Athletic Bilbao's Marcelo Biesla, in a baggy track suit, wearing glasses with strings attached, is a deep-thinking, philosophical coach who believes the only way to win is to take the game to the opposition whatever the circumstances.
On Wednesday, Simeone's more rugged style came up trumps against his idealistic fellow Argentine and former mentor when Atletico trounced Bilbao 3-0 in the Europa League final.
Bielsa has been lauded for the way he has transformed the previously physical Bilbao into one of Spain's best passing teams, despite being limited by the club's Basque-only policy.
Barca coach Pep Guardiola is among the admirers of Bielsa's style which dictates that his team play a high-tempo passing game and pressure the opposition in their own half.
However, that adventurous approach can also leave his sides badly exposed as Chile fans found out during three heavy losses to Brazil and a 3-0 home defeat by Paraguay under Bielsa's leadership, all in competitive internationals.
After scoring in the seventh minute, the game was exactly how Atletico wanted it as they disrupted Bilbao's usually flowing game with niggly fouls in midfield, while remaining a potent threat in attack.
Bielsa said he may have played into Simeone's hands.
"We wanted to play a certain way but we didn't create the ideal scenario for this, our opponents managed to turn the scenario into one which suited the way in which they aspired to play," he said.
"I feel fundamentally responsible for the distance there was between what we are capable of producing and wheat we actually produced."
