I Am Jose

For this match, Barcelona's newly appointed coach, Reixach, was facing serious headaches.

He had only been given the reins of Barcelona just before the New Year, and this winter the club had injected very little cash into the transfer market. Although they had made a tidy profit off Figo in the summer, the transfers of Ovimas, Petit, and Gerard had already absorbed all the funds generated by Figo's move—and their combined wages far exceeded Figo's own.

Moreover, even though signing Alfonso on a bargain from Betis had been a stroke of luck, his salary—along with those of the other new signings—placed a heavy burden on Barcelona's books. If these players performed, all would be well; but based solely on their performances this half-season, these major summer signings had been a complete letdown.

Ovimas was originally envisioned as Figo's ideal successor. However, although the Dutch winger was talented, he lacked the all-around playmaking ability of Figo. Accustomed as he was to the direct, high-tempo style of the Premier League, he struggled to adapt to La Liga's nuances. Petit, despite an impressive showing at the European Championship that summer, had seen his form drop significantly this season—his displays paled in comparison to those of Cocu. And Gerard, ever since his return to Barcelona, had failed to recapture his Valencia form; frequent injuries had rendered him largely ineffective. As for Alfonso? Let's just say he was no longer the Golden Boot winner he once was.

The cadre of Dutch players had flourished under Van Gaal's system. Once Van Gaal left, whether it was a case of "mourning the loss of one star while celebrating another" or simply the natural decline of a system, many of their performances began to fluctuate wildly. Only a handful—Cocu, Frank de Boer, Kluivert, and a few others—managed to maintain their previous standards. That group of Dutchmen had been the wellspring of Barcelona's success over the past three seasons. With their form in decline and the new signings failing to deliver, Barcelona's slide was, sadly, inevitable.

Reixach's starting lineup for this match was as follows:

Goalkeeper: Frenchman DitrulDefenders: On the right, Puyol; on the left, Sergi; central defenders Avelado and Frank de Boer paired upMidfield: With captain Guardiola sidelined due to injury, the young Xavi partnered with Cocu in central midfieldWingers: Ovimas on one flank and Luis Enrique on the otherForwards: Rivaldo and Kluivert up front

Since Van Gaal's departure, Rivaldo was arguably the happiest beneficiary. Under Van Gaal, he had been forced to play exclusively as a left forward—a role that had frustrated him. Once Van Gaal was gone, both Ferrer and Reixach granted Rivaldo ample freedom, and his goal tally soared. With 11 league goals in 16 matches and 6 goals in just 6 Champions League appearances, Rivaldo's scoring rate confirmed his status as a top-tier star. Given space, he could score almost at will—but his individual brilliance failed to translate into overall team success. In fact, as his tally climbed, Barcelona's winning chances steadily diminished.

When the players emerged from the tunnel, over 20,000 Mallorca fans erupted in thunderous cheers—though their applause was reserved exclusively for the home side.