Chapter 98: The Adjustment Period

"Alright, those two will do," José quickly made his decision, not because he was being hasty, but because he was familiar with these two players. It wasn't a spur-of-the-moment choice.

"What about the defensive midfielder position? Are there any suitable substitutes from the youth team?" José eagerly asked Piri.

"Do you really think the Mallorca youth team is a goldmine? The players you can use have already been picked, but there's a suitable player in the transfer market," Piri smiled and replied. "Marcos Martín De La, originally from Mallorca, played two seasons before transferring to Sevilla. Last season he was with LLeida in the second division, and his contract is almost up. He plays as a defensive midfielder, is 32 years old, and still in good condition. His salary isn't high, and we can easily sign him for a six-month loan. After that, he'll be a free agent. It wouldn't cost much."

"32? Isn't that a bit too old?" José hesitated.

"If he's just a backup, age won't matter much. After all, his demands are low, and he probably just wants to come back for a quiet end to his career. His condition is still quite good, and defensively, I'd say he's even more reliable than Soler," Piri laughed.

"More reliable than Soler?" José was surprised, but he quickly nodded. He knew Piri's insights were much sharper, having been around the La Liga scene for years.

With 19 players already on the team, bringing in three new ones to form a squad of 22 seemed about right, José thought.

"You handle the youth team call-ups, I'll take care of Marcos's transfer," José instructed Piri, who nodded in agreement.

Over the next few days, Mallorca began to make bolder moves.

A total of nine players were placed on the transfer market: loans were made, sales were completed, and those who couldn't be loaned were demoted to the second team. This swift and decisive action brought a fresh energy to the squad. After moving five or six first-team players to the second team, the second team coach, Mesquida, ceased pressuring José—partly because many of the second team's key players had been promoted to the first team, leaving Mesquida frustrated at first, but he was soon relieved when the second team was filled out again.

The trimmed-down first team now had 22 players, which was enough for the league and cup games. Most importantly, each position now had one or two strong contenders for a starting spot, which created healthy competition and a positive atmosphere.

Even the seasoned veterans were no longer guaranteed a starting role, and under such conditions, no one dared to slack off.

On December 10, Mallorca hosted Espanyol at home.

For this match, José set up a 4-4-2 formation: Franco in goal, George at right-back, Capdevila at left-back, with Nadal and Camara in the center of defense. In midfield, Ngonga and Mota played as defensive midfielders, with Ronaldinho and Ibáñez as wingers. Up front, Eto'o partnered with Luk.

This formation was clearly aimed at attacking, with both full-backs excellent at supporting the offense, and the wingers capable of playing like forwards. In this match, Mallorca's attacking combination was superb. Mota opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a well-timed run, and shortly after halftime, a free-kick from Ronaldinho led to a header from Nadal. In the 83rd minute, Eto'o sealed the win with a goal following a through pass from Ronaldinho. However, despite the 3-2 victory, Mallorca's defense showed weaknesses, conceding two goals that could have led to a draw if not for Eto'o's late strike.

Though Mallorca had won four straight games, each victory by a single goal felt lucky, and the media criticized them, stating that while José's arrival had improved the offense, the defense remained problematic. The luck of scoring goals was no guarantee of long-term success.

José paid no mind to the media's comments.

He knew the team had major flaws, but he also knew that, in terms of player selection, everything was now in place. After Piri secured Marcos on a half-season loan, the squad was as strong as it could be at the moment.

The reason for the recent struggles was simple: the players still lacked chemistry.

It was important to remember that in this winter transfer window, Mallorca had signed six new players and promoted four from the youth team—ten new faces in total. The departure of two Argentine players, three loans, and six demotions to the second team had disrupted the squad's structure. While many players were already familiar with each other, the adjustment period would take time.

But there was a silver lining to this disarray. If Mallorca was to transition from a counter-attacking team to one that balanced attack and defense, the disruption was actually beneficial for José, even if it caused some initial problems.

José considered himself lucky. Despite the chaos, he had managed to secure four wins in a row—narrow as they were. They had won, and luck was still a factor.

Though the four teams they faced weren't particularly strong, mainly relegation candidates or struggling former top teams, José knew luck was a part of skill. The goodwill from last season had allowed Mallorca to win in difficult circumstances.

Next up was the first round of the Copa del Rey, where Mallorca would face the third-division team, Ferrericas. Despite playing away, José fielded many of the new signings and young substitutes.

The lineup featured Miki in goal, with Campano, Nino, Camara, and Capdevila in defense. Karazé played left-midfield, Novo on the right, and Marcos in defensive midfield. Ronaldinho played as an attacking midfielder, with Luk and Eto'o leading the attack.

This lineup was essentially what José planned to rely on in the future—youthful players representing the club's future.

In the first half, Luk scored twice, showcasing his ability to capitalize on Mallorca's offensive dominance. In the second half, José made several changes, shifting Karazé to left-back, with Capdevila substituted off. Novo moved to play alongside Marcos and the withdrawn Novo in a three-man midfield. Up front, Delgado replaced Eto'o.

The second half became more about defense, but Ferrericas offered little challenge to Mallorca's backline, and Eto'o scored two more goals in the counterattacks, sealing a 4-0 victory.

"From a tactical perspective, this match didn't provide much opportunity for player development," José discussed with Piri, "but it did help build better chemistry."

"You're right, chemistry is key," Piri nodded but continued, "However, after watching these recent games, I still can't see the tactical center of your team. Other than sticking to a four-back system, the attack is disjointed, largely relying on individual skill."

"Exactly," José smiled. "The attack has become too fragmented. Only Ngonga and Ibáñez remain as consistent starters in the midfield, but the rest have changed. It's normal to face adaptation problems. Meanwhile, I'm waiting for someone to click."

That person was Ronaldinho.

With Ngonga and Mota anchoring the midfield, José's plan was to make Ronaldinho the focal point of the attack, using his dribbling and passing to break defenses. This was the system José wanted—Ronaldinho at the core, Eto'o making runs, and Luk providing support. Once these three gelled, others could play supporting roles.

Even though Ronaldinho wasn't as dominant as later versions of Ibrahimović, José had no doubts that Ronaldinho had the potential.

But Ronaldinho was still uncertain. His recent performances had been decent but not spectacular, and media reviews called him "consistent but not outstanding"—a far cry from his South American reputation.

José wasn't in a rush to speak with him. He knew that sometimes, a player needed to reach their own realization before advice could be most effective. He wasn't worried about the time spent with Ronaldinho; it was a worthwhile investment.

Last season, he had done the same with Eto'o, letting him come on as a substitute to find his rhythm before starting regularly. This season, José would not hesitate to give Ronaldinho the time he needed.

In the 15th round of the league, Mallorca faced Rayo Vallecano away. This time, Mallorca's luck ran out (according to the media). Though Eto'o and Luk each scored a goal, their defense proved too unstable, and they lost three points, drawing 2-2.

José remained silent. Four days later, the 16th round would be crucial, and then came the winter break—a perfect time for Mallorca to regroup and improve their chemistry.

With the break approaching, José planned to use it wisely for intense training and refinement.

After the winter break, Mallorca would face their final three opponents of the first half of the season, including Real Madrid and Barcelona. These games would be key in determining both the team's and José's true strength.