In a curious bit of harmony, today sees the three European clubs most closely associated with aesthetically pleasing play – Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal – play in their countries' respective Cup Finals. At all three clubs, the manager in charge has transformed the team. But the three are in very different phases of their careers – one in the ascendancy, one at the end of his reign, and one hanging on to keep chasing vindication for all he's worked for.
In Barcelona, Luis Enrique is bringing his first year as Barca manager to a close. He has already clinched the La Liga title. Today, he goes for the Copa del Rey title against Athletic Bilbao (2:30pm, ESPN2), with his team heavily favored. Next week, Barcelona plays Juventus for the Champions League crown, again as favorites. To win all three would be especially sweet for the man who went against Barcelona tradition.
Enrique has not let himself be overwhelmed by the club's ingrained tactics: quick passing, slow build-up and midfield play. This year's squad is much more focused on counter-attacks, and space for forwards to run at defenders. If Enrique pulls off the treble, he'll have done it without bowing to the Barcelona philosophy.
Over in Germany, today serves as the swan song for Jürgen Klopp, the man who created the new, exciting Borussia Dortmund. His team plays VfL Wolfsburg for the DFB Cup (1:00pm, ESPN3). After a disappointing 2014-15 season, Klopp is stepping down, despite bringing unprecedented success to the club.
His philosophy, especially his exuberant passion for soccer and his commitment to entertaining fans, made him a favorite both in Germany and around the world. Klopp took on, and beat, a better-funded rival in Bayern Munich, giving him underdog credentials even at Dortmund, one of Germany's biggest clubs. Yet he moves on after today, having determined that his revolution is out of steam after eight years – trophy or no trophy.
In England, Arsenal is attempting to win a second consecutive FA Cup, against Aston Villa (11:30am, FOX) – chasing another trophy for manager Arsene Wenger, who has been in charge in North London for 19 years. A win would be more vindication for the man whose free-flowing philosophy seemed poised to revolutionize the English game in the early 2000s.
In a four-year span, Arsenal won the FA Cup three times and the Premier League twice, highlighted by the 2003-2004 "Invincibles" that became the only modern English team to go through a season undefeated. After taking home the 2005 FA Cup, though, the Arsenal trophy case gathered dust for nine years.
There are plenty of Arsenal fans who wish that Wenger might step down, as Klopp did at Dortmund – or go against tradition, as Enrique did at Barcelona, and focus on winning rather than beauty. Today, the three clubs intersect in another way.
