I Am Jose-Chapter 120 - : Not Stable Enough

José wasn't making a spur-of-the-moment decision when he took an interest in this rebellious-looking young player.

From the two defensive plays just now, José could see that this young man, Matías, had outstanding physical qualities. He was tall but not clumsy. Though he lacked top-end speed and had a slow turning radius, his excellent physicality, jumping ability, positioning, and aggressive mindset made up for it. Besides, turning speed could be compensated with experience. Many top-level center-backs weren't particularly agile in their turns, yet that never stopped them from becoming elite defenders. For a center-back, speed and agility weren't everything.

José also had a pretty good idea of why Matías had been overlooked and constantly used as a training dummy for attacking players. Spanish teams still prioritized attack over defense. They valued offensive players while showing little regard for defenders. Matías' slow turning speed only made it easier for people to write him off. On top of that, he was likely the type to have a fiery temper, unwilling to be someone else's punching bag. Naturally, this made it even harder for him to gain recognition.

A talented center-back being ignored for all the wrong reasons—José wasn't about to let this opportunity slip away. And the best part? Matías was still under seventeen and hadn't signed a professional contract yet. That meant José could bring him in for free, pay him a modest wage, and if things didn't work out, there'd be no real loss. But if he did pan out, it'd be an absolute steal.

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After bidding farewell to the now-excited father and son, José returned to the team's hotel. It was almost time for the squad to regroup and head back to Mallorca. Whether Matías decided to come or not was no longer his concern. The youngster would start in the youth team and might get called up to the reserves if they were short on numbers. At this stage, he wasn't needed in the first team.

Solving the issue of Matías' slow turning speed would require more than just targeted training—it also required experience. Only by facing a variety of forwards could he improve his anticipation and compensate for his weaknesses. Take Nadal, for example. Was he slow? Yes—very slow. Especially this past season at Mallorca, as age caught up with him, his turning speed declined even further. Yet, he remained one of La Liga's top defenders because of his vast experience. His seemingly clumsy but highly effective defensive work consistently shut down opposition attacks.

That evening, after resting for a day in Madrid, the Mallorca squad returned to the island, where they were greeted by a hero's welcome. Mallorca's fans were easy to please—just one victory over Real Madrid was enough to make them celebrate as if they had won a championship.

The short break didn't seem to affect Mallorca's form. In the second leg of their Copa del Rey third-round tie, despite fielding a squad mixed with starters and backups, they still secured a victory. Delgado bagged a brace, showcasing fine form.

Three consecutive league wins and two cup victories had the entire Mallorca camp buzzing with excitement. They were now fifth in the league, had reached the Copa del Rey quarterfinals, and although they had no European competition this season, they had a chance to make history in both domestic competitions.

The recent success created an air of optimism. After beating both Barcelona and Real Madrid, was there any team left that could stop them? No way!

However, that overconfidence came back to bite them. As they prepared for their away match against Valladolid, complacency seeped into the squad.

"We beat Barça and Madrid—what's Valladolid compared to them? Sure, they held us to a draw at home in the first round, but that was when José wasn't here. With him in charge now, there's no way we lose, right?"

That mindset led to a harsh reality check.

In the match against Valladolid, Mallorca played sluggishly, constantly making errors. Despite attacking persistently, they couldn't break through the opposition's defense. Instead, Valladolid caught them on the counter twice and buried both chances. Even after using all three substitutions, José couldn't turn things around. Eventually, he stopped directing from the sidelines altogether and just leaned against the dugout, watching in silence. In the end, Mallorca suffered a 2-0 defeat. Fortunately, Rayo Vallecano also lost, allowing Mallorca to cling to fifth place in the standings.

"We played poorly, so we lost. No excuses. We're still a young team. One match we're in top form, the next we can be completely off—that's normal. No need to make a big deal out of it."

At the post-match press conference, José remained composed. But the players knew better. Their coach was anything but calm. His stormy expression in the dressing room said it all—he was furious, and they were about to face the consequences.

"Tomorrow's day off is canceled. We're heading straight to Celta to prepare for the Copa del Rey match."

José didn't care about the extra cost of accommodations. It wasn't his money anyway.

Mallorca was still a young team, and that wasn't just an excuse. Compared to the first half of the season, the starting lineup had undergone massive changes—new attacking focal points, a new playmaker, a new lethal striker, new wingers on both flanks. These players had little chemistry together. Their stability against Barça and Madrid was crucial in those victories, but since they hadn't developed true cohesion yet, consistency was purely down to luck.

One game, they played well and beat giants. The next, they played poorly and lost to Valladolid. That inconsistency proved they had talent but lacked stability.

There were no shortcuts to fixing that. Only intense training and a relentless schedule of matches could build chemistry and consistency.

So, in the days leading up to the cup tie, José put his players through grueling training sessions. It was practically a mini boot camp, testing their physical and mental endurance. And this time, unlike previous cup matches, he didn't field a mix of starters and reserves—he sent out a full-strength lineup.

They had reached the quarterfinals. One more step and they'd be in the semis—it would be a shame to fall short now. Plus, Celta was no pushover. Using this match to improve team chemistry was a solid plan.

Celta had struggled this season. Despite signing last season's top striker, Catania, and seeing him perform well, their results had been poor. They had even flirted with relegation, only climbing out of the danger zone after beating Osasuna in the last round.

This was a far cry from the Celta of last season—a team that had competed in Europe and famously crushed Juventus 4-0 in the UEFA Cup.

But for mid-table teams, a single breakout season often led to decline in the following years. Celta, though a respected club, was not a powerhouse.

Now, with safety in the league temporarily secured, Celta saw the Copa del Rey as a chance to restore confidence. They too fielded a near-full-strength squad, including Russian midfield duo Karpin and Mostovoi, as well as star striker Catania.

José's tactical instructions were straightforward: stick to their usual game plan—aggressive midfield pressing, fast-paced attacking transitions, and patient buildup from the back.

Mallorca's new system had proven effective against Barça and Madrid. But their loss to Valladolid showed it was still unstable. This cup match would test both sides of that equation.

Early on, Celta's aggressive pressing dominated midfield. Mallorca's lack of chemistry and experience showed, as Karpin and Mostovoi controlled the game, neutralizing Motta and launching waves of attacks. With Mallorca unable to gain a foothold in midfield, their attack faltered, while Celta's offensive pressure increased.

Catania capitalized on this, scoring twice in the first half—once assisted by Karpin, once by Mostovoi. As Celta's fans roared in celebration, dreaming of a semifinal berth, Mallorca finally fought back in the second half.

With Motta struggling, Ronaldinho dropped deeper to dictate play. Taking on more responsibility, he orchestrated Mallorca's resurgence.

In the 67th minute, Ronaldinho fed Motta, who chipped a perfect pass over the defense. Eto'o controlled it smoothly and slotted home—2-1.

In the 81st minute, Mallorca's relentless pressure paid off. Luque received the ball in the box and laid it off for Ibagaza, who rifled in a long-range equalizer—2-2!

Mallorca pushed hard for a winner but couldn't break through. Still, a 2-2 away draw was a great result for a two-legged tie.

"We weren't at our best, but I'm satisfied. No great team is built overnight. Our recent struggles only highlight how well we performed before. But look at the standings—we're in a good position. We'll keep fighting, game by game. I have no doubt—we will become a top team."