--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've been playing football for a while…" description: "\"I've been playing football for a while, but Guardiola really made me a better player. I was 29 when I started working with him, so I wasn't very young,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a44/arjen-robben-6917_better_i-ve-been-playing-football-for-a-while-b_2577139.png" --- # I've been playing football for a while, but Guardiola… ![“I've been playing football for a while, but Guardiola really made me a better player. I was 29 when I started working with him, so I wasn't very young, but if you see the steps I made thanks to him, it shows you what he is capable of doing. Guardiola didn't just put me on the flanks but in other…” quote by Arjen Robben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a44/arjen-robben-6917_better_i-ve-been-playing-football-for-a-while-b_2577139.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a44/arjen-robben-6917_better_i-ve-been-playing-football-for-a-while-b_2577139.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a44/arjen-robben-6917_better_i-ve-been-playing-football-for-a-while-b_2577139.png) > “I've been playing football for a while, but Guardiola really made me a better player. I was 29 when I started working with him, so I wasn't very young, but if you see the steps I made thanks to him, it shows you what he is capable of doing. Guardiola didn't just put me on the flanks but in other positions as well.” [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. A great coach can unlock potential at any age, reshaping roles and skills. **In simple terms:** Coaching can transform players. Key Takeaway Seek mentors who challenge you. Themes sports growth mentorship Mood inspirational reflective Type sports motivational When to use this quote - career transition - team dynamics Key Concepts skill development adaptability leadership Questions to Reflect On - How can you identify a coach who expands your abilities? - What steps can you take to adapt to new positions? A Different Perspective Coaching impact varies; not all mentors succeed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Playing football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-football/) ## Related quotes > [I am reading the biography of Pep Guardiola. I find it really interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-bellamy/i-am-reading-the-biography-of-pep-guardiola-i-find-it-really/) [Craig Bellamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-bellamy/) > [I'd have considered myself fortunate to be coached by Guardiola because he really puts his stamp on teams. He builds them, moulds them, guides…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-pirlo/i-d-have-considered-myself-fortunate-to-be-coached-by-guardiola/) [Andrea Pirlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-pirlo/) > [Personally, I would like to face Barcelona in every game because it gives you so much motivation and you learn a lot from it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-trezeguet/personally-i-would-like-to-face-barcelona-in-every-game-because-it/) [David Trezeguet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-trezeguet/) > [I was a much better player in Europe than I was in the N.B.A., and lot of that had to do with feeling comfortable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d-antoni/i-was-a-much-better-player-in-europe-than-i-was-in-the-n-b-a-and-lot/) [Mike D'Antoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d-antoni/) > [Patience can be your biggest enemy in one way, because if you're not that patient, you rush in one way, and then you forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jannik-sinner/patience-can-be-your-biggest-enemy-in-one-way-because-if-you-re-not/) [Jannik Sinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jannik-sinner/) > [I'm always excited anytime I get a chance to be a better player and work with different people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martellus-bennett/i-m-always-excited-anytime-i-get-a-chance-to-be-a-better-player-and/) [Martellus Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martellus-bennett/) > [As I get older, I think I'm going to continue to be a better player and a better captain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-thornton/as-i-get-older-i-think-i-m-going-to-continue-to-be-a-better-player/) [Joe Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-thornton/) > [I didn't want to be cut, but it made me a better person and a better player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-spezza/i-didn-t-want-to-be-cut-but-it-made-me-a-better-person-and-a-better/) [Jason Spezza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-spezza/) > [I remember when I left Newcastle to join Tottenham Hotspur, the money was in no way a motivation for me, it was all about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermaine-jenas/i-remember-when-i-left-newcastle-to-join-tottenham-hotspur-the-money/) [Jermaine Jenas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermaine-jenas/) > [It's really important to have someone in competition for your position. Because that's the way to make each other a better player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hector-bellerin/it-s-really-important-to-have-someone-in-competition-for-your/) [Hector Bellerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hector-bellerin/) > [I've turned down a lot of trades where I might have gotten a better player, but I wasn't totally sure of the chemistry of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/i-ve-turned-down-a-lot-of-trades-where-i-might-have-gotten-a-better/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [If I can understand them better as a person then I can understand how to make them a better player too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-dyche/if-i-can-understand-them-better-as-a-person-then-i-can-understand-how/) [Sean Dyche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-dyche/) > [Going to Stade Francais will not just make me a better player but make me a better player for England.