Liverpool vs Atletico, Klopp vs Simeone, Don Quixote vs Sancho Panza

Their philosophy

Both men have taken diametrically opposing paths to reach this level. And this is largely due to divergent philosophical approaches instilled in their youth, when they were beginning to learn the sport. Their playing and managerial styles couldn’t be more opposite.

One is playing Don Quixote; the other is playing Sancho Panza – at his best, and Iago from Othello – at his worst.

"“To right the unrightable wrong… To try when your arms are too weary To reach the unreachable star This is my quest, to follow that star No matter how hopeless, no matter how far To fight for the right Without question or pause To be willing to march Into hell for a heavenly cause And the world will be better for this That one man scorned and covered with scars Still strove with his last ounce of courage To fight the unbeatable foe To reach the unreachable star”* *(from Man of La Mancha – Broadway 1965)"

Both men can be found in theses lyrics, in the macro sense, where each has chosen vastly different approaches to negotiate that ‘minefield’ we call life. In the micro sense, on a football pitch, we see quite clearly these vastly different methodologies played out.

If we imagine Simeone as ‘Sancho’ we can see in the first part of the tale; that Sancho never misses an opportunity to pester, harass, tease, and cajole our hero. Never missing an opportunity to try and undermine Quixote’s quest, which he sees as absurd and ridiculous.

One of the main themes in the story is that Don Quixote is seen as a relic. This, in a metaphorical sense, is how La Nuestra, and Simeone, viewed the elegant free flowing football in Argentina’s past. As a relic to be ridiculed. ‘Who cares how beautiful it looks to play that ‘beautiful game’, if you lose?’ This is the anti-football attitude, precisely.

Likewise with Iago who presents himself to the world with one face, while silently pursuing an entirely different agenda. For largely the same reason as Sancho, having not respect, but a tortured loathing of what he perceives as weakness. And because of a perceived slight.

So take a pause, sit back and enjoy as we take you on a journey to that magical place where dreams are not only dreamed, but realized.

Words by Paul Landwehr. Check back soon for part two.