Chapter 194: Arrival in Manchester

After securing a two-goal lead, Mallorca began to slow the tempo of their attack. Both midfield maestros, Ronaldinho and Motta, were substituted, with García and Novo taking their places. However, even with these changes, Mallorca's midfield pressure did not ease. In fact, on the defensive end, the intensity only increased. Novo was already known for his relentless running, while García was a classic midfield enforcer. With these two energetic players on the field, Real Sociedad's midfield found itself under even greater pressure.

Despite this adversity, Xabi Alonso demonstrated remarkable composure. His control and ball-handling ability in midfield visibly improved, earning nods of approval from José on the sidelines. A true star always shines under pressure, and Alonso was proving his potential by growing in such a challenging environment.

However, no matter how well he played, a single breakthrough wasn't enough to change the course of an entire match. Alonso was talented, but he wasn't a superhero. If we were talking about someone with an unyielding spirit, there was indeed one sitting on Mallorca's bench...

In the end, Mallorca secured a 3-1 home victory over Real Sociedad, adding another win to their record. Meanwhile, Valencia and Real Madrid both won their respective home matches, defeating Osasuna and Zaragoza, keeping up their pursuit of Mallorca at the top of the table. Deportivo La Coruña also claimed victory and closed the gap, now trailing Mallorca by just seven points. Barcelona, on the other hand, was beginning to fall behind, sitting at 50 points—ten points adrift of the league leaders.

With only seven rounds remaining in the season, the battle for European qualification was starting to take shape. The only realistic title contenders were Mallorca (60 points), Valencia (56), Real Madrid (56), and Deportivo (54). Celta Vigo and Betis (both 51 points) still had a slim chance, while Barcelona (50) was more likely fighting for a Champions League spot rather than the title. Athletic Bilbao, with 48 points, was also in contention for European football, but teams below them were unlikely to make a serious push.

The upcoming week would be Mallorca's last opportunity to rest this season—assuming they progressed further in the Champions League. If they kept advancing, they would be playing twice a week until the very end of the campaign.

"Rest well and recover your energy with light training because we might not have another break. April is always the toughest month of the season. But if we can survive this brutal stretch, we will reap the rewards in the end," José told his players.

His words carried a poetic touch, but the message was straightforward—if you want glory and recognition, you have to fight for it. Only by performing at the highest level during these grueling matches could they catch the attention of their national teams and earn a ticket to the World Cup instead of just heading off on vacation.

For coaches, seasons leading up to a major tournament were usually easier to manage. With the World Cup approaching, every player was highly motivated, eager to impress and secure their place on the squad.

Of course, this also led to conflicts—mainly between players worried about their starting spots and their coaches. However, this issue was less severe at Mallorca. José had managed his squad rotation effectively. Those who deserved more minutes played more frequently, while others still got their chances. Interestingly, Mallorca's squad makeup reduced internal friction—several key substitutes held firm spots in their national teams (like Gamarra), while players who needed to prove themselves, like Ronaldinho and Luque, were already starters. This dynamic minimized potential conflicts.

After a focused week of training, José rested Ronaldinho in Mallorca's home match against Espanyol, giving Novo a chance in midfield. However, he didn't rotate too many players, only benching Ronaldinho and Nadal while keeping the rest of the starting lineup intact—after all, the league remained a priority.

Mallorca won 2-1, with Luque and Eto'o each finding the net. Although the final score seemed close, the match was less dramatic than it appeared. Mallorca secured a two-goal lead by halftime and controlled possession in the second half, preventing Espanyol—who had neither relegation worries nor European ambitions—from mounting a serious challenge.

This victory ensured Mallorca remained top of the league. However, Valencia and Real Madrid also continued their winning streaks, keeping the pressure on from behind.

Still, Mallorca had a four-point cushion, meaning they could afford to lose one more game than their rivals in the final six matches. This advantage allowed them to shift their focus toward their upcoming Champions League fixture.

Despite their next game being an away match against Manchester United, José opted not to travel to England too early. By April, Mallorca was already experiencing warm weather, while Manchester remained much colder, with a temperature difference of nearly 20 degrees Celsius. Spending several days in the chilly climate would do more harm than good. Instead, they would fly in just a day before the match, allowing for a brief adjustment period while minimizing discomfort. Besides, Old Trafford's pitch was in excellent condition—perfect for a technical team like Mallorca.

As long as the players stayed warm and avoided catching colds, the strategy should work. With two legs to play, it was important to take a long-term approach.

For the next two days, Mallorca conducted closed-door training sessions, keeping their tactical preparations a secret. José wanted to catch Ferguson off guard.

Finally, on the morning of April 2, the team boarded a flight to Manchester. On the plane, they were provided with warm clothing in anticipation of the cold. Upon arrival, they immediately headed to Old Trafford for a light training session to acclimate to the conditions. The following morning, they would have another brief session before preparing for the big match that night. The goal was to minimize the impact of the cold.

Even so, the stark temperature difference took its toll on some players.

"Ah-choo!"

Despite wearing a thick jacket, Ronaldinho let out a loud sneeze upon arriving at Old Trafford.

Being Brazilian, he had always preferred warm climates. The sunny weather of Rio de Janeiro suited him perfectly, and Mallorca's Mediterranean warmth made life even more comfortable. While he had previously played in England against Arsenal, that match had taken place in late autumn, when temperatures were lower but still manageable. This sudden shift, however, was jarring.

"Ronaldinho! Get moving! You won't feel the cold once you warm up!" shouted the assistant coach.

Ronaldinho nodded, took off his jacket, and started jogging to generate heat.

"This weather is absolute crap," muttered Nadal, uncharacteristically swearing as he exhaled a cloud of white breath. "It's already April, and it's still freezing…"

"The temperature suddenly dropped yesterday," José responded. "Right now, it's only about ten degrees."

"It really is awful," Nadal agreed.

"Luckily, we're only staying for one night. After the match, we're heading straight back to Mallorca," José reassured him. "As long as we keep an eye on the players' health, we should be fine."

The team doctor nodded. "That's the best approach. Usually, the real discomfort from temperature changes kicks in around the third day. My only concern is that the sudden shift back to warm weather after we return might increase the risk of colds."

"We'll rely on you, then," José said. "After we get back, I'll have the players stay together at the hotel for a day. That way, we can monitor their health closely. We can't afford any illness at this stage."

In European sports, the flu was taken very seriously. Unlike in China, where it was often seen as a minor inconvenience, in the West, it could severely impact teams. Players had weaker resistance to viruses, and if even one caught the flu, it could spread rapidly, leaving an entire squad unfit to compete. This was why both European football clubs and NBA teams had strict policies about sending sick players home to recover.

Mallorca was at a crucial stage in their season. A flu outbreak could be disastrous.

Fortunately, at least for now, José didn't have to worry about that.

After shaking off his initial discomfort, Ronaldinho got into his usual rhythm, stretching and running on Old Trafford's pristine pitch. The rest of the squad followed suit, getting a feel for the stadium.

"The pitch quality is excellent," José remarked as he stepped onto the grass.

"Old Trafford is one of the best stadiums in England," Nadal agreed. "Top-tier in every way. But it's a big pitch—our players might need time to adjust."

"It won't be a problem," José said. "We just need to control the tempo. If we can slow down their attack, we'll be fine. Manchester United's defense has weakened since Stam left. Our counterattacks can exploit that."

Nadal nodded in agreement.

As José gazed around the empty stands, he wondered—would his tactics take Manchester United by surprise? And what kind of strategy would the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson have prepared for him?