Chapter 137: Success After Hardship
The Seville Olympic Stadium was built in 1999 for the World Athletics Championships that year. However, it had no connection to the local Sevilla club. After construction, the stadium remained largely unused, occasionally serving as a venue for the Spanish national team. The local government had long hoped to sell or lease it, given the high annual maintenance costs. But neither of the city's two major clubs, Sevilla FC and Real Betis, were interested, as they already had their own home grounds.
"What a waste," José thought to himself. He would love for Mallorca to have such a stadium, one already built and even being offered by the government.
Unfortunately, Mallorca was never in a position to host major tournaments. The club had no choice but to continue renting the Son Moix Stadium.
José pulled his gaze away from the stadium and focused on the match.
Given the club he had taken charge of, there was no choice but to take things step by step—win more trophies, build a reputation, and eventually work toward a new stadium. Overcoming challenges made success all the more satisfying.
Real Zaragoza looked nothing like their lackluster league form in this match. In La Liga, their poor performances stemmed from dissatisfaction with the club's management and lack of ambition. But now, with the Copa del Rey title on the line, they were highly motivated.
However, Mallorca's determination burned even brighter.
Mallorca had a full squad, while Zaragoza was missing two key players—Argentine striker Esnáider, on loan from Juventus, was suspended, as was Spanish international defender Paco. Esnáider had scored 11 goals in the second half of the season, making him Zaragoza's most dangerous forward. Meanwhile, Paco was the backbone of their defense. Their absences were a massive blow to Zaragoza.
From the opening whistle, Mallorca launched relentless attacks, pressing aggressively in midfield and relying on Thiago Motta to orchestrate from deep. This left Zaragoza struggling whether to sit back or press high.
If they defended deep, Mallorca would patiently probe and wear them down. If they pressed, Motta and Ronaldinho had the vision to exploit space behind them, and with Eto'o and Ibagaza's speed, that was a nightmare waiting to happen.
It didn't take long for Mallorca's onslaught to pay off.