I Am Jose

With three consecutive victories, Mallorca was riding high. In this round, Real Madrid unexpectedly lost to Espanyol, widening the gap between them and Mallorca to five points. With more than half the season completed, Mallorca still held a significant lead, proving their strength. By now, no one considered them a dark horse anymore—Mallorca was recognized as a true powerhouse.

After Franco was taken to the hospital for examination, the results came back, allowing José to breathe a sigh of relief. It was just a mild concussion, requiring about twenty days of rest. Though the recovery time was long, it was still good news for Mallorca—he would be back on the pitch before the fourth round of the Champions League group stage, which was crucial given the team's upcoming packed schedule.

However, for the next three league matches and one Champions League fixture, José had no choice but to rely on Roa. Although Roa had performed well as a substitute in the last game, he had been away from the pitch for a long time. Whether he could maintain a high level of performance remained uncertain.

After defeating Celta Vigo at home, Mallorca traveled to Castellón, Valencia, to face Villarreal. Last season's newly promoted side had performed well in their first year, but their form had dipped this season, leaving them in 16th place—a stark contrast from last season when they were competing for European spots.

However, in this midweek match, the Yellow Submarine made life difficult for Mallorca. Despite Ronaldinho scoring a goal, Villarreal's Montaño and Pritz each found the net in either half, securing a crucial three points for the home team. Mallorca suffered a disappointing defeat away from home.

Roa's performance was average. While he didn't make any glaring mistakes, Villarreal only had two real scoring opportunities, and both resulted in goals. Meanwhile, Mallorca created far more chances but failed to capitalize due to the opposing goalkeeper's heroics and some bad luck. It was a frustrating loss.

After the match, Mallorca rushed back to their island base to prepare for their 25th-round home fixture against Barcelona. In this game, fatigue clearly affected Mallorca's performance, and they had to settle for a 0-0 draw.

Following three consecutive wins, Mallorca hit a slump, managing only one point in their last two matches. Fortunately, their rivals also struggled—Real Madrid won one and lost one, while Valencia, Deportivo La Coruña, and Barcelona each recorded a win and a draw, slightly closing the gap.

A week later, Mallorca was held to another draw, this time away at Zaragoza. They had been leading 1-0 in the 80th minute, only for Roa to commit a costly mistake—he fumbled a ball while coming off his line, allowing the opposing striker to pounce and score. The match ended 1-1, a bitter result for José's team.