Of Principles and Might 
Pish Post Fantastic
Sun Tzu once wrote there are 5 essentials for victory:
1. He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.
2. He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces.
3. He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit.
4. He will win who prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared.
5. He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered by the sovereign.
Considering Abrahamovich has given Hiddink free reign, the Dutchman executed these five principles to perfection against Barcelona. Given the blaugrana’s frightful offense, Hiddink knew he was restricted to a game of containment rather than open attack. Few expected him to turn his back on his own heritage; a heritage that includes some of the finest players who all believed in the one thing: total football. Full backs as wingers, forwards as midfielders, the seamless integration of each player into a fluid unit was the ultimate goal of the Dutch national team. Yet Hiddink’s approach hints at his supreme belief in the words of Sun Tzu. Barça were simply not ready to face a human wall as expensive as that of Chelsea. Methodical in play and united on the front, his instructions to his players were clear; forego any attack and keep the ball as far from goal as possible. Hiddink came prepared as one who knew how to handle a superior force. Barça for all their might had to acknowledge the ignorance of their play. While Chelsea got the result they were after, Barça and the rest of the Camp Nou were left furious and empty handed.
As the dust settled, the game itself was brutal commentary on modern football. Financial interests have relegated top clubs to hypocrisy. Ferguson, Mourinho, Benitez and Wenger have often derided small clubs of using a “park the bus” mentality, claiming it takes away from the game. Yet three of those four managers have now used the same tactic against Barcelona. Alan Hansen, pundit extraordinaire called Chelsea’s approach heroic, while lambasting Blackburn for employing the same tactics against the EPL’s top sides.
The most popular criticism leveled at Barça was that they know of only one way to play; to attack. Fans and pundits alike have criticized the club’s supporters for not appreciating the tactical side of the game, a side that all too often gets overlooked, sometimes even by the crash, bang and wallop of the EPL. The Spanish club were chastised for not “living up to the hype”, a hype perpetuated not by the club, but by a bored media grown tired over “Ronaldo to Madrid” claims. This criticism however, only exposes the lack of knowledge such pundits have of the clubs they claim to know. Barça remain one of the few clubs whose philosophy has become ingrained in past, present and future players. The club has been built on the notion that the art of the sport should be celebrated with results coming as a consequence. A trophy won due to lack of skill, flair and attacking guile is a trophy not worth winning. Louis Van Gaal, a former manager who delivered two league championships while at Barcelona knows this all too well. His successes came on the backs of uninspired and mechanical play. Regardless of the trophy count, the Dutch coach was shown the door not once, but twice. Cules made it clear that such an approach would never be welcome at the club. Rijkaard understood it and Guardiola lives it.
This same philosophy is what binds its supporters to the heights of glory and the depths of defeat. As a big club, Barcelona’s supporters will always demand trophies, but know in their hearts that flair and passion don’t necessarily translate to success. However, what they are certain of is the approach and attitude that the team will always take. To be a player for Barça is maddening, yet immensely satisfying. The pitch will never concede its place as a stage on which a player’s worth can truly be measured. 120,000 fans will either applaud you with the utmost sincerity or boo you off the pitch with equally acidic disgust. Within the Camp Nou, there exist no questions of identity for this is a club whose identity is well defined.
Sun Tzu claimed victory lies in the knowledge of the five points. However, there remains another saying:
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle”
On Wednesday night, cules around the world will rise and cheer as their beloved blaugrana take to the pitch. One week ago, Barça knew not its enemy. On Wednesday night, Barça shall be sure of two things; its opponent and itself. Barça will take to Stamford Bridge without the fear of defeat or the anticipation of the final result. They will come simply to play their same one way of football, and regardless of the result, their supporters will love them dearly for it.
