Chapter 172: Hitzfeld’s Adjustment
Motta made a forward run, broke through, and passed to Ronaldinho. Ronaldinho dribbled forward before distributing the ball to Luque. Luque took a first-time shot, forcing Kahn into a desperate save, but Eto'o was lightning-quick to pounce on the rebound and smash it into the net!
It all happened in a flash. By the time the fans in the stands and those watching on TV could process what had just transpired, the ball was already nestled in Bayern's net, lying there quietly...
"GOAL! A beautiful counterattack! Kahn managed to stop Luque's one-on-one effort, but he was powerless against Eto'o's immediate follow-up! Bayern's slow defensive reaction cost them dearly! Kahn has done everything he could, but the defensive line in front of him is simply frustratingly unreliable..."
Eto'o, Luque, and Ronaldinho embraced tightly!
From the moment the attack was launched from midfield, these three were the final executioners. And time and time again, they had lived up to José's expectations—never letting him down, never disappointing Mallorca's fans!
On the sidelines, José exchanged high-fives with his assistant coaches and substitute players, satisfied not just with the goal itself but also with the way his team had executed it. Mallorca had demonstrated great fighting spirit even on the road, and more importantly, their attacking system had remained intact. José could already envision Mallorca's glorious future!
When Motta had the ball, he had two teammates available for a pass. When Ronaldinho received it, he also had two passing options ahead of him. If Rufete got the ball on the right flank, Ronaldinho and Motta would be there to support him. Even when the two strikers received possession, whether it was their strike partner or an overlapping winger, there were always two available passing outlets.
Every player in possession had a triangular support structure around them. These triangles weren't equilateral; their size and angles varied depending on the situation. But no matter what, there were always teammates available on either side, constantly moving into space to create passing options.
For a team like Mallorca that aims to play technical, possession-based football, such short-passing combinations were essential. This wasn't an attack that relied on just one or two playmakers—it was a system built on team-wide chemistry, excellent close control, and intelligent passing. Fortunately, Mallorca was a La Liga team, and Spanish players were naturally skilled in these areas. That made it easier for José to establish the foundation of his playing philosophy.