Chapter 124: Only Offense
When the referee blew the whistle to signal the end of the first half, many felt a sense of unfinished business.
Although only one goal had been scored in the first half—a stunning solo effort by Eto'o—the match had been highly entertaining. Both teams displayed exceptional skill in both attack and defense, making it a technically rich and visually appealing game.
As the players left the field, the fans in the stands gave them a warm round of applause. While Mallorca's supporters weren't as demanding as those of Real Madrid or Barcelona, who might prefer a thrilling 3-4 loss over a dull 1-0 win, they were still La Liga fans. After such an exciting first half, many Mallorca fans began to feel that even if they lost the match, it wouldn't be a disappointment.
José, however, didn't share this sentiment. Although Mallorca's current squad wasn't the strongest, he was inherently a proponent of attractive football. For him, the ultimate goal wasn't just to win, but to win with style.
Only a handful of teams could achieve this, but José believed that Mallorca could be one of them. This mindset might seem obsessive, but it's often the case that those who achieve great success are driven by such obsessions.
Even with his pursuit of perfection, José couldn't find much fault with his team's performance in the first half.
Perhaps due to their recent slump in the previous two matches, Mallorca's players had risen to the occasion. Valencia, too, had shown signs of recovery after their three consecutive losses, gradually regaining the form they had displayed earlier in the season.
Yet, despite facing a resurgent Valencia, Mallorca had managed to gain both a tactical and a scoreline advantage in an open, attacking game. José had no reason to criticize his players.
Moreover, José wasn't the type of coach who criticized for the sake of it. When his players performed well, he was quick to praise them.