--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Attackers have to be selfish on the pitch…" description: "\"Attackers have to be selfish on the pitch occasionally, but it's important not to exaggerate.\" — Arjen Robben" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e1/arjen-robben-6917_exaggerate_attackers-have-to-be-selfish-on-the-pitc_1155591.png" --- # Attackers have to be selfish on the pitch occasionally… ![“Attackers have to be selfish on the pitch occasionally, but it's important not to exaggerate.” quote by Arjen Robben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e1/arjen-robben-6917_exaggerate_attackers-have-to-be-selfish-on-the-pitc_1155591.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e1/arjen-robben-6917_exaggerate_attackers-have-to-be-selfish-on-the-pitc_1155591.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e1/arjen-robben-6917_exaggerate_attackers-have-to-be-selfish-on-the-pitc_1155591.png) > “Attackers have to be selfish on the pitch occasionally, but it's important not to exaggerate.” [Arjen Robben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjen-robben/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Occasionally selfish play is needed, but overemphasis on ego harms the team. **In simple terms:** Selfishness can be useful, but balance is key. Key Takeaway Play for the team, not just yourself. Themes selfishness team dynamics strategy Mood determined cautious Type strategic reflective When to use this quote - critical matches - tactical decisions - leadership meetings Key Concepts game theory ego management Questions to Reflect On - When is selfish play justified? - How to keep ego in check? A Different Perspective Excessive selfishness can damage trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attackers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attackers-237285/) [Attackers Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attackers-selfish-3286643/) [Exaggerate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exaggerate/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Occasionally Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occasionally-important-3286646/) [Pitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pitch/) [Pitch Occasionally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pitch-occasionally-3286645/) [Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish/) [Selfish Pitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish-pitch-3286644/) ## Related quotes > [I think sometimes we forget what we have, and occasionally it's important to remind ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-mycoskie/i-think-sometimes-we-forget-what-we-have-and-occasionally-it-s/) [Blake Mycoskie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-mycoskie/) > [Attackers are able to amortize the cost of exploit, malware, and infrastructure development across many targets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-stamos/attackers-are-able-to-amortize-the-cost-of-exploit-malware-and/) [Alex Stamos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-stamos/) > [We haven't had a strategic free kick all night. No one's knocked over attackers ad lib.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-atkinson/we-haven-t-had-a-strategic-free-kick-all-night-no-one-s-knocked-over/) [Ron Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-atkinson/) > [“You couldn’t be stabbed in the back if you faced your attackers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/you-couldn-t-be-stabbed-in-the-back-if-you-faced-your-attackers/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [I cannot stand at the back and our attackers go forward and there is so much big space. We all have to fit together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-matip/i-cannot-stand-at-the-back-and-our-attackers-go-forward-and-there-is/) [Joel Matip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-matip/) > [The Italian one is the toughest league of all for the attackers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-trezeguet/the-italian-one-is-the-toughest-league-of-all-for-the-attackers/) [David Trezeguet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-trezeguet/) > [The attackers are the people with bold, innovative ideas who are trying to disrupt the status quo and usher in a better way. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-case/the-attackers-are-the-people-with-bold-innovative-ideas-who-are-2/) [Steve Case](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-case/) > [I don't really care about statistics from other attackers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klaas-jan-huntelaar/i-don-t-really-care-about-statistics-from-other-attackers/) [Klaas-Jan Huntelaar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klaas-jan-huntelaar/) > [Those who cannot bravely face danger are the slaves of their attackers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/those-who-cannot-bravely-face-danger-are-the-slaves-of-their-attackers/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Hey!" Caleb snapped as he realized Nick was about to lock him on the outside with their attackers. He pushed the door open and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/hey-caleb-snapped-as-he-realized-nick-was-about-to-lock-him-on-the/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [We are always concerned with the great attackers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquinhos/we-are-always-concerned-with-the-great-attackers/) [Marquinhos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquinhos/) > [When defenders are up against top-class attackers, you really find out what they're made of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sutton/when-defenders-are-up-against-top-class-attackers-you-really-find-out/) [Chris Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sutton/) > [It happens to attackers that they have a longer or shorter period where they are not always efficient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/didier-deschamps/it-happens-to-attackers-that-they-have-a-longer-or-shorter-period/) [Didier Deschamps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/didier-deschamps/) > [The attackers are the people with bold, innovative ideas, who are trying to disrupt the status quo, and usher in a better way. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-case/the-attackers-are-the-people-with-bold-innovative-ideas-who-are/) [Steve Case](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-case/) > [In every team I have played with, and of all of the attackers I have played with, each one was different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edinson-cavani/in-every-team-i-have-played-with-and-of-all-of-the-attackers-i-have/) [Edinson Cavani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edinson-cavani/) ## More by Arjen Robben > [In my youth-team days, I was always a left-winger who would stay close to the byline and put crosses in the box, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjen-robben/in-my-youth-team-days-i-was-always-a-left-winger-who-would-stay-close/) [Arjen Robben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjen-robben/) > [I had injuries, but I didn't get them on purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjen-robben/i-had-injuries-but-i-didn-t-get-them-on-purpose/) [Arjen Robben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjen-robben/) > [I have always said that I do not want to play in the Europa League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjen-robben/i-have-always-said-that-i-do-not-want-to-play-in-the-europa-league/) [Arjen Robben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjen-robben/) > [Munich is a great city. I have lived in many cities in Europe, but I have never felt this comfortable, and my wife and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjen-robben/munich-is-a-great-city-i-have-lived-in-many-cities-in-europe-but-i/) [Arjen Robben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjen-robben/) > [Playing United is the sort of thing that really gets the best out of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjen-robben/playing-united-is-the-sort-of-thing-that-really-gets-the-best-out-of/) [Arjen Robben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjen-robben/) > [In a top team, you always have very big competition between players, and for me, that's not a problem at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjen-robben/in-a-top-team-you-always-have-very-big-competition-between-players/) [Arjen Robben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjen-robben/) > [There's always so much to improve, no matter your age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjen-robben/there-s-always-so-much-to-improve-no-matter-your-age/) [Arjen Robben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjen-robben/) > [As a team, you always need to show something extra in the Champions League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjen-robben/as-a-team-you-always-need-to-show-something-extra-in-the-champions/) [Arjen Robben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjen-robben/) > [What I will miss the most about Guardiola? His obsession with the game and his knowledge, which makes you a better football player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjen-robben/what-i-will-miss-the-most-about-guardiola-his-obsession-with-the-game/) [Arjen Robben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjen-robben/) > [Nowhere in the world do supporters love their clubs more than in England. England is paradise to play in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjen-robben/nowhere-in-the-world-do-supporters-love-their-clubs-more-than-in/) [Arjen Robben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjen-robben/) > [I do not understand players going to China at the age of 27 or 28. Those guys are at the peak of their career.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjen-robben/i-do-not-understand-players-going-to-china-at-the-age-of-27-or-28/) [Arjen Robben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjen-robben/) > [Messi is in a different world. He is the best player in world football, without any doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjen-robben/messi-is-in-a-different-world-he-is-the-best-player-in-world-football/) [Arjen Robben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjen-robben/) > [A backheel is good if it works, not if it disrespects the opponents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjen-robben/a-backheel-is-good-if-it-works-not-if-it-disrespects-the-opponents/) [Arjen Robben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjen-robben/) > [Mourinho was always very strong for his players, and you needed to deliver for him. For me, it was good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjen-robben/mourinho-was-always-very-strong-for-his-players-and-you-needed-to/) [Arjen Robben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjen-robben/) > [I will always be the first to admit when I have done something wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjen-robben/i-will-always-be-the-first-to-admit-when-i-have-done-something-wrong/) [Arjen Robben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjen-robben/) [Explore all 96 Arjen Robben quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjen-robben/) ## More Exaggerate quotes > [People exaggerate the value of things they haven't got everybody worships truth and unselfishness because they have no experience with