--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We didn't underestimate them. They were…" description: "\"We didn't underestimate them. They were just a lot better than we thought.\" — Bobby Robson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da7/bobby-robson-19264_footballer_we-didn-t-underestimate-them-they-were-j_1714804.png" --- # We didn't underestimate them. They were just a lot better… ![“We didn't underestimate them. They were just a lot better than we thought.” quote by Bobby Robson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da7/bobby-robson-19264_footballer_we-didn-t-underestimate-them-they-were-j_1714804.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da7/bobby-robson-19264_footballer_we-didn-t-underestimate-them-they-were-j_1714804.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da7/bobby-robson-19264_footballer_we-didn-t-underestimate-them-they-were-j_1714804.png) > “We didn't underestimate them. They were just a lot better than we thought.” [Bobby Robson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-robson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Underestimating opponents can lead to surprise defeats; always assess rivals accurately. **In simple terms:** Never underestimate opponents; assess them well. Key Takeaway Respect all competitors and prepare thoroughly. Themes competition assessment humility strategy Mood cautious strategic realistic Type sports leadership advice When to use this quote - football matches - business negotiations - project planning - political campaigns Key Concepts sports psychology risk management team dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure accurate opponent analysis? - What checks prevent underestimation? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can cause complacency and missed warnings. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-thought-481652/) [Didn Underestimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-underestimate-1281783/) [Footballer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/footballer/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Funny soccer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-soccer/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Lot Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lot-better/) [Motivational soccer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational-soccer/) [Newcastle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/newcastle/) [Newcastle united](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/newcastle-united/) [Olympic games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympic-games/) [Silly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silly/) [Soccer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soccer/) [Soccer football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soccer-football/) [Soccer player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soccer-player/) [Stupid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid/) [Underestimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/underestimate/) [Underestimate Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/underestimate-just-1281784/) ## Related quotes > [Some people tell me that we professional players are soccer slaves. Well, if this is slavery, give me a life sentence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-charlton/some-people-tell-me-that-we-professional-players-are-soccer-slaves/) [Bobby Charlton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-charlton/) > [I was surprised, but I always say nothing surprises me in football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-ferdinand/i-was-surprised-but-i-always-say-nothing-surprises-me-in-football/) [Les Ferdinand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-ferdinand/) > [All good athletes make mistakes; the great ones learn to make that mistake only once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-lopez/all-good-athletes-make-mistakes-the-great-ones-learn-to-make-that/) [Raul Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-lopez/) > [In Latin America the border between soccer and politics is vague. There is a long list of governments that have fallen or been overthrown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-suarez/in-latin-america-the-border-between-soccer-and-politics-is-vague/) [Luis Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-suarez/) > [Every single day I wake up and commit to myself to becoming a better player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-hamm/every-single-day-i-wake-up-and-commit-to-myself-to-becoming-a-better/) [Mia Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-hamm/) > [Other countries have their history. Uruguay has its football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ondino-viera/other-countries-have-their-history-uruguay-has-its-football/) [Ondino Viera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ondino-viera/) > [In football, the worst blindness is only seeing the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-rodrigues/in-football-the-worst-blindness-is-only-seeing-the-ball/) [Nelson Rodrigues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-rodrigues/) > [International football is the continuation of war by other means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/international-football-is-the-continuation-of-war-by-other-means/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Football's a difficult business and aren't they prima donnas. But it's a wonderful game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-elizabeth-ii/football-s-a-difficult-business-and-aren-t-they-prima-donnas-but-it-s/) [Queen Elizabeth II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-elizabeth-ii/) > [I'm here to score a lot of goals. It's my speciality, that's what I've been brought here to do, and I want to score…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronaldo/i-m-here-to-score-a-lot-of-goals-it-s-my-speciality-that-s-what-i-ve/) [Ronaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronaldo/) > [I don't believe skill was, or ever will be, the result of coaches. It is a result of a love affair between the child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-keane/i-don-t-believe-skill-was-or-ever-will-be-the-result-of-coaches-it-is/) [Roy Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-keane/) > [The rules of soccer are very simple: if it moves, kick it. If it doesn't move, kick it until it does,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-rules-of-soccer-are-very-simple-if-it-moves-kick-it-if-it-doesn-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In his life, a man can change wives, political parties or religions but he cannot change his favourite soccer team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-galeano/in-his-life-a-man-can-change-wives-political-parties-or-religions-but/) [Eduardo Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-galeano/) > [I always used to put my right boot on first, and then obviously my right sock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-venison/i-always-used-to-put-my-right-boot-on-first-and-then-obviously-my/) [Barry Venison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-venison/) > [Every kid around the world who plays soccer wants to be Pele. I have a great responsibility to show them not just how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/every-kid-around-the-world-who-plays-soccer-wants-to-be-pele-i-have-a/) [Pele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/) ## More by Bobby Robson > [He's very fast and if he gets a yard ahead of himself nobody will catch him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-robson/he-s-very-fast-and-if-he-gets-a-yard-ahead-of-himself-nobody-will/) [Bobby Robson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-robson/) > [Practice makes permanent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-robson/practice-makes-permanent/) [Bobby Robson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-robson/) > [We don't want our players to be monks. We want them to be better football players because a monk doesn't play football at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-robson/we-don-t-want-our-players-to-be-monks-we-want-them-to-be-better/) [Bobby Robson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-robson/) > [Well we got nine and you can't score more than that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-robson/well-we-got-nine-and-you-can-t-score-more-than-that/) [Bobby Robson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-robson/) > [Home advantage gives you an advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-robson/home-advantage-gives-you-an-advantage/) [Bobby Robson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-robson/) > [The margin is very marginal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-robson/the-margin-is-very-marginal/) [Bobby Robson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-robson/) > [Football's like a big market place and people go to the market every day to buy their vegetables.