I Am Jose-Chapter 184 - : The Cheetah is Back

For this match, Mallorca's players were brimming with confidence. After two consecutive dominant victories over the previous third-place team, they had developed a mindset—Whoever is in third place, we can take them down. It wasn't entirely rational, but in football, such belief often led to better performances and a stronger sense of self-assurance.

"Since everyone says we're the third-place slayers, let's take down another third-place team and prove it!"

Celta Vigo? So what? A team full of renowned players? Just a bunch of aging veterans. Right now, our performance is far better than theirs!

As both teams stepped onto the pitch, the Mallorca fans in the stands erupted in cheers for their heroes. Even though they saw them up close every home game, they never tired of celebrating their team.

Both sides boasted some of La Liga's top attacking combinations. Mallorca's attacking trident of Luque, Eto'o, and Ronaldinho was formidable, while Celta had Catanha, Jesuli, and Gustavo López, all well-known names in Spanish football. This clash between two high-scoring teams attracted significant attention—after all, Spanish fans loved fast-paced, goal-filled matches.

In the past, Mallorca had little appeal outside their local fanbase. They were known for playing some of the most uninspiring football, even during their UEFA Cup-winning season. But starting last season, they had steadily changed that perception. While their attack wasn't reckless or exceptionally beautiful, they consistently scored goals and often produced moments of brilliance—exactly the kind of football Spanish fans adored.

Celta, on the other hand, had long been known for attacking football. Despite fluctuating performances over the years, they remained a team associated with exciting play—who could forget their legendary 5-1 thrashing of Real Madrid in the '90s? Because of these factors, Spanish television chose this match for live broadcast, and neither team disappointe.

From the opening whistle, both teams went on the offensive.

José didn't want Mallorca engaging in an open, back-and-forth shootout. He emphasized maintaining defensive stability and midfield control. Still, with attacking full-backs like Capdevila and George supporting the forward line, Mallorca's offensive presence matched Celta's full-throttle approach.

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Luque, in scorching form recently, was closely marked but continued to create chances with intelligent movement. Given his status as Mallorca's most in-form player, Celta naturally focused their defensive efforts on him.

This inadvertently left Eto'o with more space. Last season's top scorer for Mallorca, Eto'o had struggled somewhat this campaign. The shift in Mallorca's tactics played a role—last season, they relied more on counter-attacks, which suited Eto'o's speed. But with the team playing a more aggressive attacking style, space was harder to come by, making him less effective. So far, he had only scored five league goals, and during Luque's incredible 12-match scoring streak, he had netted just twice. Frustration was building.

José had noticed but remained silent.

This challenge was an opportunity for Eto'o to evolve. Without as much space to exploit, he needed to sharpen his burst acceleration, shot selection, and ability to drop deep and create chances. If he could develop these skills, his overall game would reach new heights.

José wasn't in a hurry. If Eto'o couldn't make the adjustment on his own, he would step in at the right time to guide him. But so far, Eto'o had already been working harder—his movement was more purposeful, his finishing more decisive. He might not even need José's intervention.

"Top players always find ways to grow."

José observed Eto'o, who was quietly moving off the ball, barely noticed by the defenders.

Strikers don't always have to be in the spotlight—sometimes, all it takes is one perfect moment.

Some strikers shine constantly. Others lurk like assassins in the dark, waiting for the moment to strike.

Eto'o belonged to the latter. As a pure center-forward without exceptional physical strength or aerial ability, his greatest weapon was his speed. Now, he needed to develop a second weapon—his intelligence.

While defenders focused on Luque, Eto'o remained invisible. He was waiting for his moment.

Ronaldinho received the ball just outside the box. With a delicate left-footed flick, he lifted the ball forward.

Eto'o burst out from the crowd, meeting the ball with a swift turn and a volleyed strike!

In the blink of an eye, he had escaped his marker, sprinted into position, and fired off a shot—all in one fluid motion.

Before the fans could even react, the ball had already hit the back of the net!

"Goooaaaal! Saaaaa—mueeeeel!" The commentator's voice stretched as Eto'o ran towards the stands.

The Mallorca fans stood as one, arms raised like a forest, shouting in unison:

"Eto'o!"

Despite his slow start to the season, the fans hadn't forgotten his contributions from last year. Even during his goal drought, they never jeered him. And now, in this moment, they roared their support—welcoming back the Cheetah of Mallorca!

José extended his right arm, pointing at Eto'o.

Eto'o ran over and embraced him. This had been a tough period for him, but José's unwavering trust had allowed him to rediscover his form. His gratitude was immense.

While Mallorca celebrated, Celta was already preparing their response. They had matched Mallorca in attack so far and didn't believe they were inferior.

With nearly 20 minutes left in the first half, they had plenty of time to equalize.

Their response was swift—building through their two well-coordinated Russian midfielders, Celta's front three constantly switched positions, while their full-backs pushed forward aggressively.

As Celta pressed forward, Mallorca played slightly more conservatively. Leading the game, they didn't need to leave unnecessary gaps at the back.

Meanwhile, Eto'o kept moving, seeking spaces to exploit.

"Didier, are you watching Samuel's movement?" José asked, turning to Drogba on the bench.

Drogba nodded. "Yes... He's constantly shaking off his marker, trying to get into open space to receive the ball unchallenged."

"Exactly. Think about why he does that. If it were you, what would you do?" José pressed.

"Because Samuel is incredibly fast. If he gets space and receives the ball, he can accelerate past defenders instantly. Compared to him, Celta's center-backs are slower. As long as the pass is good, he can create a chance—even an ordinary pass could be dangerous with his speed."

Drogba paused before shaking his head. "But I wouldn't play that way. I'm not as fast as Samuel. My strength is in my aerial ability and physical duels. If it were me, I'd position myself near midfield as a target man, controlling long balls. But for that to work, I'd need fast wingers running off me."

José grinned. "That's exactly right. I'm not asking you to copy Samuel. You're a different kind of striker. The key is to study other players, understand what makes them effective, and then find the best way to apply your own strengths."

Drogba nodded, absorbing the lesson.

Just then, the stadium erupted once more—Eto'o had done it again!

Catanha's dribble was intercepted by Nadal, who immediately passed forward to Motta. Motta's through ball found Ronaldinho, who cleverly let it run past him—straight to Eto'o!

Eto'o, already in full sprint, had left his marker trailing. He took one touch to push the ball forward and broke into Celta's half at full speed.

Defenders scrambled to chase him, but Eto'o's ball control had improved—despite dribbling at full speed, he didn't slow down.

By the time he reached the box, no one could catch him.

One-on-one with the keeper, he calmly slotted the ball past him—goal!

Two goals!

The African Cheetah, who had terrorized La Liga defenders last season, was officially back!