Chapter 185: José’s Plan
Samuel Eto'o spread his arms and sprinted across the pitch, brimming with confidence.
The goal he had just scored was a classic Eto'o strike—exploiting the open space behind the opposition's defense, using his blistering speed to tear through the backline, and finishing clinically. However, this time, Eto'o could clearly feel his recent progress.
His dribbling while running at full speed had improved, his control over the ball was much better, and all of this allowed him to be calmer and more precise when finishing. He finally understood why José had insisted on refining his already solid footwork during training.
"You're fast, but you can't rely on speed alone. A striker needs more than just pace—he needs finishing ability and the skill to link up with teammates. Mallorca can't always rely on counterattacks, and you won't always have one-on-one chances. You must improve your movement inside the box, your positioning, and your ability to combine with teammates. These are the areas you need to work on."
Eto'o was grateful to José. Though the coach hadn't given him much personal instruction lately, the advice he had provided before had guided him whenever he felt lost.
On the sidelines, José smiled and turned to Didier Drogba. "See that, Didier? That's speed. Samuel has absolute pace—it's his natural gift, something few can match. When you add the right elements to such a talent, it becomes the foundation of a player's success."
"But you, Didier, your gift is your physique—absolute physical strength. That's your natural advantage. If you want to thrive on the pitch, you need to complement it with other skills—finishing, link-up play, movement."
José then looked toward Eto'o, who was celebrating with his teammates.
"Absolute speed, combined with absolute power—I can't wait to see a forward line like that in action. And behind you two, there's Ronaldinho—an absolute magician with the ball. Speed, strength, and technique—these are the three most crucial attributes for an attacking line. When the three of you reach your peak together, what kind of Mallorca will we see? What will we be capable of achieving?"
Hearing José's words, Drogba couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.
He had always known that José valued him, but he never realized just how much.