I Am Jose-Chapter 108 - : The Prelude to a Goal Fest

The second-round match of the Copa del Rey was nothing more than a warm-up; Mallorca's main focus this week was preparing for their league home clash against Alavés.

Currently, Mallorca sat on 25 points while Alavés had 24, making this a true battle between rivals—a contest that naturally commanded extra attention from Coach José.

Whenever José thought about Alavés, memories of that season's League Cup final resurfaced. In that campaign, Liverpool achieved a treble by winning the League Cup, FA Cup, and League Cup, and in the following season, they added the European Super Cup and the Community Shield to become "the five-trophy team." Although some argued that without the league title and the Champions League, these accolades lacked prestige, there was no denying the magnitude of their achievement.

Yet when José recalled that League Cup final, it wasn't Liverpool who dominated his thoughts—it was their opponents, Alavés. This club had equaled the miracle that Mallorca once produced, reaching the final of their first-ever European competition. Although they eventually fell short, their feat was nothing short of admirable.

That nerve-wracking final remained etched in José's memory. Normally, he didn't pay much heed to League Cup matches, but that game was an anomaly—an almost unheard-of high-scoring affair. In 90 minutes the teams were locked at 4–4, and in extra time, Liverpool clinched a 5–4 victory courtesy of an own goal from an Alavés defender—a scoreline so rare it had not been seen in decades.

José couldn't forget the standout performances from a few Alavés players that day. Moreno, playing through injury, had scored a hat-trick; a young Kluivert had pulled the score back to 4–4 right before full time; and on the right flank, Romanian full-back Contră had displayed a masterclass in both attack and defense. In particular, Contră's blistering runs on the wing completely neutralized the opposition left-back, Calagr. It wasn't a fluke—over the past season, Contră had been among the most dynamic full-backs in the league. In fact, there was a saying in La Liga at the time: "On the left, there's Carlos; on the right, there's Contră"—a tribute to the two most exciting attacking full-backs.

José had once considered acquiring Contră for his own team that winter, but practical constraints intervened. First, the non-EU quota wouldn't allow another signing, and second, Alavés had flatly rejected José's $3 million offer, declaring Contră as non-transferable. The message was clear: Contră wasn't for sale—at least not at that price. Moreover, as Alavés were making their European debut that season with dreams of glory in the League Cup, they couldn't possibly sell one of their key players to a rival like Mallorca.

Frustrated but undeterred, José had to settle for using George, whose form was still adequate. At least for a year or two, he would suffice; if not, the youthful Campano could fill in for a while.

This failed transfer stung José, fueling his determination to show Alavés that they could be beaten on the pitch—even if they wouldn't sell their prized players. "So you think you're our rivals, unwilling to part with your stars? Then I'll beat you anyway. Just wait and see—if you won't sell, we'll still win!" he vowed privately.

In many ways, José's pettiness—or rather his relentless need for revenge—was a hallmark of successful managers. Some might call it stubbornness; others, a tenacious spirit that enabled them to achieve what others thought impossible.

Over the next few training sessions, José's unwavering belief in an upcoming victory spread like wildfire among his players. They may have misinterpreted his intense focus as concern over facing a rival, but José simply wanted to make a statement in the forthcoming match.

"Today, our opponents are Alavés—a team with formidable attacking prowess," José addressed the squad during a team talk. "In previous league matches, they've netted 30 goals—only behind Real Madrid, Barcelona, and a fiercely attacking Athletic Bilbao. They've scored more than we have, yet their defense is just as poor—they've conceded 23 goals, the second-worst among the top seven, just behind Bilbao. Because of this, I'm going with an all-out attacking strategy. Conceding isn't our primary concern—as long as we outscore them, that's all that matters! I'm convinced our attack is just as potent as theirs. Sure, they have Moreno, who's already bagged 13 goals and tops the scoring charts, but in my view, he's not a truly exceptional finisher compared to Samuel or Luke. And that young Kluivert can't hold a candle to our Ronaldinho! Moreover, our defense is far superior. Even if we open up and attack, we'll dismantle them effortlessly. Let's go out and show everyone that only we have the firepower to challenge for a top-four finish! As for Alavés—they're merely a mid-table outfit. We'll beat them and, in doing so, crush our so-called rivals!"