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-robson/football-s-like-a-big-market-place-and-people-go-to-the-market-every/) [Bobby Robson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-robson/) > [I would have given my right arm to have been a pianist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-robson/i-would-have-given-my-right-arm-to-have-been-a-pianist/) [Bobby Robson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-robson/) > [We haven't scored which means you haven't got a chance of winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-robson/we-haven-t-scored-which-means-you-haven-t-got-a-chance-of-winning/) [Bobby Robson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-robson/) > [Alan Shearer has done very well for us, considering his age. We have introduced some movement into his game because he has got two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-robson/alan-shearer-has-done-very-well-for-us-considering-his-age-we-have/) [Bobby Robson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-robson/) > [In a year's time, he's a year older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-robson/in-a-year-s-time-he-s-a-year-older/) [Bobby Robson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-robson/) > [Players only understand substitutions when they become managers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-robson/players-only-understand-substitutions-when-they-become-managers/) [Bobby Robson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-robson/) > [We can't replace Gary Speed - where do you get an experienced player like him with a left foot and a head?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-robson/we-can-t-replace-gary-speed-where-do-you-get-an-experienced-player/) [Bobby Robson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-robson/) > [The first ninety minutes of a football match are the most important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-robson/the-first-ninety-minutes-of-a-football-match-are-the-most-important/) [Bobby Robson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-robson/) > [Titus looks like Tyson when he strips off in the dressing-room, except he doesn't bite and has a great tackle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-robson/titus-looks-like-tyson-when-he-strips-off-in-the-dressing-room-except/) [Bobby Robson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-robson/) [Explore all 33 Bobby Robson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-robson/) ## More Footballer quotes > [In 1969, I gave up women and alcohol - it was the worst 20 minutes of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-best/in-1969-i-gave-up-women-and-alcohol-it-was-the-worst-20-minutes-of-my/) [George Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-best/) > [More than anyone, I am aware of the preconceptions. I was a Spice Girl. I'm married to a footballer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-beckham/more-than-anyone-i-am-aware-of-the-preconceptions-i-was-a-spice-girl/) [Victoria Beckham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-beckham/) > [My dad was not a footballer. He wasn't anything remotely what the average person would say was a role model - but in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-deeney/my-dad-was-not-a-footballer-he-wasn-t-anything-remotely-what-the/) [Troy Deeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-deeney/) > [If he isn't named footballer of the year, football should be stopped and the men who picked any other player should be sent to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-shankly/if-he-isn-t-named-footballer-of-the-year-football-should-be-stopped/) [Bill Shankly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shankly/) > [Being a footballer was about analysing performance, never being satisfied, seeing what lessons you can learn and who you can learn from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-scott/being-a-footballer-was-about-analysing-performance-never-being/) [Alex Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-scott/) > [Being an adult is the ability to postpone a want for the sake of a family need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hogan/being-an-adult-is-the-ability-to-postpone-a-want-for-the-sake-of-a/) [Chris Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hogan/) > [It's impossible to be more of a footballer than Messi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-rijkaard/it-s-impossible-to-be-more-of-a-footballer-than-messi/) [Frank Rijkaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-rijkaard/) > [Congratulations to Thierry Henry on a truly wonderful career. One of the great footballers of our time and a top bloke. Bonne chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-lineker/congratulations-to-thierry-henry-on-a-truly-wonderful-career-one-of/) [Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/) > [You're obviously conscious of being brash or big-headed but I always knew I was going to be a footballer when I was seven or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-re-obviously-conscious-of-being-brash-or-big-headed-but-i-always/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you're not an ambitious footballer, you're in the wrong game, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-maguire/if-you-re-not-an-ambitious-footballer-you-re-in-the-wrong-game-really/) [Harry Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-maguire/) > [Not just me but every professional footballer will tell you they miss playing the game, I miss the game especially as I retired early,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabrice-muamba/not-just-me-but-every-professional-footballer-will-tell-you-they-miss/) [Fabrice Muamba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabrice-muamba/) > [George Best was one of the most talented players of all time and probably the best footballer who never made it to a major…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-beckenbauer/george-best-was-one-of-the-most-talented-players-of-all-time-and/) [Franz Beckenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-beckenbauer/) > [I run an academy in Spain for young footballers who are released by their clubs and who, in my opinion, deserve a second chance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-hoddle/i-run-an-academy-in-spain-for-young-footballers-who-are-released-by/) [Glenn Hoddle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-hoddle/) > [I don’t see the problem with footballers taking their shirts off after scoring a goal? They enjoy it and the young ladies enjoy it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-holloway/i-don-t-see-the-problem-with-footballers-taking-their-shirts-off/) [Ian Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-holloway/) > [In my opinion, there is no better place to be for a footballer than Liverpool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-henderson/in-my-opinion-there-is-no-better-place-to-be-for-a-footballer-than/) [Jordan Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-henderson/) [Browse all 552 Footballer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/footballer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We didn't underestimate them. 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