Win above all or stick to your philosophy and style of play? This is the big question left among football fans by the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, especially due to the poor Barça possession data or the ineffectiveness of Real Madrid in attack without shots between the three Sticks and also without spaces to hurt the culé defense.
The criticism that Xavi Hernández and Barça are receiving for supposedly moving away from their style of touch and possession was not received by Real Madrid, or at least in such a unanimous and widespread way, when they came back from their Champions League qualifiers or were besieged by Liverpool in the final, with a great Thibaut Courtois. Simeone’s Atlético de Madrid also enters this debate, who based his two finals in the top continental competition or his successes in national competitions on his defensive solidity and intensity. Even the Argentine coach has critics among his own fans, a sector that demands to play better to continue winning. Hence this interesting debate about whether winning is more important than defending your own style or simply playing a more attractive game.
