Arrasate on the Ropes: Mallorca's Struggles Raise Serious Questions
With just one point above the relegation zone, Mallorca's disappointing first half of the season has put manager Jagoba Arrasate under increasing pressure.
Mallorca’s poor form continues as pressure mounts on their Basque manager after another away defeat leaves them perilously close to the drop zone.
Trouble in Paradise
The honeymoon period is well and truly over for Jagoba Arrasate at Mallorca. After a promising start to his tenure last season, collecting an impressive 30 points in the first half of the campaign, things have gone Pete Tong rather dramatically. The Balearic outfit now find themselves just one solitary point above the relegation zone after closing the first half of this season with a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Rayo Vallecano.
Arrasate’s frustration was palpable post-match, lamenting that his “plan for the match was useless after just five minutes” following Rayo’s early opener. The defensive fragility was plain to see as Maffeo was easily bypassed and Kumbulla lost out to Jorge de Frutos in the small area.
By the Numbers
The stats make for grim reading for Los Bermellones:
- Seven defeats in ten away matches
- Just 18 points from the first half of the season (matching their poor second half of last campaign)
- Failed to beat almost any of their direct relegation rivals
- Only 21 goals scored, with Muriqi responsible for 11 of them
That last point is particularly telling. The Kosovar striker has been carrying the team on his broad shoulders, while established players like Maffeo, Mojica, Morlanes and Darder are performing well below their capabilities.
The Torre Conundrum
One of the most peculiar aspects of Mallorca’s season has been the handling of Pablo Torre. Brought in with much fanfare from Barcelona last summer, the talented youngster was expected to be a key figure. Instead, he’s been largely sidelined by Arrasate, barely featuring for a team desperately fighting to stay in the top flight.
This mismanagement of what was supposed to be their star signing raises further questions about Arrasate’s decision-making.
What’s Gone Wrong?
The team has become painfully predictable. Opposition sides have figured them out, making Mallorca easy to defend against. When games don’t go their way, they collapse mentally, and their once-solid defensive foundation has crumbled.
Despite having the 11th highest salary cap in La Liga, performances have fallen well short of expectations. The American ownership and sporting directors now face a difficult decision as the second half of the season begins with the very real possibility of dropping into the relegation zone at any moment.
For Arrasate, the clock appears to be ticking. The credit he built up last season is rapidly running out.