With that, José waved his hand, sending the already roaring players out of the dressing room.

José's determination to play an attacking game was evident even in his starting lineup.

Goalkeeper: FrancoDefenders: George, Nadal, Camara, and CapdevilaMidfield: Mota played in a deep-lying role, while Ngonga sat on the benchWingers: Left winger Karaze and right winger NovoAttacking Midfielder: RonaldinhoForwards: Luke and Eto'o

This was a classic offensive formation. The key, however, lay in the selection of Novo and Capdevila. Although Capdevila had not played as much as Karaze since his transfer to Mallorca, José still valued him. Both Capdevila and Karaze were dynamic wide players; Karaze was more aggressive and defensively solid, with superior assists and finer technique, while Capdevila's strengths lay in his crisp passing and accurate crosses. José was well aware of how to deploy overlapping players in these roles.

Although the positions of Karaze and Capdevila overlapped, their attributes complemented each other rather than duplicated. If José opted for Karaze at left-back, then more of the wide forward support would come from George, with Ronaldinho's movements focusing on the left. If Capdevila started, then the midfield would need at least a double pivot since both full-backs loved to push forward, requiring cover. In that scenario, Mota would drop to the left and Ngonga to the right. As it happened, José rotated them based on the match situation. Karaze's penchant for direct runs and Capdevila's exquisite crossing abilities perfectly balanced each other.

As for Novo, José prized his organizational skills and forward runs. Novo not only assisted Mota in orchestrating play but also made incisive forward runs that forced defenders to commit, thereby drawing attention away from Ronaldinho. When George advanced to support an attack, Novo was also tasked with covering some defensive responsibilities. In this intensified attacking setup, Novo proved more valuable than Ibáñez.

This tactical setup set the stage for a goal fest.

When the referee's whistle signaled kick-off, Eto'o quickly played the ball to Luke, who then turned and passed it back to Ronaldinho, making a forward run of his own. Ronaldinho, without even settling the ball, returned it to the midfield maestro Mota.

Mota controlled the ball with ample space. Rather than opting for a simple pass, he dribbled forward. As Moreno charged in, Mota faked a half-spin, lobbing a feint pass toward Novo. In a flash, he then dribbled to his left and surged past Moreno's challenge.

"What a delightful dribble! Tiago's growing into a true leader on the pitch!" an excited commentator exclaimed from the broadcast booth.

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Off the pitch, even Ngonga couldn't help but applaud. His experience far exceeded that of Mota, yet his technical finesse paled in comparison to that of a natural Brazilian—Mota's movements were pure magic. José glanced at Ngonga, seated attentively on the bench, and couldn't help but smile.

Ngonga hadn't been with Mallorca for long—only a few years at most—but as the team's captain, his leadership was unquestioned. His affable, sincere nature commanded respect, even if his ambition had waned somewhat this season. His influence was such that even after disputes with the previous coach, Basques' tactics fell apart under his quiet authority. Since that heated altercation on the training ground, Basques' control over the dressing room had evaporated. When a respected, unflappable veteran like Ngonga quarrels with the coach, the rest of the squad quickly shifts their attitude from reluctant obedience to outright indifference toward Basques.

José, naturally, would never repeat such a mistake.

Though Ngonga was older and sometimes lacked ambition, his value was undeniable. With him in the squad, there was always a buffer between Coach José and the players. Even if stars like Soler or Olésora were relegated to the bench, any discontent was kept in check. Ultimately, it's the results on the pitch that speak for themselves.

Even if Ngonga eventually tired out, José had plans to offer him a coaching contract. Despite not having formal coaching education, Ngonga had climbed from the lower leagues to become the first black player to represent the Spanish national team—a pedigree unmatched by many. His example alone was a priceless lesson for younger players like Mota, whose rapid development owed much to having a mentor like Ngonga nearby. Even without direct instruction, Mota learned plenty just by playing alongside him.

José knew that when Ngonga retired, he would be an invaluable aide—both on the training ground and in the locker room.