I Am Jose

When the referee blew the whistle signaling the end of the first half, Barcelona fans watched with some disappointment as both teams walked off the pitch. Despite dominating possession for much of the half, Barcelona had been unable to break through Mallorca's defense...

This feeling was familiar to many teams that had faced Mallorca since the start of the second half of the season. Mallorca's defense might not be the most famous, composed of older players, but they were seasoned professionals with exceptional experience. Most opposing players were familiar with them, and although they weren't the most aggressive defenders, they consistently disrupted the attacking flow, making opponents' attacks frustrating and affecting their performance.

The Mallorca players walked proudly into the tunnel. Regardless of Barcelona's relatively weaker form this season, it was still not easy to defeat them, especially at Camp Nou. To lead Barcelona by a goal at halftime and frustrate their attack for most of the half was something worth being proud of.

"We've done well in the first half, but I need to warn you that the second half is where the real test lies. Their attack was a bit disorganized, mostly relying on Rivaldo. But that won't be the case in the second half. I expect Figo to come on. Although Van Gaal wanted him to rest, he won't leave him out in this situation. Once he's on the field, Barcelona's attack will be complete, and the pressure on us will grow. We need to step up our defense even more," José said in the locker room, moving a few pieces representing players' positions on the tactical board.

"We'll continue to tighten our defense, but we must defend even more thoroughly! The fullbacks should drop back into the penalty area to make our defense in the box more compact. This is the kind of defense Barcelona hates most."

José paused and added, "Barcelona's attack is impressive, but their strength is not in overpowering opponents. Kluivert is a great striker, but under Van Gaal, his most valuable role is in creating chances for others. Although he can score, when faced with tight defense, his job is to help teammates by creating space in the box. So, we need to pack the penalty area with defenders. Don't worry about their movements outside the box; just prevent them from cutting inside. Smother them, block them! If they try to cross high balls, I don't believe Kluivert can score over our two central defenders. Mallorca's defense is among the tallest in La Liga, and that's our advantage. We'll make full use of that advantage—defend thoroughly, and show them what impenetrable defense looks like. Even if we score just one goal, we have the ability to hold onto that lead until the final whistle."

José knew that Barcelona's biggest weakness was their struggle against tight defenses. They could thrive in open, attacking games—last season's thrilling high-scoring draws with Bayern and Manchester United were proof of that. But against teams that defended compactly, Barcelona struggled to break through. Despite having a strong striker, good wingers, and long-range shooters, they all needed space to be effective. José's plan was simple: eliminate that space.

"The wingers need to drop back, and forwards, your job isn't just to score but also to disrupt their defense, create chaos. If you get the chance to attack, go for it, but remember—there won't be much support from your teammates. The attack is all on you two," José said, addressing Eto'o and Tristan.

Eto'o and Tristan nodded in understanding. They recognized the trust José was placing in them—he believed they could break through Barcelona's defense, even without much help.

"If the chance comes, I'll take it! I'm not afraid. With the boss's plan, they'll push high, and we'll only face one or two defenders," Tristan thought to himself.

"One goal won't be enough… If I can score more at Camp Nou, maybe next season, I'll have a spot in this stadium," Eto'o mused internally.

Mallorca's players had no qualms about adopting a defensive strategy. Leading Barcelona by a goal away from home made it a perfectly reasonable choice. It was a strategy they were comfortable with, and it was also the most sensible one in this situation.

As for whether using a parked bus strategy was shameful—Mallorca's players didn't care. Under coach Luis Aragonés, the team had never played glamorous football, but they'd won the Copa del Rey, finished sixth in La Liga, and reached the Cup Winners' Cup final. Last season, they finished third in the league and second in the Cup Winners' Cup, earning the cheers of Mallorca's fans.

Not every La Liga fan cared about beautiful football; Mallorca's supporters, in particular, valued victories over flashy attacks. Perhaps due to the team's history of relegation struggles, they loved seeing their team win rather than focusing on aesthetics.

So, playing a full defensive strategy was no problem for Mallorca's players.

But José's intentions went beyond just securing a win. He was preparing for more than just this game.

José had already concluded that relegation wouldn't be a problem for Mallorca. Their survival prospects were solid, with many teams near the relegation zone, and more teams at risk of falling. As long as Mallorca secured enough points in the "six-pointer" matches against struggling teams, they would comfortably stay up.

This game didn't matter much for Mallorca's survival. Even if they lost, it wouldn't affect their status. But José had another reason for wanting to push for a win: a dress rehearsal for the UEFA Cup final.

Although the semifinals were still ongoing, José had already set his sights on the final. With a two-goal advantage and a clean sheet in the first leg, Mallorca had a great chance of making it to the final. Their likely opponent would be Arsenal.

Even though Arsenal only won 1-0 in the first leg against Lens, José knew their attacking strength would easily see them through. If Mallorca reached the final, their opponent would almost certainly be Arsenal.

Under Wenger, Arsenal had transformed from a team known for rough play under George Graham to a side renowned for beautiful, attacking football. Their quick, fluid attacks, led by technical players like Bergkamp, Henry, and Ljungberg, could overwhelm any opponent. Going head-to-head in an open attacking match against Arsenal would be a death sentence for Mallorca.

José didn't want to die, so he was already preparing for the final by practicing a defensive strategy. His only choice was to defend thoroughly and wait for counterattacks.

Thus, his approach in this game was more than just to secure a win against Barcelona—it was an experiment for the final. No team in La Liga had such a fluid attacking style as Arsenal, but Barcelona came close. If José couldn't handle Barcelona's attack, he doubted he could stop Arsenal's.

José's goal wasn't just to score, but to keep a clean sheet. If Mallorca could shut down Barcelona's attack, even a single counterattack goal could secure the win. If they couldn't score, they'd take it to penalties, knowing English teams often struggled in penalty shootouts.

At this moment, José wasn't just focused on Barcelona; he was already testing his defense for the upcoming UEFA Cup final.

"Let's see if Barcelona's attack can break through my defense. Let's see how my tactics hold up," José thought coldly as he walked behind his players out of the locker room.

Barcelona, the two-time La Liga champions, had become José's testing ground. It would be interesting to see whether it would be a moment of glory or regret for them. But if Van Gaal knew, he would definitely be furious.