I Am Jose-Chapter 126 - : Not the Time to Celebrate Yet

When Ronaldinho scored the decisive goal, the entire Estadi de Son Moix erupted in celebration. However, José did not join the frenzy; instead, he froze in place.

The goal looked eerily familiar—almost identical to the one Ronaldinho would score for Barcelona at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea in the future. A masterpiece that, despite not securing victory for Barcelona at the time, was widely recognized as a moment of genius. Yet here it was, happening four years earlier right before José's eyes!

For a brief moment, José felt as if he had rewritten history.

It wasn't until Natal came rushing over, hugging him in excitement and shouting, "We're going to win!" that José snapped back to reality and finally smiled.

"Yes, we're going to win... and we're just..."

"One point away!" Everyone around him roared in unison, their voices filled with elation.

This was an attacking display that could bring tears to the eyes. A victory so hard-fought, so exhilarating, that it left everyone breathless.

In the final minute, Valencia failed to pull off a miracle. They were not a team known for explosive goal-scoring outbursts. Solid, difficult to beat, but also hard-pressed to turn a game around in extreme situations. Just like their coach, Héctor Cúper—he could build an incredibly stable team, yet somehow always fell short of true greatness.

When the final whistle blew, Mallorca's fans erupted in jubilant cheers. After their previous league defeat, some had doubted their chances of breaking into the top four, but this hard-earned victory had suddenly made Champions League qualification feel tantalizingly close.

As the players celebrated wildly, José had already regained his composure. Straightening his suit, he walked over to Cúper.

"Well done, José. I never expected Mallorca to develop such a strong attacking identity under you." Cúper glanced at the pitch, his gaze settling on Ronaldinho, Eto'o, Motta, and the other young talents. "Last season, it was Tristán. This season, it's Luque and Motta... You value the youth team more than I ever did."

"I do favor attacking football more, and let's not forget—I'm the majority shareholder of Mallorca. I have the means to keep the players I want to keep." José made no effort to downplay his role. He knew his achievements were impressive but wasn't arrogant enough to claim he was better than Cúper. After all, his circumstances were far more favorable than Cúper's had been.

"You won this match, but I won't let you take fourth place so easily," Cúper said with a smirk. "A one-point lead is still a lead. I intend to make the most of it."

José chuckled but didn't respond. There was still a long way to go in the season. A single-point advantage? That wasn't much at all.

Cúper, seeing no reply, let the matter drop. His own position at Valencia was still secure despite their four-match losing streak, but pressure was mounting.

Mallorca's Rise in the Standings

"In La Liga's 21st round, Mallorca secured a thrilling 3-2 home victory against Valencia in a match filled with end-to-end action. This crucial win solidifies their fifth-place position, keeping them two points ahead of Villarreal, three ahead of Las Palmas, and four ahead of Espanyol. Meanwhile, Valencia's four consecutive defeats have put them in a precarious situation, now leading Mallorca by just one point. With other contenders like Villarreal also in the mix, the battle for a Champions League spot is heating up!"

Despite Valencia's struggles, this victory was undeniably a turning point for Mallorca. The hard-fought nature of the win instilled newfound confidence in the team. More importantly, it served as a stark reminder—nothing comes easy. Every match demands effort, and only by giving everything can they fully savor the joy of victory.

With their momentum ignited, Mallorca embarked on a winning streak.

On February 8, in the second leg of the Copa del Rey quarterfinals, Mallorca hosted Celta Vigo. Goals from Delgado and Novo secured a 2-1 victory, sending them into the semifinals.

The other semifinalists were Barcelona, Zaragoza, and—surprisingly—Atlético Madrid. Despite playing in the second division, Atlético continued their remarkable cup form from last season. Had they not lost to Espanyol in the final, they might have become one of the rare second-tier teams to qualify for European competition, a situation that would have been quite an embarrassment for La Liga.

Looking Ahead to the League

For José, though, the Copa del Rey was on hold until June. His focus now was solely on the league.

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With only league matches left on the schedule, Mallorca's fixture list was far more manageable. They had a full week between games, sometimes even two weeks due to international breaks. Unlike some of their rivals, Mallorca didn't have many players called up for national duty, giving them more time to prepare.

This was why José believed Mallorca had a genuine shot at breaking into the top four. While the team still lacked consistency, the extra rest periods gave him ample opportunity to fine-tune their performances.

On February 11, Mallorca traveled to face Málaga. Before the match, Juan met with José for a long conversation, though José mostly exchanged pleasantries. When it came time to play, he fielded his strongest lineup, and Mallorca secured a 2-0 victory thanks to an own goal from Málaga's defender Rafa and a penalty from Ronaldinho.

The win kept them just one point behind Valencia while pushing Málaga down to 13th. Though not in immediate danger of relegation, their hopes of qualifying for Europe were now fading fast.

After the game, an exasperated Juan confronted José, only to be placated with a pack of "premium" tea. Watching Juan leave, José could barely contain his laughter—what cost him 50 yuan per pound in China had suddenly become a prized commodity.

Elsewhere, the title race was becoming increasingly unpredictable. Barcelona, previously third and five points ahead of Mallorca, suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Racing Santander, reducing their lead to just three points. Meanwhile, league leaders Real Madrid lost 1-0 to Athletic Bilbao, cutting their lead over Deportivo La Coruña to just four points.

For José, this was the perfect scenario. The more chaotic the battle at the top, the better Mallorca's chances of sneaking into the Champions League.

Although winning the title was unrealistic—sitting 11 points behind Real Madrid, Mallorca had no shot—there was still a massive financial incentive. The difference between finishing fourth and fifth wasn't just about prestige; it meant millions in additional broadcasting revenue.

However, the recent upsets also served as a warning. Athletic Bilbao was sitting 11th, and Racing Santander was 19th. If relegation-threatened teams could stun the giants, then Mallorca had to stay vigilant. They couldn't afford to underestimate weaker opponents.

José drilled this message into his squad:

"We fought tooth and nail to beat Valencia for three points, yet we carelessly threw away three points against Valladolid. Beating giants like Real Madrid and Barcelona is great, but what truly matters is securing wins against lower-ranked teams. Any team aiming for the title must minimize dropped points against bottom-half opposition. That's even more important than taking points from the top teams."

His words had the desired effect. In their next match on February 19, Mallorca hosted Athletic Bilbao. This time, they avoided complacency. A single early goal from Eto'o secured a 1-0 win.

Meanwhile, Valencia broke their losing streak with back-to-back wins, reclaiming third place with a one-point edge over Mallorca. Barcelona's slump continued as they lost 3-2 at home to Deportivo, allowing Mallorca to draw level on points and, thanks to their superior head-to-head record, overtake them for fourth place!

Mallorca had finally broken into the Champions League spots.

The entire club was ecstatic. This was their best league standing since their historic Champions League qualification two years ago.

But José remained calm. The season was far from over, and the toughest battles were yet to come.

Now was not the time to celebrate.