--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You do see very few English players going…" description: "\"You do see very few English players going abroad and those that do are largely good players otherwise they wouldn't have gone, but I feel a lot of thei..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/289/chris-smalling-6439_football_you-do-see-very-few-english-players-goin_2515262.jpg" --- # You do see very few English players going abroad and those… ![“You do see very few English players going abroad and those that do are largely good players otherwise they wouldn't have gone, but I feel a lot of their downfall is in the language. On the pitch you can learn the different basics of 'left,' 'right' and 'behind you' but off the pitch you want to…” quote by Chris Smalling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/289/chris-smalling-6439_football_you-do-see-very-few-english-players-goin_2515262.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/289/chris-smalling-6439_football_you-do-see-very-few-english-players-goin_2515262.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/289/chris-smalling-6439_football_you-do-see-very-few-english-players-goin_2515262.jpg) > “You do see very few English players going abroad and those that do are largely good players otherwise they wouldn't have gone, but I feel a lot of their downfall is in the language. On the pitch you can learn the different basics of 'left,' 'right' and 'behind you' but off the pitch you want to have that influence around the team.” [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. The player notes that English footballers often struggle abroad due to language barriers, which affect both on‑field communication and off‑field influence within the team. **In simple terms:** Language skills are crucial for success abroad. Key Takeaway Learn the local language to integrate fully. Themes sports communication culture career language team dynamics integration Mood practical insightful Type professional motivational When to use this quote - international transfers - team leadership - media relations Key Concepts linguistics team cohesion Questions to Reflect On - What steps can clubs take to support language learning? - How does language affect leadership in sport? A Different Perspective Language alone won’t guarantee success; other cultural factors matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) ## Related quotes > [It's strange that we don't see more English players going to the Spanish league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santi-cazorla/it-s-strange-that-we-don-t-see-more-english-players-going-to-the/) [Santi Cazorla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santi-cazorla/) > [Our safety at home and the cause of freedom abroad is largely contingent upon our success in Iraq.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-lewis/our-safety-at-home-and-the-cause-of-freedom-abroad-is-largely/) [Ron Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-lewis/) > [I think what we've tried to preach to our players is we're going to let the best players play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mcvay/i-think-what-we-ve-tried-to-preach-to-our-players-is-we-re-going-to/) [Sean McVay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mcvay/) > [You don't have to follow what most players do by going to the top school. You can do anything at any school you're at,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-delle-donne/you-don-t-have-to-follow-what-most-players-do-by-going-to-the-top/) [Elena Delle Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-delle-donne/) > [When you play against the best players, you're going to grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-pulisic/when-you-play-against-the-best-players-you-re-going-to-grow/) [Christian Pulisic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-pulisic/) > [Sometimes recruiters and scouts are missing on players. Going after the guys who are really hyped, five-star players and guys that are playing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mccollum/sometimes-recruiters-and-scouts-are-missing-on-players-going-after/) [C. J. McCollum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mccollum/) > [A lot of players were going to Europe, but there were always stories of teams not being able to pay, and the players and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-donovan/a-lot-of-players-were-going-to-europe-but-there-were-always-stories/) [Anne Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-donovan/) > [That's the hardest part of this whole process. The best part is picking the players and the worst part is telling basically five players…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/that-s-the-hardest-part-of-this-whole-process-the-best-part-is/) [Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/) > [I want to keep the ball, I want to give the ball to the players that are going to make things happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-greenwood/i-want-to-keep-the-ball-i-want-to-give-the-ball-to-the-players-that/) [Alex Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-greenwood/) > [For us, as hoopers and as basketball players, doesn't matter the scenario, the scene. True hoopers and true basketball players are going to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-millsap/for-us-as-hoopers-and-as-basketball-players-doesn-t-matter-the/) [Paul Millsap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-millsap/) > [It's always about 'what have you done for me lately.' As players we see what is going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malik-jackson/it-s-always-about-what-have-you-done-for-me-lately-as-players-we-see/) [Malik Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malik-jackson/) > [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/) > [I'm trying to challenge all my players. I'm going to do that how I see fit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-flores/i-m-trying-to-challenge-all-my-players-i-m-going-to-do-that-how-i-see/) [Brian Flores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-flores/) > [Some players are bought by other clubs with an eye to them developing into something special in a few years' time. Whereas there's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-woodward/some-players-are-bought-by-other-clubs-with-an-eye-to-them-developing/) [Ed Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-woodward/) > [We have to make judgments on the individual players and we're not always going to be right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-depodesta/we-have-to-make-judgments-on-the-individual-players-and-we-re-not/) [Paul DePodesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-depodesta/) ## 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. 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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 Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/) Brendan Mundorf > [Giggs is the realest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/giggs-is-the-realest/) [Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/) > [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/) [Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/) > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You do see very few English players going abroad and those that do are largely good players otherwise they wouldn't have gone, but I feel a lot of their downfall is in the language. 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