I Am Jose

Bayern Munich's home stadium wasn't the world-renowned Allianz Arena yet—it hadn't even begun construction at this point and was still in the planning phase. Instead, Bayern played their home games at the Munich Olympic Stadium. Though the venue had been in use for over 20 years, it remained a top-class stadium, fully qualified to host European competitions.

For this match, Ottmar Hitzfeld fielded his strongest lineup. His biggest concern was whether José would adopt the same ultra-defensive approach he used in the away match against Arsenal—locking down the game just to secure a point. Bayern would undoubtedly struggle against such tactics, as their forwards, Elber and Pizarro, were more technically skilled than physically dominant.

However, José surprised everyone with an aggressive starting eleven. Rufete, Ronaldinho, Eto'o, and Luque were all in the lineup—clearly emphasizing attack. The only pure defensive-minded player in midfield was Kaladze, while Motta played a deeper playmaking role. The full-backs, Capdevila and George, were also offensively inclined.

After much reflection, José concluded that Mallorca's inconsistent performances at home and away weren't just due to climate differences—it was largely a mindset issue. In key away matches, the team had played well, but in regular away games, they seemed to care less about results than they did at home. This mental approach often led to subpar performances. Unlike home games, where the team was focused solely on winning, they appeared more relaxed in away fixtures.

So, ahead of this match, José balanced his motivational speech—reducing pressure while emphasizing the importance of the game. Now, it was time to see if the approach worked.

Bayern had both physical strength and technical ability, but José believed Mallorca could match them in both areas. As long as the players had the right mentality, they could fight on equal terms—even away in Munich.

While the first match of the group stage was important, even a loss wouldn't be catastrophic. The group's composition wasn't too challenging, and there would still be opportunities to recover. This mindset allowed Mallorca to enter the game with a relaxed yet competitive attitude.

As over 60,000 Bayern fans roared in support, the home side patiently built up their attack. Meanwhile, Mallorca set up a midfield defensive line, staying compact while looking for counterattacking opportunities. Their technical players up front aimed to maximize their advantage in possession and skillful interplay.

Despite Bayern's contingent of South American and French players, their Bundesliga identity remained dominant. The league wasn't known for its technical play, and while Bayern's blend of physicality and skill gave them an edge in Germany, that advantage wasn't as pronounced against Mallorca.

Likewise, Mallorca's physical presence was notable in La Liga, but against Bundesliga opposition, it wasn't as overwhelming. That's why, against Schalke 04, José emphasized technical superiority and quick movement. Against Bayern, he took the same approach—focusing on skill and agility.

Bayern's only true defensive midfielder was young Owen Hargreaves. Though he had exceptional work rate and defensive awareness, dealing with Ronaldinho was another matter entirely. Similarly, José doubted that Kuffour and Robert Kovač alone could contain Luque and Eto'o's attacking threat.