Chapter 157: Determined to Win

Squad rotation wasn't just because a few international players were showing signs of fatigue.

On September 9, Mallorca had an away match against Athletic Bilbao. Then, on September 12, they would host the club's first-ever Champions League group stage match at home—against Arsenal. Clearly, José prioritized this match far more.

While both the league and the Champions League were equally important—arguably, the league was the foundation of any club—La Liga consisted of 38 rounds. Two seasons ago, even when Mallorca was in chaos, José still managed to lead the team to a decent finish. A few bad games in the league weren't a big deal. Generally, in a 38-match season, securing over 70 points was enough to guarantee a top-four finish or even contend for the title. Of course, some unlucky teams had failed to win the league despite reaching 90 points—but that wasn't unheard of either.

On the other hand, the Champions League group stage consisted of just six matches. A single poor result could mean disaster. In the short term, the Champions League was naturally the priority.

Thus, after arriving in Bilbao, José benched five of the seven international players. Nino returned to the starting lineup, partnering Nadal in central defense. Pablo García replaced Kaladze in midfield, pairing with Motta as the two holding midfielders. The other two midfielders were Novo and Engonga, while young striker Klasnic partnered Luque up front.

Of the seven internationals—Eto'o, Ronaldinho, Rufete, Kaladze, Van Buyten, and Gamarra—all started on the bench. Only Capdevila was in the starting XI. Engonga, Novo, and Nino made their first appearances of the season.

Such a large-scale rotation inevitably affected Mallorca's performance, yet their defense remained solid. They withstood the attacks of Urzaiz, Etxeberria, and others, holding the defensive line firm. Meanwhile, Franco delivered a series of brilliant saves, as if trying to prove to Marcelo Bielsa that leaving him out of the national team was a huge mistake!

Urzaiz's powerful header—Franco punched it away!

Guerrero's lob from the edge of the box—Franco swiftly moved, took a few steps back, and leaped to tip it over the bar!

Etxeberria's volley inside the box—Franco dived down, smothering the ball securely!

Franco's heroics not only stabilized Mallorca but also gradually allowed the team to grow more aggressive in attack.

In the second half, Klasnic showcased his technical ability. Receiving a pass from Motta in midfield, the Croatian dribbled past a defender before delivering a precise through ball to Luque. Luque took one touch into the box and, facing the onrushing goalkeeper, coolly slotted the ball into the net!

That goal turned out to be the only one of the match. Despite not having the upper hand in play, Mallorca still secured a second consecutive victory on the road!

Winning even when playing poorly—that, too, was a hallmark of a strong team.

With back-to-back wins, Mallorca and Alavés were tied for fourth in the standings, both with two wins and a goal difference of +4. Villarreal, also on two wins with a +4 goal difference, ranked third due to scoring five goals and conceding one. Deportivo La Coruña, with a goal difference of +5, was second, while Celta Vigo, with +6, topped the table.

The other top teams had mixed results. Valencia fared best, winning their opening match 1-0 against Real Madrid but drawing 1-1 with Valladolid in the second round. Barcelona also had one win and one draw, leaving both teams in seventh and eighth place, respectively.

Real Madrid, however, was struggling. After losing to Valencia in their opener, they were held 1-1 at home by Málaga. With just one point from two games, they sat in 16th place—clearly, Vicente del Bosque was having a tough time.

José knew exactly what Del Bosque's problem was. He had likely drawn tactical inspiration from Mallorca's setup in the Super Cup and found a solution for his squad: playing Zidane as an inverted left midfielder, positioning two defensive midfielders behind him and Figo, and giving Roberto Carlos full freedom to charge up and down the left flank. But tactical transitions required time, and Real Madrid was currently in a painful adjustment period.

"La Liga might be a struggle for them, but if they get through the early stages of the Champions League, this Real Madrid team… will surprise a lot of people," José thought to himself.

He wasn't concerned about what surprises Real Madrid might bring. For now, Mallorca wouldn't face them in the Champions League until the knockout rounds at the earliest. His focus was entirely on the upcoming clash against Arsenal.

Arsenal's Revenge Match!

The European media had framed it as follows:

A little over a season ago, Arsenal had stormed through the UEFA Cup, dominating their way to the final. They avoided tough opponents like Leeds United and the unpredictable Galatasaray, instead drawing Mallorca—who had just crushed La Liga leaders Deportivo 5-1 in the knockout stage. Many believed Arsenal had landed the easiest possible final opponent.

But what happened?

Mallorca dragged them into a grueling battle, forced a penalty shootout, and then, having thoroughly prepared, dispatched Arsenal 4-1 from the spot.

For Arsenal, it was a humiliation. Despite being a traditional English powerhouse, their European pedigree was lacking. Wenger had desperately wanted that UEFA Cup title, only to see it snatched away. Mallorca had mercilessly crushed his dream.

Now, with Arsenal and Mallorca drawn into the same Champions League group, the matchup commanded significant attention—even though other groups had stolen some of the spotlight, such as Real Madrid vs. Roma.

Would José's perfect home record be shattered by Arsenal's vengeance?

Or would Arsenal suffer yet another painful defeat?

Arsène Wenger, upon arriving in Mallorca, tried to downplay the revenge narrative. In an interview, he stated that the loss had been a fluke and that Arsenal's performance wouldn't be affected by a match from over a year ago.

"Mallorca's starting lineup has changed significantly since that final. Only three players—Franco, Nadal, and Eto'o—remain as starters. Arsenal has also undergone many changes. This game has no bearing on what happened before."

Meanwhile, former Mallorca player Lauren, now with Arsenal, became a focal point. The Cameroonian had spent a season at Mallorca and spoke fondly of his time there in interviews. However, he also expressed happiness at Arsenal and hoped both teams would qualify from the group.

"This Cameroonian knows how to talk," Nadal chuckled.

José smirked. "But Wenger is not easy to deal with. He's learned from Leeds' mistake—choosing to arrive just a day before the match and leaving immediately after. That minimizes the impact of the weather. Plus, it's late summer, so the London climate isn't that different from Mallorca's. Arsenal won't struggle with the heat."

Clearly, Wenger had adapted his approach after Leeds United's struggles. By arriving in Mallorca on September 11, Arsenal could avoid prolonged exposure to unfamiliar conditions. José had to admit—Wenger was a shrewd strategist. While his in-game adjustments weren't always stellar, in terms of preparation, he was undoubtedly a top-tier coach.

However, José wasn't worried. This wasn't the same Mallorca from a year ago. Thanks to winter reinforcements and summer signings, the team had grown much stronger. They no longer relied solely on tactics and mind games; now, they had the raw quality to compete head-to-head.

Tactics could improve chances of victory, but in the end, football was a game of pure strength.

Of course, an unexpected element could still make a difference.

"There will be some adjustments in this match," José announced on the training ground. He had been preparing this for a while. With 23 players, each with their own strengths, his squad was deep. Although a few players were irreplaceable, most could slot into the starting XI seamlessly, giving José flexibility in his tactics.

The adjustments would mainly come in defense. Gamarra would replace Nadal to provide agility and cover, while Campano, a more defensive-minded player, would start at right-back to better contain Pires or Ljungberg.

With a younger, more dynamic lineup, Mallorca was fully prepared for battle.

The first Champions League match in club history—they were determined to win!