Liverpool vs Atletico: El Cholo, la Nuestra and a knife in your teeth

Playing with a knife between your teeth

It was perceived as weakness to play any other way in Argentina. ‘If you want to play a ‘gentleman’s game’ take up pocket billiards or golf; if you want to play a man’s game; you play football or rugby.’ This is the macho ethos surrounding anti-football.

For me, this is one of the most enigmatic and ironic aspects to Lionel Messi; he is not by any means an anti-footballer, although some might disagree, which underlies why there is such a contentious undertone and relationship between him and Argentina’s national side.

Where the beautiful game is characterized with flair, elegance and artistry, anti-football is brutish and thuggish by design, with a steaming kettle full of ‘bad acting’ heaped on for good measure. It can be taken to the level of art as well, but I would argue that it is more in line with anti-art than any true resemblance to an artistic expression. Anti-football sees the ‘beautiful game’ as a boondoggle.

Simeone was once asked to describe his playing style on the pitch, and his response was priceless, “I play the game with a knife between my teeth.” As a result of this attitude, Diego was often seen by opposing sides and fans, as a villain. Think Diego Costa, or Sergio Ramos, for post-modern versions of the anti-hero footballer. You know the type, the ones fans love to hate.

Diego Simeone embodies this sense of machismo (it’s in his dna, as the word itself comes from Spanish language both Castilian and Latin). As such, this ethic does not suffer lightly any perception real or imagined, of disrespect, any slight, any show or sign of masculine weakness. It is heavily ego driven.

This ethic is constantly aggrieved and seeks to constantly lobby for justice. While in reality, this aggrieved mentality is often nothing more than an ‘tempest in a teapot’. It is this ethos that pervades and defines Simione’s one-dimensional world view. He cannot help it. He could conceivably be the poster boy for the modern ‘Macho Man’.

At the seat and very foundation of the ‘machismo’ ethic is an overriding deep sense of inferiority stemming from a poor self-image; thus the machismo attitude and its manifestation in practice becomes nothing more than a defense mechanism. A reactionary reflex to hide this sense of low self esteem.

Simeone rejected the ‘total football’ style popularized by Johan Cryff at Ajax and Real Madrid. He hated the ‘tiki taka’ football style exemplified by Spain’s National side to great effect; and more particularly Barca under Pep Guardiola. He rejected these styles as weak and wasteful, where a more direct style of anti-football; in which fouls and bad play weren’t seen as something to be avoided; but instead these were just tools in the kit to be embraced and employed freely, to gain advantage over an opponent.

This anti-football style of play also sees no reason to stop ‘playing’ just because the whistle has blown or play was stopped. Quite the contrary, many of the tricks and shenanigans employed by Simeone and this Argentinian system were put to use in dead ball situations. They never stop playing the game, like hyenas or jackals. This is ‘Sancho Panza’.

Diego Simione has been very successful throughout his career, both as a player, and as a manager. His players, fans, and faithful followers swear they would follow him to the gates of hell if need be. He is beloved in his native Argentina, by fans in Madrid and Italy. Love him, or hate him, Diego is respected throughout Europe as a formidable foe. There is nothing enigmatic about Simione, what you see is what you get.

Words by Paul Landwehr.