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/going-to-stade-francais-will-not-just-make-me-a-better-player-but/) [James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/) > [It's about being a better player today than you were yesterday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-lowry/it-s-about-being-a-better-player-today-than-you-were-yesterday/) [Kyle Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-lowry/) > [I feel like I am a much better player than just trying to keep my card or whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-feel-like-i-am-a-much-better-player-than-just-trying-to-keep-my/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) ## 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 Better quotes > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [Everybody has their cliques, and I was very shy. I'm still very shy. Music opened up doors. I would get to my choir class,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fonsi/everybody-has-their-cliques-and-i-was-very-shy-i-m-still-very-shy/) [Luis Fonsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fonsi/) > [You can't force people to feel in a certain way, and the sooner you understand that,the better. I feel everything has its way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidharth-malhotra/you-can-t-force-people-to-feel-in-a-certain-way-and-the-sooner-you/) [Sidharth Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidharth-malhotra/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [The bigger the canvas, the better I do. I'm not so good at understated, kitchen-sink kinds of parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/the-bigger-the-canvas-the-better-i-do-i-m-not-so-good-at-understated/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [The Little you Give !! The Better it Gets !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-stanyer/the-little-you-give-the-better-it-gets/) [Mario Stanyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-stanyer/) > [A strong, durable Puerto Rican economy will leave the island better prepared to handle future natural disasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/a-strong-durable-puerto-rican-economy-will-leave-the-island-better/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [In my first 100 days as Ontario's Minister of Transportation, I found a willing municipal partner in the City of Toronto that shares our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-mulroney/in-my-first-100-days-as-ontario-s-minister-of-transportation-i-found/) [Caroline Mulroney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-mulroney/) > [It hasn't been a conscious thing, like, 'I don't want to listen to a bunch of dudes,' but I genuinely like music by women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soccer-mommy/it-hasn-t-been-a-conscious-thing-like-i-don-t-want-to-listen-to-a/) [Soccer Mommy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soccer-mommy/) > [Life is going to hit you some line drives, and sometimes you'll have to think fast. However, it's better to think first than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/life-is-going-to-hit-you-some-line-drives-and-sometimes-you-ll-have/) [John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/) > [I like to collaborate with other people for studio recordings because I believe collaboration, in any form, makes music better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-barlow/i-like-to-collaborate-with-other-people-for-studio-recordings-because/) [Lou Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-barlow/) > [Absolutely, you can improve and become better at toughness. It's a talent, but it can be acquired, too. I think of it like building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/absolutely-you-can-improve-and-become-better-at-toughness-it-s-a/) [Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/) > [Not having drops and not taking plays off, if I do that it will make everyone around me better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demaryius-thomas/not-having-drops-and-not-taking-plays-off-if-i-do-that-it-will-make/) [Demaryius Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demaryius-thomas/) > [Cara Delevingne and I took an eyebrow selfie. We both have prominent eyebrows, but hers are much better than mine. Maybe we should do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-poulter/cara-delevingne-and-i-took-an-eyebrow-selfie-we-both-have-prominent/) [Will Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-poulter/) > [I never really look at it past one year. I look at last year and my whole goal is to be a better player…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-williams/i-never-really-look-at-it-past-one-year-i-look-at-last-year-and-my/) [Trent Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-williams/) Browse all 17,085 Better quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've been playing football for a while, but Guardiola really made me a better player. I was 29 when I started working with him, so I wasn't very young, but if you see the steps I made thanks to him, it shows you what he is capable of doing. 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