significant personnel change for Mallorca. With new owners, the team's approach was clearly different.

This change made everyone more focused. After all, the new head coach was not just another figurehead—he was the real boss now.

During the next week's training, José focused on attacking tactics. The defense couldn't be overly relied upon anymore. After all, the extreme defensive strategy that led to their victory in the Cup Winners' Cup final last season was no longer viable. To achieve better results, the focus had to be on improving the attack.

The four-man defensive system had to remain intact. Despite the growing popularity of three-man defenses in European football, José knew that this system had its inherent flaws. The successful teams with three-man defenses typically had top-tier wingbacks, capable of playing both defense and attack. Teams like Brazil in the 2002 World Cup, Real Madrid last season, Roma in Italy a few years ago, and Fiorentina, who had the in-form Torricelli and Heinrich—these teams had the right personnel for three-man defenses.

Without such players, teams using a three-man defense would often face disastrous outcomes.

From the beginning, José had ruled out the idea of using a three-man defense. At most, he would have an attacking full-back focused on assisting, like George in the previous match. The most important aspect for José was the front line.

Whether using a 4-4-2, 4-5-1, or 4-3-3, the formation itself was not as important as the personnel. With the current squad, the team needed more flexibility. Without Tristan, the goal-scoring center forward, the strategy had to shift to spread out the attacking threats, ensuring more goals from various players.

During this period, José worked on offensive tactics, using Delgado as a tactical center-forward. His role was crucial to attracting the attention of the opposing defenders, opening up opportunities for the players behind him. Though time was short, there were already signs of improvement.

What impressed the Mallorca players the most was Ronaldinho's skills during training. Mallorca had never had a player with such flair in the attack, especially after Cooper's arrival, which emphasized discipline and teamwork. While this brought success, it had also decreased the entertainment value of the team's play. José's temporary coaching last season followed a similar approach, which led the media to label him as Cooper's natural successor. However, Ronaldinho's addition gave the team a feeling that Mallorca might now be ready to present a fresh face to the world.

This idea excited the Mallorca players. Even though they had achieved good results and found Cooper and José's tactics suitable for the team, who wouldn't want to play exciting football that would make the fans cheer? Even after winning the Cup Winners' Cup through solid defense last season, there was a hint of regret: if only they had played more attractively...

But deep-rooted habits didn't change overnight. Moreover, Ronaldinho hadn't had the chance to play yet. Before the winter transfer window opened, they had one more match to play at home against Villarreal.

Villarreal, the newly promoted team, had performed well this season, ranking eighth with 15 points. In this match, Mallorca didn't play exceptionally well but still managed to win. They were trailing 1-0 at halftime, but Villarreal's defender Alvarez was sent off for accumulating yellow cards, giving Mallorca a clear advantage in the second half. Mota equalized, and Delgado's goal in the 63rd minute sealed the win!

"Mallorca didn't play beautifully, but they won—José's return kept the team's existing style intact. With two consecutive wins, they quickly moved out of the relegation zone and rose to 15th place. However, the coming days won't be easy for Mallorca. Before the winter break, they had five more matches to play, including matches against Real Sociedad, Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Espanyol. For José and his players, this would be a tough challenge."

No matter how, the two consecutive wins brought relief to everyone in Mallorca. The next match wouldn't start until December 4th, so José had some time to focus on other things.

Before then, José planned to talk to Ronaldinho—this 20-year-old player would be Mallorca's most valuable piece in the upcoming matches.

"Hey, Ronaldinho, how have you been adjusting to life in Mallorca?"

Like Karaze, Ronaldinho had been staying at a local hotel in Mallorca—owned by old Alemany, who had made his fortune in the hotel business in the tourist town. Although Alemany wasn't particularly wealthy, some of the most famous hotels in Mallorca were his, and José naturally preferred to support his father's business. Before matches, the team always stayed together. Instead of using the players' dorms, which the players disliked, they preferred staying at Alemany's hotel. This arrangement was mutually beneficial, especially since the off-season meant the hotel had a lot of available rooms.

José even considered signing a long-term lease with his father's hotel, to systematize and streamline the process. This way, players wouldn't have to worry about accommodation before games, and Alemany's hotel would get steady business from the team.

When José asked Ronaldinho how he was adjusting, Ronaldinho smiled brightly: "I'm getting used to it, boss. The weather is great here, and the language isn't a problem."

José nodded. Spain had always been a haven for South American players due to its similar climate and language.

"In a few days, you'll be able to play. I told you before, you'll be an important player for the team. But I need to let you know that I won't use you recklessly because you're not just a soldier player—you're a player who can become the soul of the team. I'll be very cautious with how I use you," José said directly to Ronaldinho.

Such words made Ronaldinho feel appreciated. He was pleased that José was not rushing to play him for results and felt valued, so he nodded immediately: "I understand, boss."

"With your skill, you're outstanding in our team, and you have a very complete set of abilities in the attack. Now, I have one question for you. What position do you think you should play? Forward? Attacking midfielder? Second striker? Or wide midfielder? You can play all these positions, but I want you to think carefully about which one suits you best. In which position will you shine the most?" José said with a smile, patting Ronaldinho's shoulder. "Think about it, and I'll ask you again in a few days."