It seems almost a game to elicit Francesco Faroli, who studied philosophy at the University of Florence, a statement about a possible title. Do you know the Museumplein, asks an AT5 journalist after the victory over PSV in October. Yes, he has been there sometimes, says Faroli laughing. But a word about a new title, no, Amsterdam doesn’t get that.
Five months later, after the second victory over PSV, Ajax ended in the team from Eindhoven that the Amsterdam supporters will now really believe in the title. But even a cheering crowd who wonders the players bus with torches on Sunday gets no more than a “Seven More Battles to Go.”
Psychology is on one
Now a trainer who wants to temper expectations if the title is getting closer and closer is not striking. But according to Jeroen Hopster, philosopher at Utrecht University, something else is going on here.
He delved into the published philosophical work of Farioli and saw that the Italian, who also regularly published articles after his studies, ranks the game on the basis of four elements; Psychology, tactics, technology and physical. “And not for nothing is psychology on one.”
Every trainer can emphasize that every match counts, that the points still have to be brought in and that you should not cheer too early, Hopster explains. “But what Faroli does is to repeat that idea so often that players really internalize it. That entire group now actually believes that they still have to fight for every game.”
“You can realize something or keep in mind. But if you consistently proclaim the same story that there are still 21 points to be distributed, it will get a convincing power and you create something extra,” Hopster explains.