The new head coach of Real Mallorca, Martin Demechelis, has made an impact on the Islanders football team. He watched the hapless defeat from the stands at home to Real Sociedad on the day he arrived on the 28 th of February and immediately decided the players would be in for training the day after – a Sunday. He held a press conference after the session making several telling declarations eg I am not here to make friends with these players, I am here to keep this club in La Liga. Any player who thinks he is an automatic starter is wrong and anyone who thinks he will always be on the bench is wrong. I need to see in training who is demanding a place in the starting eleven.
He also confirmed he intended to tighten up the defence and was demanding more adventurous play from the forwards. He refreshingly said that he will not criticise a player who makes a mistake when trying a positive move.
For his first line up he started with a 4 4 2 formation, recalling Pablo Torre to the starting line up much to the delight of the Mallorca fans but surprisingly leaving young winger Jan Virgili on the bench. Torre was behind most of Mallorca´s attacks in the first half and the visitors took the lead in the 35 th minute when Muriqi ( who else ) capitalised on a mistake from the home keeper Sergio Herrera.
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Ominously after half time Torre was substituted but he confirmed after the match that he was feeling the effects of not playing for weeks and had not suffered an injury. His replacement Darder played in Muriqi on the hour who beat two men to finish in style. Mallorca with a two nil lead away from home was a dream for the travelling fans. Virgili was introduced but shortly after on 73 minutes he was shown a straight red for a lunge on Moro.
There was little contact and a yellow card was probably more appropriate.
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Osasuna smelt blood but 10 minutes later the referee evened up the sides by sending off Raul Garcia for a stamp on Samu Costa. Ten against ten and the home side got one back in the 89 th minute through Barja. Nine minutes of additional time and four minutes in former Mallorca player Budimir snatched a cruel equaliser. On the face of it a point away from home was a good result.
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However Mallorca deserved the points and there were plenty of positives which have been lacking for months. Samu Costa described the new coach as a breath of fresh air. The Islanders appealed Virgili´s sending off to no avail and he received a two match suspension.
Against Espanyol on the 15 th of March Demechelis started with the same eleven from the Osasuna game. The much maligned Matteo Joseph again lined up alongside Muriqi up front ahead of a diamond shape in midfield. Virgili was of course absent because of suspension.
From the off Mallorca were much more positive and were dominant for half an hour. On twenty minutes the ball was pinging around in the visitors penalty area. Martin Valjent had a simple task to score but scuffed it and Matteo Joseph missed another chance. Then against the run of play former Blackburn Rovers player Thyrys Dolan played in the wonderfully named Charles Pickel for a simple goal for Espanyol.
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The old Mallorca returned and there were many nervous backpasses. Half time could not come soon enough and clearly
Demechelis gave the side a rocket. An horrendous tackle at the 55 minute mark on Mascarell by goalscorer Pickel was visited with a yellow card but VAR intervened and a red card was the result.
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That changed everything and Mallorca immediately put Espanyol under great pressure. Young French winger Kalumba was introduced and he took on the visitors defence at will. Pablo Torre hit a shot which was deflected to equalise. VAR spent several minutes deciding if there was a foul in the build up but to everyone´s relief the goal stood. Demechelis then threw caution to the wind, removing both full backs and bringing on Lavumbu who had a similar effect to Kalumba. Former head coach refused to pay either of the winter signings but they certainly made their mark. It was effectively a 2 1 7 formation ! A brilliant through ball from Mascarell to Samu Costa was lashed home by the Portuguese midfielder. The crowd erupted and Mallorca saw out the game for a comeback 2 1 win.
Demichelis in his press conference said he was delighted with the win, the players attitude and he hoped he could keep the team in La Liga and he would be leading the side in the top flight next season..
The win moved Mallorca out of the relegation zone and two points above Eleche who they play away from home in the next game on Saturday the 21 st of March at 14.00. This is clearly a must win game but if that’s not possible then it’s a must not lose encounter! There then follows an international break before Real Madrid come to town on Easter Saturday the 4 th of April at 16.15.
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Is there a miracle in the wind ?