A fellow coach has come to the defence of Jagoba Arrasate following his controversial sacking from RCD Mallorca last February. Basque manager Manix Mandiola has argued that the coaching change did not solve the club's structural problems, which ultimately led to their relegation.
Mandiola made these comments in an interview for the programme SER Deportivos Baleares. "With Jagoba the team was not in a relegation position," the coach stated. "A decision was made, the coach was changed and in the end it was shown that the Mallorca squad was not good enough to stay up. Over time it became clear the problem was not on the bench. The proof is in the pudding."
Arrasate's tenure
Arrasate arrived at RCD Mallorca for the 2024/25 season and oversaw a historic start, the fourth-best in the club's top-flight history. However, a severe drop in form ended European hopes and sparked tensions in the dressing room, including public criticism from players like Dani Rodríguez. After a defeat to Celta at Balaídos left the team in the drop zone, the board decided to dismiss him on 23 February 2026.
His successor, Martín Demichelis, could not prevent relegation either, confirming Mandiola's point. The Basque coach also questioned the level of some of Arrasate's critics, noting he did not see them "playing Champions League matches".
Current context
While Arrasate has returned to a familiar Osasuna, RCD Mallorca is embarking on a new chapter in the Segunda División. The team currently sits fourth with 17 points from nine games, four points off the top. Their next fixture is a tough away trip to face second-placed Eibar this Saturday, 17 October.
The squad, now under new leadership, seeks stability and a long-term project to avoid past mistakes. Recent form, with three wins in the last five matches, is an encouraging first step. The full squad and their statistics are available on squad.
This story first appeared at noticiasdenavarra.com
