Van Gaal and Mourinho's ideas weren't wrong, even though they decided to rest Figo, the vice-captain. With key players like Rivaldo and the top scorer Kluivert on the field, the Mallorcan defense, already not as strong, would definitely struggle against Barcelona's offensive pressure.
As for Mallorca's attack, Van Gaal was cautious. The forward duo of Eto'o and Tristan posed a real threat, particularly Tristan's height, which gave Barcelona's defense a lot to worry about. Barcelona's central defenders had always been a weak spot; with Nadal gone and the aging Bogarde, Barcelona didn't even have a center-back taller than 1.85 meters…
What they didn't expect, however, was that this José from Mallorca had his own plans, eager to stir up trouble for Barcelona.
There were a couple of reasons behind this. First, he owed Pirri a favor. While Pirri probably didn't expect Mallorca to be able to hold off the top teams to pave the way for Real Madrid, José was a man of his word. If he promised something, he would follow through. In the football world, this was a matter of reputation—whether he could do it was one thing, but whether he would try was another.
Secondly, in La Liga, teams like Real Madrid and Barcelona were unavoidable. José didn't want to side with one, but staying close to one could help, and it was something he had to do. Trying to stay neutral and benefit from both sides was almost impossible.
From a political perspective, Mallorca might be an autonomous region, with the Balearic Islands gaining autonomy seventeen years ago. But unlike Catalonia's constant push for independence or the Basque Country's insistence on their ethnic identity over national identity, Mallorca, with its tourism-dependent economy, was closely connected to the Spanish government. From this viewpoint, even if Mallorca's club didn't answer directly to the regional parliament, it still had to align with it.
From the perspective of club interests, Barcelona, which wasn't as wealthy as Real Madrid, was a poor partner for cooperation. Take the example of their contract negotiations over Fabregas as a warning. Trying to profit from Barcelona wasn't easy. Real Madrid, on the other hand, was generous, known for their "Champions League quartet, three thanks to our king" chant—a clear sign of their open-hearted approach to dealings…
Real Madrid's squad wasn't as stable as Barcelona's, at least not for the next decade. With their yearly buy-and-sell approach, José hoped to make a profit from the club's transactions. His cash reserves, just under 200 million, wouldn't last long without player transfers helping to bring in extra funds.
So, for both personal and professional reasons, José planned to teach Barcelona a lesson in this match.
In addition to the above reasons, José had never beaten a top team in La Liga. He wouldn't get the chance against Real Madrid this season, having already given up on games against Deportivo La Coruña and Valencia, but Barcelona was the perfect target. They were the defending champions from the past two seasons, and their current form was shaky, offering a real opportunity for a win. Also, José had no issue rubbing salt in Barcelona's wounds after their Champions League defeat.
When José saw Barcelona's starting lineup and noticed that Luís Figo wasn't playing, he knew this was his chance.
Figo wasn't particularly outstanding at the time. Though he was Barcelona's vice-captain and the longest-serving foreign player, his fame was overshadowed by Rivaldo, and his influence within the team wasn't as strong as Guardiola's. Despite his role in the national team, he wasn't considered a superstar. However, José knew that Figo was a crucial part of Barcelona's attack, possibly even more important than the star player Rivaldo and the on-field leader, Guardiola.
In later years, it was famously said that when Florentino and his team decided which Barcelona player to bring to Real Madrid as part of his presidential campaign, many suggested Rivaldo, as he scored more goals and could excite the Bernabéu. However, Florentino showed his foresight by insisting that Figo was the true pillar of Barcelona. Without Figo, Barcelona would collapse in the following years, a prediction that proved true after Figo's departure.
José, like Florentino, understood Figo's importance. Even if his presence on the pitch wasn't immediately noticeable, Barcelona was always missing something when he wasn't there. A master tactician knew this—success wasn't always achieved through visible victories.
With Figo out, José felt more confident in facing Barcelona.
Besides, from his observations, Barcelona had already begun to show signs of weakness. After their humiliating defeat to Real Madrid in the "Battle of the Century," Barcelona had managed five straight wins in La Liga, including a couple of impressive 4-0 victories. But their recent loss to Chelsea showed that their form wasn't as solid as it seemed.
A team on a long winning streak could quickly crumble after a major loss, and Barcelona's players were not immune to this. A team that had been on top for so long often suffered when things went wrong.
Barcelona's players, unaware of the looming threat, didn't take Mallorca seriously. To them, Mallorca was just a relegation-threatened team, easy pickings. But they didn't know that Mallorca wasn't coming as lambs to the slaughter—they were wolves in sheep's clothing.
These wolves, hidden beneath their sheep's attire, were ready to strike. The experienced old wolves sharpened their fangs, ready to leave deep scars on the Catalans, while Van Gaal had put away his sharpest weapon, thinking he could win with other tools…
"Barcelona's players think we came here to hand them three points with no resistance!" José shouted before the match, his voice resounding in the locker room, igniting a fire in Mallorca's players.
José knew that, with other relegation-threatened teams mostly losing, a surprising win against a giant like Barcelona would all but guarantee Mallorca's survival. It would allow them to focus on the UEFA Cup final, where they could finally bring home Mallorca's first European trophy.
José's passionate words fired up his team, as they clenched their fists, ready to face Barcelona with confidence.
The wolves had shown their fangs and were ready to take on the mighty Catalans. The battle at the Nou Camp was about to begin!