I Am Jose

Watching the intense situation on the field, Oleary found himself in a dilemma.

Oleary was an excellent coach, but his strength lay in managing a team, gradually shaping it into a cohesive, flawless unit, and then devising a suitable tactical plan. However, his expertise didn't extend to live match-day tactics and adjustments.

This was a common issue for English Premier League coaches. They often enjoy long tenures in a single position with significant power, allowing them ample time to build strong teams. Because of this, they focused more on team development. Even top-tier coaches like Ferguson and Wenger weren't known for their tactical prowess—Wenger, for instance, was often mocked for giving his players maximum freedom on the pitch, with little tactical direction after setting up his starting lineup. This lack of in-game management contributed to Arsenal's seven years without a title.

On the other hand, Ferguson was someone José deeply respected. Though initially, Ferguson followed the traditional English coaching style, the stubborn old man continually improved. Whether through signing players like Verón to boost the midfield or sacrificing Rooney for Cristiano Ronaldo later in his career, Ferguson showed remarkable growth. Even though he made mistakes, the fact that he kept evolving as a coach was admirable.

In the Premier League, the large authority coaches hold and the favorable coaching environment often lead to a lack of attention to tactical details. It wasn't until tactical masterminds like Benítez and the "madman" Mourinho entered the league that significant improvements occurred. Yet, even now, in this era, the flaw in in-game tactical adjustments still existed among many English coaches.

Compared to their Italian counterparts, English coaches were at a disadvantage. In Italy, coaches didn't receive the same level of respect. Fans preferred players or club presidents, with the latter often enjoying more attention than English Premier League presidents. Coaches in Serie A were frequently made scapegoats, with even legendary figures like Capello being dismissed without much hesitation. In this harsh environment, Serie A coaches couldn't afford to spend excessive time building a team. Instead, they honed their skills in match-day adjustments, always under pressure to win, or else risk being fired.

Thus, when the match became stalemated, Oleary didn't realize how unfavorable the situation had become. Instead, when the game seemed to be in a deadlock, he was somewhat relieved. After all, playing away from home, his goal was simply not to lose, and if he could secure a draw, that would be enough.

A deadlock wasn't a bad thing. It was just one goal down—who knew when someone from the front could burst into action, or perhaps a free kick could be taken by Hart and result in an equalizer?

With this thought in mind, Oleary remained silent and continued to watch.

On the field, Mallorca kept possession and built up their attacks slowly, each one requiring a lot of time. Leeds, on the other hand, launched their attacks much faster. After losing the ball in the front, Mallorca immediately pressed high, forcing the technically weaker Leeds players to quickly send the ball upfield, whether by air or ground, but the success rate of these attacks wasn't high.

Long passes were often intercepted by Nino and Nadal, and even when they didn't win the first ball, Mallorca was excellent at covering the second balls. The four veteran defenders rarely strayed from their positions. Ground passes also struggled to penetrate the defensive line, with N'Gonga and Soler's interceptions effectively stopping Leeds' forward movements. Each time Leeds lost the ball, their players had to expend more energy to regain possession, further draining their stamina.