The accusation against Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid side which won three Champions League titles in succession was that they were reliant on players over philosophy, magic over strategy. When the chips were down and Madrid were 'suffering' – to use a favourite word of Zidane’s – a block from Sergio Ramos or a goal from Cristiano Ronaldo would get them out of trouble.
Time and again – through knockout rounds they scarcely deserved to win – many observers looked on afterwards and tried to apply logic as to just how they’d done it. Teams would come and compete against them – and play well – but when all was said and done that Madridismo or spirit of Juanito or whatever you want to call it would carry them over the line.