them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/people-exaggerate-the-value-of-things-they-haven-t-got-everybody/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [I don't exaggerate - I just remember big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chi-chi-rodriguez/i-don-t-exaggerate-i-just-remember-big/) [Chi Chi Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chi-chi-rodriguez/) > [We can exaggerate about many things; but we can never exaggerate our obligation to Jesus, or the compassionate abundance of the love of Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-william-faber/we-can-exaggerate-about-many-things-but-we-can-never-exaggerate-our/) [Frederick William Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-william-faber/) > [It's nonsense to say money doesn't buy happiness, but people exaggerate the extent to which more money can buy more happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/it-s-nonsense-to-say-money-doesn-t-buy-happiness-but-people/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [All losers exaggerate because they want you to know how bad they feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-caro/all-losers-exaggerate-because-they-want-you-to-know-how-bad-they-feel/) [Mike Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-caro/) > [People in life, when they have a tendency to exaggerate or lie or whatever, you always sort of notice that their voice goes up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/people-in-life-when-they-have-a-tendency-to-exaggerate-or-lie-or/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [It has something to do with the facts and the law and who the judges are. So I think lawyers sometimes exaggerate their role…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-abrams/it-has-something-to-do-with-the-facts-and-the-law-and-who-the-judges/) [Floyd Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-abrams/) > [We weaken what we exaggerate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-francois-de-la-harpe/we-weaken-what-we-exaggerate/) [Jean-Francois de La Harpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-francois-de-la-harpe/) > [“If you use the term 'over-exaggerate,' you know the definition neither of 'exaggerate' nor of 'over.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-ulyate/if-you-use-the-term-over-exaggerate-you-know-the-definition-neither/) [Rodney Ulyate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-ulyate/) > [Do I exaggerate? Boy, do I, and I'd do it more if I could get away with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/do-i-exaggerate-boy-do-i-and-i-d-do-it-more-if-i-could-get-away-with/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [My name is Bruce Feiler, and I'm an explainaholic. I first heard this word used to describe Isaac Asimov, and I knew instantly that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/my-name-is-bruce-feiler-and-i-m-an-explainaholic-i-first-heard-this/) [Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/) > [my good qualities are under your protection, and you are to exaggerate them as much as possible; and, in return, it belongs to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/my-good-qualities-are-under-your-protection-and-you-are-to-exaggerate/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [I exaggerate when I’m angry, but I’ve never gone around telling people things that aren’t true about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-exaggerate-when-i-m-angry-but-i-ve-never-gone-around-telling-people/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [One of the things that I'm realizing is that in voice-over work, you have to actually do more work with your facial muscles and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-valley/one-of-the-things-that-i-m-realizing-is-that-in-voice-over-work-you/) [Mark Valley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-valley/) > [I don't think most men do hate women at all - I think most men are trying their best and facing a culturation into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/i-don-t-think-most-men-do-hate-women-at-all-i-think-most-men-are/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) [Browse all 102 Exaggerate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exaggerate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Attackers have to be selfish on the pitch occasionally, but it's important not to exaggerate.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Arjen Robben" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjen-robben/attackers-have-to-be-selfish-on-the-pitch-occasionally-but-it-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Exaggerate" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjen-robben/attackers-have-to-be-selfish-on-the-pitch-occasionally-but-it-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e1/arjen-robben-6917_exaggerate_attackers-have-to-be-selfish-on-the-pitc_1155591.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e1/arjen-robben-6917_exaggerate_attackers-have-to-be-selfish-on-the-pitc_1155591.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e1/arjen-robben-6917_exaggerate_attackers-have-to-be-selfish-on-the-pitc_1155591.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Attackers have to be selfish on the pitch occasionally, but it's important not to exaggerate.” — Arjen Robben", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Arjen Robben", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjen-robben/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Attackers have to be selfish on...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjen-robben/attackers-have-to-be-selfish-on-the-pitch-occasionally-but-it-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjen-robben/attackers-have-to-be-selfish-on-the-pitch-occasionally-but-it-s/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```