I Am Jose-Chapter 111 - : A Transformed Mallorca

Moreno had just equalized with a superb strike, and almost immediately, Ronaldinho—often affectionately called "Little Ron"—scored to restore the lead. This rapid-fire exchange of goals had everyone on the edge of their seats, and yet no one could have predicted that the goal fest was only just beginning.

Not long after, the Alavés players, who had been buoyed by their own brief moments of success, began to look disheartened. In contrast, the Mallorca players surged forward with high spirits, launching a vigorous press in midfield that quickly won them possession.

The ball was intercepted by Karaze. Although he was deployed as a left winger, in this match he had emerged as one of the most critical defensive sentinels in midfield. In many respects, Coach José Alemani's decision to play Karaze on the left flank was akin to the later tactical experiments at AC Milan, where Gattuso was used as a right winger—even though his nominal role was on the wing, he was essentially acting as a defensive midfielder, providing a protective shield for the playmaker behind.

Immediately after winning the ball, Karaze swung it to Capdevila. Mallorca's main attacking thrust at that moment was clearly coming from the left side—not only to neutralize Alavés' Contrã but also to exploit the space created behind him once he pushed forward to join the attack. Capdevila took control and sprinted down the flank. As Contrã chased relentlessly from behind, the gap between them narrowed. At the precise moment Contrã began to close in, Capdevila released a perfectly weighted half-volley that traced a graceful arc toward the edge of the Alavés penalty area.

At that very moment, Ronaldinho and Alavés defender Torres sprinted toward the ball's projected landing spot. Torres, confident in his aerial ability and roughly the same height as Ronaldinho, showed no urgency—he knew that in a header duel he would have the advantage as a specialist defender. However, Ronaldinho did not engage in any contest for the header. Instead, upon arriving at the ball's landing spot, he leaped high without so much as glancing at Torres. His jump had been so well-timed that the ball was still descending when he took flight; he did not need to fight for the first touch—simply waiting until he descended allowed him to secure the ball with ease.

Then, in a moment of breathtaking ingenuity, as Ronaldinho began his descent in tandem with the ball, his left foot swung out suddenly. In mid-air, he deftly flicked the ball into the penalty area!

Seizing the opportunity, Luke, who had earlier freed himself from the clutches of the opposing defenders, burst into the box and collected the ball. The pace and precision of his run were testament to the team's intense training.

Reacting quickly, Alavés' goalkeeper Herrera charged out aggressively. Luke, who had been granted numerous chances in recent matches yet had failed to convert, now found himself with the perfect opportunity. With composure and determination, he fired a shot of exceptional quality. The ball soared along a beautiful trajectory—just as Herrera managed a desperate dive, the shot ricocheted off his outstretched hand and clipped the inside of the far post before nestling into the net.

The score now read 4–2 in favor of Mallorca, and once again, Ronaldinho had provided a crucial assist.

But that wasn't the end of the magic. Although Moreno had fought hard to carve out opportunities—scoring a vital equalizer in the 83rd minute—a mere three minutes later, Ronaldinho once again propelled his side ahead.

During a sustained attacking move, Eto'o's dribble was halted by a clumsy challenge from an Alavés defender, awarding Mallorca a direct free kick from 26 meters out. With his newfound confidence, Ronaldinho stepped up. Ever since he had scored his very first goal for Mallorca, he felt as if a valve had been released inside him—a surge of power and clarity filled his entire body.

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Standing before a wall of six defenders, Ronaldinho could already visualize the target. Nearby, Karaze—positioned a little deeper—mimed a long-range run-up, drawing some of the defenders' attention away.

As the referee's whistle signaled that the free kick was underway, Karaze began his approach. In that split second, Ronaldinho, full of self-assurance, swung his left leg in one swift motion. The ball rocketed into the air, curving over the wall with a ferocious spin, and crashed into the back of the net with thunderous impact.

"GOOOOOOOAL! It's in! Ronaldinho—what a brace! After five games without a goal, he now scores two in one match! This is Mallorca's fifth goal of the game! Against a side known for their formidable attack, Mallorca is declaring its presence with a ferocity that cannot be ignored!"

Unlike his earlier celebrations, Ronaldinho did not erupt into wild jubilation. Instead, he turned his gaze skyward, spreading his arms wide as a serene smile spread across his face—a smile that embodied the pure, unrestrained joy of a true footballing magician.

The final tally was an astonishing 5–3—a scoreline that would leave any league observer speechless. Despite Moreno, the team's main striker, scoring twice, Mallorca had relied on Ronaldinho's brace and a goal each from Eto'o, Luke, and Novo to secure an emphatic victory over Alavés.

"Look at that—a Mallorca that is entirely transformed is emerging before our very eyes!" the commentators exclaimed.

