I Am Jose

After returning from France, Mallorca resumed full-team training. Franco rejoined the starting lineup, much to the relief of the defenders, as his presence eased the pressure on the backline.

Franco was visibly happy to be back on the training ground. During his injury layoff, he had worried about being sidelined for an extended period, which could have cost him a place in the World Cup. Fortunately, he recovered in less than a month, leaving him with two to three months to prove himself before the season ended. The national team was still within reach.

Roa, on the other hand, was much more relaxed. He no longer had ambitions for the national team. Had he not retired earlier, he might have continued as Argentina's first-choice goalkeeper for the next World Cup. However, after such a long absence—even missing the Copa América—there was no way the national team would recall him. Now, his focus was on playing a few more years to secure his post-retirement future.

With these circumstances, Mallorca's training sessions had a calm and steady atmosphere, which was exactly what José wanted. The upcoming fixtures were intense, with consecutive weeks of midweek and weekend matches, a crucial period for Mallorca's season. Franco's return from injury was a timely boost.

Mallorca's schedule included a league match against Sevilla on February 24, a Champions League clash with Nantes on February 27, an away game against Rayo Vallecano on March 3, a home match against Osasuna on March 10, a Champions League battle with Bayern on March 14, an away fixture against Tenerife on March 17, a Champions League trip to Boavista on March 20, and a home game against Real Sociedad on March 24. Eight matches in one month, with only one midweek break, posed a massive test of endurance.

Every team chasing glory had to face such challenges. Those who could endure them proved their worth as elite clubs. José understood that, in this stretch, the league was the real priority. Mallorca had already secured seven points in the Champions League group stage, meaning qualification was within reach as long as they didn't collapse. The league, however, required careful management to accumulate enough points before the Champions League knockout rounds began.

The upcoming league opponents were not particularly strong. Tenerife, Rayo Vallecano, and Real Sociedad were fighting relegation, while Osasuna and Sevilla were mid-table teams. Taking maximum points from these matches would allow Mallorca to approach tougher fixtures with more strategic flexibility.

Sevilla, a newly promoted side, had performed well, ranking second-best among the promoted teams. Real Betis, another promoted team, was the standout, sitting fifth in the league. Sevilla was comfortably mid-table, while Tenerife struggled at the bottom and was likely to be relegated.

This week was crucial. After four winless matches, facing weaker teams was the perfect opportunity to stabilize the squad.