Chapter 180: After the Winter Break

The week passed quickly, and after the New Year, the team regrouped. José submitted Roa's name for the league roster, allowing him to play for Mallorca in the second half of the season.

Drogba also returned to the first team. Over the past month, both he and Roa had performed well with the reserves. Roa significantly reduced Mallorca B's goals conceded, while Drogba, despite scoring only twice in six games, created numerous opportunities for his teammates. Their contributions helped Mallorca B secure four wins in six matches, moving them away from the relegation zone and even into the top half of the table, easing the pressure of the relegation battle.

José's decision to send them to the reserves wasn't about getting stellar results but about helping them adjust to the pace of competitive matches. Now that they had done so, it was time for them to return.

During this period, several clubs expressed interest in Mallorca's players. However, most of these were mid-table teams that lacked the appeal to lure Mallorca's talent away. At this stage, Mallorca had become a more attractive destination than these suitors.

The squad had no glaring weaknesses, and unless a true superstar became available—one who could immediately elevate Mallorca's level—there was no need for reinforcements. However, such elite players were out of Mallorca's price range. Unlike last winter, when the club was active in the transfer market, this time, Mallorca remained quiet—neither buying nor selling players.

That said, the club did make some acquisitions. Piri had returned from his scouting trip to the Canary Islands, bringing back three promising 15-year-olds born in 1986.

One of them was named David Silva.

Upon seeing the name, José burst into laughter in his office. He had long coveted Valencia's future midfield maestro but only knew that Silva had come through Valencia's youth academy. After searching through Valencia's academy records and failing to find him, José had resigned himself to missing out on a future star.

Yet, to his delight, Piri had unearthed him from the Canary Islands!

"These three signings… do you have any objections?" Piri asked.

"None at all. I trust your judgment. Besides, I've already given you the authority to sign young players as you see fit. If you want to scout the entire country for talent, go for it." José smiled. "Since these kids aren't even 17 yet, they'll stay with the youth team for now. Can you give me a rundown on them?"

Piri nodded. "Of course. Giovani—a defensive midfielder with solid physical attributes. Bitono—a forward with a great instinct in front of goal."

However, it was clear that Piri had the highest hopes for David Silva. While his descriptions of the other two were brief, he spoke at length about Silva:

"David Silva—primarily a midfielder, leaning towards the wings. Technically gifted, excellent ball control, quick, and possesses outstanding vision. His only drawback is his slight frame, but if properly developed, he'll undoubtedly make an impact on the first team."

Piri chuckled. "You know, I first heard about him from Míchel (the former Real Madrid star). Last year, Silva attended the Real Madrid Football School's entrance trials. Míchel saw his talent immediately, describing him as a raw gem. Unfortunately, Madrid's youth coaches rejected him for being too short. I, however, disagree. His technical ability and football IQ far outweigh any concerns about his height. Look at Maradona—he wasn't tall either, but that didn't stop him from becoming one of the greatest players ever."

"You're absolutely right. For a midfielder, height is the least important factor." José grinned. "Let's get these kids settled into the youth team. Hopefully, they'll become key players for Mallorca in the future!"

With that, Silva and his two teammates officially joined Mallorca's youth team. They moved into the club's training facility and received a monthly stipend of 15,000 pesetas (around 95 euros).

No one could have predicted that this scrawny teenager, earning just 15,000 pesetas per month, would one day command a weekly wage of 15,000 euros—the salary of a Mallorca first-team player.

After settling the new recruits, Piri set off once again, searching for more future stars. José was confident that, with Piri's scouting prowess and his own knowledge of upcoming talent, Mallorca's youth academy could rival, if not surpass, Real Madrid's La Fábrica and Barcelona's La Masia.

A Rocky Start After the Break

While Piri was making strides in scouting, Mallorca's first team encountered some trouble after the winter break.

In their first match of the new year, they faced Valladolid away—a team that wasn't particularly strong. However, Mallorca's players seemed sluggish, conceding twice in the first 60 minutes. Although Luque quickly pulled one back, they couldn't break through Valladolid's defensive wall and suffered a 1-2 defeat.

This loss dropped Mallorca to second place—Real Madrid had beaten Deportivo La Coruña 3-1, drawing level on points but overtaking Mallorca on goal difference. To make matters worse, Valencia and Barcelona both won their matches, cutting Mallorca's lead to just two and five points, respectively.

Things went from bad to worse in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals. Playing away to Athletic Bilbao, Mallorca fielded a largely second-string squad and were comprehensively beaten 0-2, leaving them on the brink of elimination.

Next came another away game in La Liga's 19th round against Las Palmas. Falling behind early, Ronaldinho sparked a comeback, with Rufete and Luque giving Mallorca a 3-1 lead by the 72nd minute. Just when victory seemed secure, disaster struck.

Schurr pulled one back for Las Palmas in the 90th minute, and in stoppage time, midfielder Josico broke through, forcing Franco to bring him down—penalty!

In the deafening cheers of the home crowd, Rucho González calmly converted the spot-kick. A certain three points turned into just one.

José was furious—conceding twice in the final minutes was an embarrassment! But no amount of frustration could change the result.

At the post-match press conference, he kept his temper in check. When asked about the team's performance, he admitted:

"We haven't played well since the break. The players' form has dipped. This match, while disappointing, showed signs of improvement. We were only undone by a late lapse in concentration. I have faith that Mallorca will bounce back."

A journalist pointed out, "After this round, Real Madrid is now two points ahead of Mallorca…"

José cut him off. "Deportivo, Barcelona, and Valencia all lost as well. We're still in second place. Every team struggles after a winter break—it's not just us. Our job now is to recover quicker than the rest, rather than complain about setbacks."

After fielding a few more questions, José left the press room.

Perhaps Mallorca had performed too well in the first half of the season. Now, after the winter break, the team was struggling to regain form. Dropping four points in two games was unacceptable.

However, given that this was a young squad undergoing a rebuild, fluctuations in form were expected. The team was improving—this match proved that. Luck simply wasn't on their side.

José didn't see the need for a furious dressing-room rant. Yelling at the players wouldn't fix the issue. The priority now was getting them back in peak condition.

Prioritizing the League and Champions League

Over the next few days, José intensified the team's physical training. Restoring their fitness was essential for a return to form.

He had already decided to sacrifice the Copa del Rey. Overturning a two-goal deficit wasn't impossible, but he didn't want to waste energy on a secondary competition. The league and the Champions League were far more important—one for glory, the other for financial gain.

In the second leg against Bilbao, despite a 1-0 win (thanks to a Krasić goal), Mallorca lost 1-2 on aggregate and were eliminated.

However, José had no regrets. His mind was already on the next match—a league clash against Bilbao in three days.

Bilbao had used their best players in the Copa del Rey, while Mallorca had rested theirs. Now, Mallorca would have the edge in fitness.

It was time to strike back. The road to recovery started with crushing Bilbao!