In the wake of that thrilling victory, even the most partisan media outlets began to take notice. Publications with close ties to Real Madrid, such as Marca and AS, and those with allegiances to Barcelona like Mundo Deportivo and Diario Sport, all ran stories on the match. Real Madrid's camp was reportedly worried, fearing that they would soon face a rejuvenated and surging Mallorca on their home turf, while Barcelona supporters seemed to relish the thought of further complications for their rivals. After all, just as Real Madrid had celebrated Mallorca's victory over Barcelona last season—even though that win hadn't propelled them into the top four—now Barcelona, struggling in the league, were all too happy to see Real Madrid encounter more difficulties.

One analyst reflected, "Mallorca used to be a thorn in the side—a club without big names or deep pockets, forced to sell its talent every year. Yet under Cooper's management, they were once ranked among the top eight clubs in the world. Back then, their tactics were dull—a suffocating, impenetrable defence paired with sporadic counterattacks, scraping out points match by match. Even when Coach José first took over last season, he persisted with that style and achieved respectable results. But then, as if to prove a point, the returning José initiated a clear transformation. Now, Mallorca wins by outscoring their opponents, not just by conceding fewer goals. In these two post-winter league games, they've been clinical—scoring seven goals over two matches is astonishing, especially when those seven came from five different players! Such distributed attacking threat leaves opponents completely exposed. Real Madrid might not fear them, but let's not forget: last season, Real Madrid once netted three goals against Barcelona at Camp Nou. They cannot afford to take this lightly."

Yet, before facing Real Madrid, Mallorca had one more challenge on their schedule—the third round of the Copa del Rey. From the third round onward, the competition would be played over two legs (home and away), and this time Mallorca's opponents were another island side: Tenerife.

Compared to Mallorca—a club situated in the heart of the Balearic Islands, only a short distance from mainland Spain—the location of Tenerife is rather dramatic. Situated in the vast Atlantic off the northwest coast of Africa, as part of the Canary Islands, Tenerife's home is steeped in a sense of rugged isolation. A few years back, when Tenerife was relegated, every La Liga club breathed a sigh of relief, knowing they wouldn't have to cross both Spain and half of Africa during the season.

Like Mallorca, the Canary Islands are governed as an autonomous community, but Tenerife is the sole professional club of its archipelago. Historically, Tenerife's record has been modest—lacking any significant trophies, reminiscent of Mallorca a few seasons ago. However, Tenerife's past is more storied than that of Mallorca; one cannot help but recall the legendary Argentine midfielder Rédondo, who played for Tenerife during a golden era. In two of those years, Real Madrid's league title hinged on their final match against Tenerife, only for Tenerife to upset them and allow Barcelona to secure four consecutive championships—a saga that has etched itself into the annals of football folklore.

Sadly, since being relegated two seasons ago, Tenerife's fortunes have waned year by year. Their island's development capabilities are limited, and unlike Mallorca—whose island boasts nearly one million residents (with over 600,000 living on Mallorca alone, which occupies more than 70% of the archipelago)—Tenerife's population is much smaller. The entire Canary Islands have around 1.3 million inhabitants, but Tenerife, although the largest of the six main islands, has a population of only around 400,000. In every respect, Tenerife falls short of Mallorca.

A smaller population means reduced matchday revenue. Tenerife's home ground, the Rodríguez López Stadium, holds 24,000 fans—only about 1,000 fewer than Mallorca's stadium, yet it rarely fills up. Coupled with its location off Africa's coast and a less robust economy, Tenerife, following relegation, has struggled to rebuild financially. Few young players are eager to train in such an environment.

For this reason, Coach José wasn't overly worried about the Copa del Rey tie. An away leg, followed by a home match, generally favors the visiting side—especially for Mallorca. Furthermore, Tenerife had been performing well in the Segunda División and had a good chance of returning to La Liga. They were unlikely to expend all their effort in the cup tie.

José decided to take a cautious approach. He flew to Tenerife with just 18 players, leaving key figures like Ronaldinho, Eto'o, Mota, and Nadal behind in Mallorca. For this match, he fielded a completely reserve lineup.

Backup goalkeeper Miki finally earned some playing time, supported by Campano, Nino, and, filling in as centre-back, Olesora and Capdevila. In midfield, Marcos partnered with Ngonga, while Novo and Karaze operated on the wings. Up front, Luke and Delgado formed the striking partnership.

In the end, thanks to goals from Delgado and Karaze, Mallorca dispatched Tenerife without much difficulty. After the win, the entire squad didn't linger—they flew straight back to Mallorca. After a day's rest, the team then set off for Madrid.

"Onward to Madrid!" became the resounding rallying cry—a challenge directed squarely at Real Madrid.