Chapter 156: Problem Solved
Mallorca started the season with a 3-0 victory over Las Palmas. While it wasn't an earth-shattering win, it did set a new record for the club—it was the first time in three years that Mallorca had won their opening league match. In the past two seasons, they had never managed to kick off with a victory. But now, in José's first full season in charge from the start, they had secured a strong opening win.
And it wasn't just a win—it was a dominant performance. It was so convincing that it signaled a fundamental shift. Mallorca was no longer just an upper mid-table team; they were now a true powerhouse.
In previous seasons, even after José took over, Mallorca often struggled against lower-tier teams. They would win, but only by the slimmest of margins, often by just a single goal. However, as last season progressed, their dominance became more apparent. They ended the league campaign with three consecutive four-goal performances and even defeated Barcelona 3-1 in the Copa del Rey, proving their continued improvement.
Being a strong team isn't just about playing well against top opponents—it's about overwhelming weaker teams, too. That's the true hallmark of a great team. And now, Mallorca had reached that level.
After this round of league matches, national teams called up their players for international duty. Eto'o was with Cameroon, Ronaldinho with Brazil, Kaladze with Georgia, Gamarra with Paraguay, Van Buyten with Belgium, and Rufete with Spain. This made six Mallorca players on international duty, an increase from last season's five. Despite Delgado's departure, the arrivals of Van Buyten and Rufete kept Mallorca's international presence strong.
José was particularly surprised that Capdevila had also been called up by Spain. It was likely due to Barcelona's Sergi not performing well last season, leaving Spain without a solid left-back option—a problem that was widespread across world football.
Capdevila was delighted. His move to Mallorca had been driven by the desire for more playing time in La Liga, and now he had achieved his goal. It also reinforced his commitment to staying at the club. The top four teams in La Liga already had established left-backs: Roberto Carlos at Real Madrid, Sergi at Barcelona, Romero at Deportivo, and Carboni at Valencia. While they were aging, they were still performing well. Given Mallorca's strong standing in the league, Capdevila had no reason to leave.
Franco, on the other hand, was frustrated. The national team continued to overlook him, even though Atlético Madrid's Burgos, playing in the Segunda División, had been called up. It was clear that Bielsa preferred experienced players over newcomers.
Besides his omission from the national team, Franco faced another issue.