There are different tactics depending on the opponents we face

When Oscar declared, “There are different tactics depending on the opponents we face, and we respect the manager’s choices,” he revealed a truth that stretches far beyond the football pitch. His words speak of discipline, humility, and unity — virtues as essential in the wars of nations and the struggles of life as they are in the game of sport. For he teaches us that while each player may possess brilliance, victory is secured only when all bend their wills to the wisdom of strategy and the authority of leadership.

The meaning of this statement lies in the harmony between individuality and order. Every athlete, like every warrior, has skill, strength, and pride. Yet to act without regard for the plan is to scatter strength into chaos. Tactics are not chains but instruments, directing power toward victory. To adjust them based on the opponent is not weakness but wisdom, for every adversary demands a different response. Thus, Oscar’s words remind us that success belongs not to those who charge blindly forward, but to those who bend their efforts to the greater design.

The manager’s choices stand at the heart of this truth. Leaders are often judged by their results, yet their greatest burden lies in making decisions that others may not understand in the moment. To respect these choices is to acknowledge the unseen weight of command, the countless calculations, and the vision that stretches beyond what a single player sees on the field. In doing so, Oscar shows us the virtue of trust: that even when we do not fully comprehend the path, loyalty to the leader can transform uncertainty into unity.

History is filled with examples of this principle. Consider Alexander the Great, whose armies conquered vast empires not merely by courage, but by adopting new tactics for each foe. Against the Persians, he used speed and maneuver; against the Indians, he adjusted to elephants and strange weapons. His soldiers did not always see the wisdom of his changes, but their respect for his choices bound them together, and his victories became legend. In the same way, a football team, or any group of men and women united by purpose, achieves greatness not through uniform action, but through adaptive and disciplined strategy.

So too, in our daily lives, we face many kinds of opponents: hardship, failure, injustice, temptation. Each requires a different tactic. Against despair, we use hope. Against injustice, we use courage. Against temptation, we use restraint. To confront every challenge the same way is folly. Wisdom is to discern, as the ancient generals and as Oscar’s manager did, what weapon suits each battle. And wisdom is also to submit, at times, to the guidance of one who sees more clearly than ourselves.

The lesson for us is clear: honor strategy, honor leadership, and honor the need for change. Do not be rigid when life demands flexibility, nor rebellious when unity requires trust. Learn to fight each battle with the tools that match it, and respect those who hold the responsibility to guide you. To do otherwise is to weaken yourself and your companions, scattering your strength upon the wind.

Practical actions arise from this truth. In your work, respect the plans of those who lead, while contributing your skill with discipline. In your family, adapt your approach to each situation rather than insisting on one unchanging way. In your personal battles, learn to discern which tactic serves best: patience, courage, silence, or action. By living this way, you follow Oscar’s wisdom — you become not only a fighter, but a strategist, and not only a strategist, but a loyal companion in the greater struggle.

Thus, Oscar’s words endure as guidance for all who strive: there are many tactics, many opponents, but unity under wise leadership brings victory. May we learn from his example to combine strength with humility, and may we walk the path of loyalty, trust, and adaptability — for in this lies the power not only to win games, but to triumph in life itself.