--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's nice when you can have that battle…" description: "\"It's nice when you can have that battle on the pitch and then there's respect after the game because, ultimately, you are just trying to do your best.\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf2/chris-smalling-6439_best_it-s-nice-when-you-can-have-that-battle_2760085.jpg" --- # It's nice when you can have that battle on the pitch and… ![“It's nice when you can have that battle on the pitch and then there's respect after the game because, ultimately, you are just trying to do your best.” quote by Chris Smalling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf2/chris-smalling-6439_best_it-s-nice-when-you-can-have-that-battle_2760085.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf2/chris-smalling-6439_best_it-s-nice-when-you-can-have-that-battle_2760085.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf2/chris-smalling-6439_best_it-s-nice-when-you-can-have-that-battle_2760085.jpg) > “It's nice when you can have that battle on the pitch and then there's respect after the game because, ultimately, you are just trying to do your best.” [Chris Smalling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-smalling/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Respect follows genuine effort and sportsmanship on the field. **In simple terms:** Effort earns respect. Key Takeaway Play earnestly, accept respect. Themes sportsmanship respect effort Mood determined respectful Type motivational practical When to use this quote - coaching - team building - conflict resolution Key Concepts team dynamics competition Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle disrespect? - What does “doing your best” mean to you? A Different Perspective Respect isn’t guaranteed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [You can be rivals out on the pitch, but respect is the most important thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-lloris/you-can-be-rivals-out-on-the-pitch-but-respect-is-the-most-important/) [Hugo Lloris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-lloris/) > [I'm never going to show anyone up. And I will always show the utmost respect for the game, and for those who have paved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-lindor/i-m-never-going-to-show-anyone-up-and-i-will-always-show-the-utmost/) [Francisco Lindor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-lindor/) > [My dad told me to tuck my shirt in, look good and respect the game, so that has become embedded in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-parker/my-dad-told-me-to-tuck-my-shirt-in-look-good-and-respect-the-game-so/) [Scott Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-parker/) > [You get a lot of respect for 'Game of Thrones,' and it was a lot of fun to play, but it didn't help my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-momoa/you-get-a-lot-of-respect-for-game-of-thrones-and-it-was-a-lot-of-fun/) [Jason Momoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-momoa/) > [You've got to respect the game and you've got to respect what the people that have played have done for the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwyane-wade/you-ve-got-to-respect-the-game-and-you-ve-got-to-respect-what-the/) [Dwyane Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwyane-wade/) > [You can have fun, respect the game and also play it hard. When you have that combination, you're going to put yourself in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-rodriguez/you-can-have-fun-respect-the-game-and-also-play-it-hard-when-you-have/) [Alex Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-rodriguez/) > [I just think I respect the game and care for the game so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gore/i-just-think-i-respect-the-game-and-care-for-the-game-so-much/) [Frank Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gore/) > [They will look at my career as the guy who gave it all but at the same time did it with integrity. That's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-brock/they-will-look-at-my-career-as-the-guy-who-gave-it-all-but-at-the/) [Lou Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-brock/) > [It's a crazy feeling when people know who you are and respect your game. It's much appreciated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-cruz/it-s-a-crazy-feeling-when-people-know-who-you-are-and-respect-your/) [Victor Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-cruz/) > [We respect the game. I just think we express it a little bit different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-tatis-jr/we-respect-the-game-i-just-think-we-express-it-a-little-bit-different/) [Fernando Tatis Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-tatis-jr/) > [I don't believe in having friends on the field. I mean, my brother, my dad, my mom, grandma was out there, it's on. After…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-ramsey/i-don-t-believe-in-having-friends-on-the-field-i-mean-my-brother-my/) [Jalen Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-ramsey/) > [When you have two great competitors in the same gym, you have to respect each other's game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/breanna-stewart/when-you-have-two-great-competitors-in-the-same-gym-you-have-to/) [Breanna Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/breanna-stewart/) > [I'd take 12 guys who had a strong passion for the game over 12 guys who don't respect the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-d-take-12-guys-who-had-a-strong-passion-for-the-game-over-12-guys/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [No one is above the game or the rules that govern it. Respect for the game and the people who participate in it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-goodell/no-one-is-above-the-game-or-the-rules-that-govern-it-respect-for-the/) [Roger Goodell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-goodell/) > [The old thought process is that you have to respect the game - right? - and act like you've been there before. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-doolittle/the-old-thought-process-is-that-you-have-to-respect-the-game-right/) [Sean Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-doolittle/) ## More by Chris Smalling > [When you get the shirt and a position in the team, you don't want to give it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-smalling/when-you-get-the-shirt-and-a-position-in-the-team-you-don-t-want-to/) [Chris Smalling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-smalling/) > [There are lots of aspects to work on my game, which the coaches do with me every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-smalling/there-are-lots-of-aspects-to-work-on-my-game-which-the-coaches-do/) [Chris Smalling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-smalling/) > [I wish I knew in terms of more educated in food when I was younger. Because the importance of it not just in sport…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-smalling/i-wish-i-knew-in-terms-of-more-educated-in-food-when-i-was-younger/) [Chris Smalling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-smalling/) > [As I've got older I've become a lot more conscious of my diet and making sure I was getting all the right things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-smalling/as-i-ve-got-older-i-ve-become-a-lot-more-conscious-of-my-diet-and/) [Chris Smalling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-smalling/) > [When you have come from the bottom and worked your way to the top, you are more grateful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-smalling/when-you-have-come-from-the-bottom-and-worked-your-way-to-the-top-you/) [Chris Smalling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-smalling/) > [I love a challenge and when a new centre-back comes in it makes you raise your game. You have to show more, you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-smalling/i-love-a-challenge-and-when-a-new-centre-back-comes-in-it-makes-you/) [Chris Smalling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-smalling/) > [At cricket, I was mainly a bowler and tried to bat. I hit the odd four or six and then got out! In athletics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-smalling/at-cricket-i-was-mainly-a-bowler-and-tried-to-bat-i-hit-the-odd-four/) [Chris Smalling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-smalling/) > [I think racism is unacceptable and should not be stood for. 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That is no fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-smalling/as-players-we-don-t-want-to-be-sitting-on-the-touchline-or-watching/) [Chris Smalling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-smalling/) > [It is nice to hear yourself being compared to great players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-smalling/it-is-nice-to-hear-yourself-being-compared-to-great-players/) [Chris Smalling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-smalling/) > [If you would have told me that I'd be in a European final back when I was at Maidstone then I wouldn't have believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-smalling/if-you-would-have-told-me-that-i-d-be-in-a-european-final-back-when-i/) [Chris Smalling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-smalling/) > [Football was always a dream, but a distant dream until when I was about to go to university. I'd had a couple of trials,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-smalling/football-was-always-a-dream-but-a-distant-dream-until-when-i-was/) [Chris Smalling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-smalling/) [Explore all 99 Chris Smalling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-smalling/) ## More Best quotes > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... 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