In Brazil it is the Beautiful Game, but in Argentina there is not such a sense of romanticism. "Our saying is not everything in football is beautiful," Juan Sebastian Veron volunteered yesterday. "It means you accept criticism, then you use it to your advantage."
It is an attitude Veron picked up from his father Juan Ramon, a distinguished Argentina international himself in the 60s, and he now preaches it in the Manchester United dressing room.
He, perhaps more than anyone, has been subjected to brutal criticism during United's struggles, but the midfielder has also had a pivotal part in their renaissance.
His own resurgence has coincided with United's most illuminating period of the season, which has left Alex Ferguson's team contemplating tonight's Champions League tie against Deportivo La Coruna in rejuvenated spirits.
"The team hasn't really changed, but the attitude has," says Veron. "Collectively, I think we had to do something different, and I include myself in that. We had to realise there is no guarantee of victory just from wearing the Manchester United shirt because, yes, I think that mentality may have crept in.
"Now, maybe even if it is just sub-consciously, we have realised it requires more than that. I know, for instance, I could have played with more consistency. I have to be frank and admit I didn't play well at times last season.
"I would like to think I always had the confidence of the manager and coaching staff but, deep down, I knew I could have helped the team do better. It's how you react that counts. The secret is turning the criticism on its head and using it to spur you on."
Like Ferguson, Veron points to last month's 3-1 defeat at Manchester City as the catalyst for the team's revival. "When something as bad as that happens, it can be the key to your way of thinking," he says.
"After that game we all went away and spent a lot of time thinking individually. I think it really hurt our pride. We spoke a lot between ourselves - as much as I can remember anywhere in my career - and we decided with the quality we've got we had to do much better. If I'm honest, maybe it's true I haven't imposed myself on the team as much as I have done with the Argentina national team, or with my former clubs in Italy (Sampdoria and Lazio).
"I've never wanted to hide behind excuses but it's true I found it hard to settle in. In Italy I was joining clubs where a lot of changes were being made and it was easy to impose your own style. But at United it was the other way round. This club has had the same players for many years and had a lot of success playing a certain style. So it was me who had to adapt."
Veron now declares himself "much more satisfied" with his form in a team playing with such drive England's captain David Beckham cannot be guaranteed a starting place tonight, even though he has declared himself fit after a month out with a broken rib.
"Everyone is fighting for their place," says Veron. "Nobody wants to miss out and the players are rising to the challenge. I would say that, on our current form, we have a great chance of doing well in this competition. Real Madrid are the champions but, after them, there is a group of four or five clubs, of which we are one."
Reinstating Beckham in midfield would mean dropping either Phil Neville or Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, a decision which would be almost traitorous for Ferguson given their roles in the team's return to form.
Neither Rio Ferdinand nor Laurent Blanc have recovered, meaning Mickael Silvestre and Wes Brown will continue together in the centre of defence.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS:
Manchester United (4-4-1-1): Barthez; G Neville, Brown, Silvestre, O'Shea; Solskjaer, P Neville, Veron, Giggs; Scholes; Van Nistelrooy.
Deportivo la Coruna (4-4-2): Juanmi; Scaloni, Cesar, Romero, Capdevila; Victor, Sergio, Mauro Silva, Fran; Makaay, Tristan.
Referee: T Hauge (Norway).
Previous Results - Nov 26th: Basel 1 Manchester United 3; Deportivo Coruna 2 Juventus 2.
Remaining Fixtures - Dec 11th: Juventus v Basel; Manchester United v Deportivo. Feb 19th: Manchester United v Juventus; Basel v Deportivo; Feb 25th: Juventus v Manchester United; Deportivo v Basel. Mar 12th: Manchester United v Basel; Juventus v Deportivo. Mar 18th: Basel v Juventus; Deportivo v Manchester United
