Chapter 88: What Position Should You Play?
After the match against Numancia, there was a week of adjustment time. During this period, José asked Karaze and Ronaldinho to come to Mallorca for joint training with the team. The transfer procedures and medical exams had already been completed, so the contracts were legally valid, and they were just waiting for the transfer window to open. José's idea was to get them integrated with the team as soon as possible. Even if they couldn't play yet, it would be good for them to familiarize themselves with the teammates early on.
Karaze, a versatile player, could play anywhere in the defense or midfield. José knew well that this guy had played as a left-back, center-back, left-winger, and even as a defensive midfielder in AC Milan. At least before his mysterious decline in form, he had been able to perform well in all these positions. So, despite not being a fixed first-choice player in such a prestigious club, he was still extremely important. When compared to the other famous Georgian player, Kinkladze, Karaze was clearly the more determined one—Kinkladze, despite his immense talent and incredible technical ability, had followed a downward spiral at Manchester City after being relegated twice, and after that, he never regained his former form. When European media compared the two famous Georgian players, they remarked, "When Kinkladze sat on the bench, lamenting his bad luck, Karaze was silently working hard on the training ground." Perhaps it was this difference that made Karaze eventually become a symbol of Georgian football, surpassing Kinkladze in reputation.
When Karaze first reported to the team, he appeared quite mature. After all, he had started playing abroad at the age of 19, setting a record for Georgian players. Kinkladze had left for foreign leagues a few months after him. The long-term training abroad made Karaze seem older than his actual age, and his impressive beard gave him a very mature look.
On the other hand, Ronaldinho had a completely different style. His dark face was always adorned with a bright smile, radiating positive energy. His buck teeth gave him a harmless and charming vibe, which made him likable. Ronaldinho's list of achievements—such as winning the U-17 World Cup, Copa América, and Confederations Cup Golden Boot—made the Mallorca players accept him with a respectful but non-competitive attitude. After all, Ronaldinho's achievements far surpassed any of the current Mallorca players. His arrival represented the club's growing confidence and stature—such star players hadn't been attracted to Mallorca before!
The team had promoted two players from the youth academy and signed two new ones, making this winter transfer window quite a significant personnel change for Mallorca. With new owners, the team's approach was clearly different.
This change made everyone more focused. After all, the new head coach was not just another figurehead—he was the real boss now.
During the next week's training, José focused on attacking tactics. The defense couldn't be overly relied upon anymore. After all, the extreme defensive strategy that led to their victory in the Cup Winners' Cup final last season was no longer viable. To achieve better results, the focus had to be on improving the attack.
The four-man defensive system had to remain intact. Despite the growing popularity of three-man defenses in European football, José knew that this system had its inherent flaws. The successful teams with three-man defenses typically had top-tier wingbacks, capable of playing both defense and attack. Teams like Brazil in the 2002 World Cup, Real Madrid last season, Roma in Italy a few years ago, and Fiorentina, who had the in-form Torricelli and Heinrich—these teams had the right personnel for three-man defenses.
Without such players, teams using a three-man defense would often face disastrous outcomes.