I Am Jose-Chapter 122 - : A Duel of Counterattacking Teams

Both teams were bound to give their all in this match—there was no doubt about it. One glance at the starting lineups was enough to confirm this.

Cooper fielded his strongest XI, despite the Champions League looming just around the corner. His lineup featured:

Goalkeeper: CañizaresDefenders: Angloma, Ayala, Pellegrino, CarboniMidfielders: Baraja, Vicente, Mendieta, AimarForwards: Carew, Angulo

With Deschamps injured and Zahovič failing to integrate into the squad, Cooper had no choice but to deploy his main squad. His bench was also packed with quality players, including Djukic, Zahovič, Kily, Alonso, and Juan Sánchez.

José responded with an aggressive setup:

Goalkeeper: FrancoDefenders: Jorge, Nadal, Niño, CapdevilaMidfielders: Motta, Kaladze, Ibagaza, RonaldinhoForwards: Eto'o, Luque

This was Mallorca's regular lineup in recent matches, and his substitutes included Gamarra, Engonga, and Novo.

—

"Cooper is using a single defensive midfielder in an away game? And he's left Kily on the bench, opting for the young Vicente? Seems like he's aiming for a more attacking approach," Hidalgo remarked.

"Exactly. This choice suggests Cooper wants all three points on the road. I never expected him to abandon his usual cautious approach..." Bones nodded in agreement. "On the other hand, José is even more aggressive. He's playing Ibagaza in midfield to boost the flanks. If he wanted a more conservative option, both Novo and Engonga would have been better choices. The question is: Can Ibagaza handle Carboni?"

"The key battle might be on the wings—Mallorca's right and Valencia's left. Will Carboni crumble under Ibagaza's pressure, or will Vicente give Jorge nightmares? That will be crucial."

"Italian defenders are tough to beat. Mallorca might struggle here," Hidalgo commented.

"Not necessarily. Jorge is a quick player, so he won't have too much trouble dealing with Vicente. Plus, he has the physical advantage," Bones countered.

—

As the two commentators debated, the players entered the pitch.

When Cooper stepped onto the field, the Mallorca fans erupted in applause. He had coached the team for two years, delivering remarkable results. In fact, of the two major trophies in Mallorca's history, Cooper had secured one—the Spanish Super Cup (correction: Mallorca never won the Copa del Rey, as previously stated. That season, Cooper led them to the final, but they finished as runners-up. Since Barcelona won the domestic double, Mallorca was granted a spot in both the Spanish Super Cup and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. Apologies for the earlier mistake). Under his guidance, Mallorca also achieved their highest-ever league finish.

Even though they had parted ways, the good times they shared remained unforgettable.

Cooper raised both hands to acknowledge the crowd. Mallorca was his first stop in Europe, the place where he made a name for himself. Though he left for greater ambitions, his love for the club, the team, and this stadium had never faded.

José, standing nearby, clapped along—he wasn't bothered that Cooper was stealing the spotlight.

After the applause died down, José walked over to shake Cooper's hand.

Read 𝓁at𝙚st chapters at ƒrēenovelkiss.com Only.

"Coach Cooper, last season's match wasn't exciting. This time, I want a real battle," José said.

Cooper smiled. "I expected nothing less. But if you want to win, you'll have to take it from me. I won't go easy on you."

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

—

"Oh, look! José and Cooper are shaking hands before the match. A little over a season ago, José was Cooper's assistant coach. It wouldn't be a stretch to call them master and apprentice..."

"Now, the master has moved on, while the apprentice has taken charge and achieved results that rival his teacher. This showdown will be fascinating!"

"Last season, José's team faced Cooper's Valencia, but because of European commitments, neither side played their strongest XI. José used mostly backups and suffered a narrow defeat. This time, he won't hold back..."

—

The friendly atmosphere lasted until kickoff.

The moment the referee blew his whistle, the Mallorca fans erupted into deafening cheers!

Fueled by their supporters, Mallorca launched an aggressive attack right from the start!

Ronaldinho received the ball in the final third, swiftly dodging Baraja's challenge with a clever touch before sending a quick pass to the right flank.

Ibagaza picked up the ball, facing Carboni's defense. The little Argentine danced on the ball, shifting it nimbly before driving inside.

On the flank, Jorge surged forward, pursued closely by Vicente. Though Vicente wasn't the best defender, his speed allowed him to disrupt Jorge's run.

Seeing Jorge still marked, Ibagaza chose not to pass wide. Instead, he slipped the ball to Luque at the edge of the box.

Luque shielded the ball from Pellegrino, then nudged it backward.

Kaladze arrived and struck a powerful shot from distance!

"Kaladze shoots—oh! He couldn't keep it down! The ball flies over the bar! Mallorca takes the first shot of the game!"

Kaladze shook his head and jogged back. Since joining Mallorca, he had become a regular starter, contributing at both ends of the pitch. However, he had yet to score, which frustrated him.

—

Valencia quickly countered!

Last season, their tactics were often dull—defensive and reliant on lightning-fast counterattacks. While those moments of speed were exhilarating, much of the game was spent sitting deep, waiting for opportunities.

This season, with the departures of deep-lying playmakers Farinós and Gerard, and especially the speedy striker López, Cooper had no choice but to adopt a more proactive approach. His current squad was better suited for possession play rather than counterattacks.

Mendieta remained Valencia's attacking lynchpin. At his peak, he was a complete midfielder—capable of both offense and defense, commanding the game like a true leader. Valencia's attacks flowed through him.

As soon as Mendieta received the ball, Kaladze stepped up to press. His primary task in this match was to contain the Valencia captain.

But Mendieta didn't linger—he immediately flicked the ball forward to Aimar.

Aimar, already a rising star in Argentina, had formed a dynamic partnership with River Plate's Saviola before moving to Valencia. His flair and dribbling ability added vibrancy to Valencia's attack.

The moment Aimar got the ball, Motta closed in.

Yet, Aimar's agility outmatched Motta's defensive reach. With a quick feint, he sent Motta off balance, then swiftly darted past him!

Motta reacted fast, pivoting and using his strength to shoulder Aimar—though behind him, he could still apply pressure.

Realizing the defense was still organized and Motta was harassing him, Aimar chose not to force his way through.

Instead, he sent a diagonal pass to the left for Vicente!

—

Vicente sprinted forward, challenging Jorge in a footrace.

In his prime, Jorge would have had no trouble matching pace, but age had caught up with him. After an intense burst, Vicente reached the ball first.

"Great players, like great beauties, are rarely seen growing old... Aging is merciless. No matter how glorious your past was, younger opponents will inevitably take your place."

While Jorge was beaten for speed, he stayed close, preventing Vicente from cutting inside.

Vicente, not known for inside runs, drove straight to the byline before whipping in a cross!

His target? John Carew.

The towering Norwegian, nearly two meters tall, was Valencia's marquee signing. Though inconsistent, he was a crucial piece of their attacking puzzle. In a league like La Liga, his height was a nightmare for defenders.

Nadal and Niño leapt to challenge him, but Carew dominated the aerial duel, powering a header toward goal!

However, their presence had affected his shot—Franco reacted quickly, diving to catch the ball!

"Valencia counters swiftly! Carew's header is saved by Franco! From the opening minutes, this match has been intense—two traditionally defensive teams have turned this into an exhilarating attacking showdown!"

The crowd roared even louder, urging Mallorca to strike back!