The entire Galatasaray team arrived in Mallorca with a sense of tragic resolve.
Initially, when the draw had matched them against Mallorca, Galatasaray thought of it as a relatively easy opponent. However, after being defeated 3-0 at home, they were now cornered, with no way out!
However, in such knockout matches, even a glimmer of hope means no one gives up. Moreover, Galatasaray had been performing excellently in the domestic league this season, already reaching the cup finals and leading the league by a significant margin, ahead of their old rivals Fenerbahce and Besiktas. They could afford to focus all their energy on the UEFA Cup!
Since Terim took over Galatasaray four years ago, the team had won the league title after a two-year gap. In the first three seasons, they secured the league title three times in a row, achieving a feat that only Trabzonspor, Besiktas, and Galatasaray itself had previously done. This season, they were aiming for an unprecedented four consecutive titles in Turkish football. Under these circumstances, merely being the domestic champion was not enough to satisfy Galatasaray's fans. Only success on the European stage could satisfy their increasingly inflated egos!
So, the players approached this match with the mindset of burning their boats as they set foot on the island of Mallorca.
However, the advantages of timing, location, and crowd support were all in Mallorca's favor.
Though Mallorca did not resort to any off-field tricks to undermine Galatasaray—there was no wild celebration near their hotel, nor any trouble during their adaptation training—the atmosphere at the Son Moix Stadium, with over 20,000 Mallorca fans roaring, would put enormous pressure on the Galatasaray players.
One thousand of Mallorca's most loyal fans who had returned from Turkey shared stories of the difficulties they faced there, the insults and oppression they endured. All the Mallorca fans felt this deeply.
On March 23, at the Son Moix Stadium, the collective roar of over 20,000 Mallorca fans made the entire stadium tremble, surprising even the Galatasaray fans who had previously looked down on Spanish supporters, thinking they lacked courage!
Despite their surprise, Galatasaray, with their "last-ditch" mentality, put on a remarkable display, holding their own against Mallorca.
Jose, not taking the match lightly, fielded his main players. However, Galatasaray struck first, with Hagi outpacing N'Gonga to make a pass and sending a penetrating through-ball to Arif, who managed to score after a blocked shot. Hakan Şükür followed by scoring into an empty net.
Yet N'Gonga quickly answered back, demonstrating his passing skills. From a similar through-ball assist to Eto'o, the Cameroonian calmly finished with a shot that equalized the game before halftime.
In the second half, Jose instructed the team to fall back, as Galatasaray's earlier aggression waned. With another beautiful counterattack, Eto'o and Tristan combined for a 2v1, tearing through Galatasaray's defense. Eto'o passed the ball to a sprinting Tristan, who slotted it into an empty net, giving Mallorca a 2-1 lead.
That scoreline stood until the end, with Mallorca defeating Galatasaray 5-1 on aggregate and advancing to the UEFA Cup semifinals.
"We can't deny it, we made too many mistakes in the first leg."
Despite the loss, Terim showed grace by approaching Jose and extending his hand.
Jose shook Terim's hand, smiling, "A bit of luck too... but I'm grateful that we didn't face any extra interference in Istanbul."
"I don't want to see such situations either," Terim admitted candidly, which only increased Jose's respect for him.
Historically, Terim had never been the type of coach to encourage extreme behavior from fans or players. Since returning as Turkey's national team coach in 2005, there had been no repeat of incidents like Alpay's provocation of Beckham. Under Terim's leadership, the Turkish national team reached its peak, with a semifinal finish at the 2008 European Championship being the best recognition of his work.
"Hope my victory doesn't affect his future work..." Jose thought to himself as he watched Terim walk away.
After the season, Terim moved on to coach in Italy, with Fiorentina and AC Milan, mainly due to his success with Galatasaray in that year's UEFA Cup. With Galatasaray's UEFA Cup hopes dashed, would Terim still find opportunities in Serie A?
Despite his mixed results in Italy, Terim remained a respected figure. In those years, foreign coaches who succeeded in Serie A were recognized as top-tier coaches. If you couldn't make it there, your abilities would be questioned.
However, after a brief moment of contemplation, Jose pushed such thoughts aside. He still had twelve more matches to play that season.
After defeating Galatasaray, Mallorca's semifinal opponent was set. Despite losing 2-1 to Slavia Prague in the first leg, the English Premier League's youth squad advanced with a 4-2 aggregate score, and they would now face Mallorca in the next round.
In the other half of the bracket, Arsenal had demolished Werder Bremen 4-2 away, with Parlor's hat trick and Henry's goal leading the way. Meanwhile, Lens continued their reputation as "Spanish killers." Despite an early 1-0 deficit, they managed to complete a stunning turnaround with two quick goals from Ismael and Numa, winning 2-1 and securing their place in the semifinals.
"Next, it's Leeds United," Jose thought.
The semifinal matches would take place between April 7 and April 21, meaning Mallorca had a two-week respite from the previous grueling schedule of mid-week games. The team had been playing back-to-back matches for weeks, and with the fatigue starting to show, Jose chose not to rotate his squad.
Despite the team's high morale, the aging defensive line was showing signs of wear and tear. Reports from the medical team indicated that key defenders like Soler, Nadal, and Olejnik, along with midfielders like N'Gonga, were all physically exhausted, with only Nino standing out as the freshest player.
However, their next league match was against Valencia—no easy opponent—who had made it to the Champions League semifinals and was still in the hunt for a top-four finish in La Liga.
Jose was eager to face former Mallorca coach Cooper, wanting to prove he was the best fit for the team. But now was not the time. More than half of the starting lineup had been developed under Cooper, and the defensive system, in particular, remained largely unchanged. Going up against Cooper would lead to comparisons that Jose didn't want.
Jose's dilemma was compounded by the fact that, despite Valencia also being involved in two competitions, their depth far surpassed Mallorca's. They not only had a strong starting lineup but also a capable bench, whereas Jose's team was already struggling to field a competitive first XI.
Even attacking players like Tristan and Stankovic were starting to show signs of fatigue after their recent matches. The team's fatigue was becoming an increasingly significant factor.
Realizing this, Jose decided to use his tricks. For the upcoming match against Valencia, he rotated almost the entire squad, with even Tristan and Stankovic playing only half the match. It was clear: he was prioritizing the UEFA Cup and upcoming league matches.
Cooper, having seen the starting lineup hours before the game, was caught off guard. After a brief chuckle, he adjusted his own lineup, fielding mostly substitutes. In the end, Valencia defeated Mallorca 1-0 in a low-key match. Afterward, Cooper shook Jose's hand and gave him a knowing smile.
Jose grinned back—small teams, after all, had their own survival tactics.