Chapter 133: A Broader Vision
For the entire La Liga, the situation had become quite clear.
In the next three rounds, Mallorca only needed to win one match, and with Barcelona trailing by seven points, they would no longer be able to catch up. This meant Barcelona and Valencia would be left fighting for the final Champions League spot. Meanwhile, Deportivo La Coruña had to win all three of their remaining matches to secure second place. Their hopes of defending their league title were almost non-existent, as they trailed Real Madrid by six points. As for Real Madrid, they only needed four more points to clinch their first league title in three years, fulfilling Vicente del Bosque's dream.
After returning from Barcelona, Mallorca prepared to host Rayo Vallecano at Son Moix Stadium.
Compared to last season, the roles of Mallorca and Rayo Vallecano had completely reversed.
The last time Rayo visited Mallorca, José had yet to coach a professional team, Mallorca was rock bottom in the standings with low morale, while Rayo was flying high in third place, aiming to achieve a miraculous season as a newly promoted club.
Now, just a year later, Mallorca had fully recovered, climbed back to third place, and all but secured a Champions League spot. On the other hand, Rayo had slipped to 14th, only four points above the relegation zone, still battling to avoid the drop.
When Rayo's female president, Teresa, met Mallorca's president, Alemany Sr., in the VIP box, she couldn't help but feel emotional.
"I have to say, you have an outstanding son."
If she had said this a year ago, it would have sounded more like courtesy—or even sarcasm. But now, she was entirely sincere. At just 26 years old, José had become one of the best coaches in La Liga. As a father, Alemany Sr. had every reason to be proud.
The elder Alemany responded modestly, his smile growing wider. He had always looked like a kind and cheerful old man, but now his happiness was even more evident.
However, José was not as gentle as his father. Facing a struggling Rayo Vallecano, he had no intention of showing mercy.