--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I haven't done great things for Spain - I…" description: "\"I haven't done great things for Spain - I can't lie - but when I play well, they should say so. They criticise me for my character, but I also have qua..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a1/diego-costa-7284_character_i-haven-t-done-great-things-for-spain-i_2009253.jpg" --- # I haven't done great things for Spain - I can't lie - but… ![“I haven't done great things for Spain - I can't lie - but when I play well, they should say so. They criticise me for my character, but I also have quality.” quote by Diego Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a1/diego-costa-7284_character_i-haven-t-done-great-things-for-spain-i_2009253.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a1/diego-costa-7284_character_i-haven-t-done-great-things-for-spain-i_2009253.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a1/diego-costa-7284_character_i-haven-t-done-great-things-for-spain-i_2009253.jpg) > “I haven't done great things for Spain - I can't lie - but when I play well, they should say so. They criticise me for my character, but I also have quality.” [Diego Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-costa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He acknowledges past shortcomings yet asserts that strong performance should be recognized despite personal criticism. **In simple terms:** Good play deserves praise even if character is questioned. Key Takeaway Let performance speak louder than rumors. Themes sports integrity recognition Mood determined defensive Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - team selection - media interviews - fan discussions - player contracts Key Concepts personal growth public perception performance metrics Questions to Reflect On - How can athletes balance personal conduct with professional excellence? - What role should media play in shaping public opinion? A Different Perspective Critics may still focus on off‑field behavior, limiting reputation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Lie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lie/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) ## Related quotes > [The desire to criticise becomes less and less as the character is developed. It is the mark of a fine character never to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-d-larson/the-desire-to-criticise-becomes-less-and-less-as-the-character-is/) [Christian D. Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-d-larson/) > [Actually, I am a coward. I say only what is safe to say, and I criticise only what is permissable to criticise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murong-xuecun/actually-i-am-a-coward-i-say-only-what-is-safe-to-say-and-i-criticise/) [Murong Xuecun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murong-xuecun/) > [“Even if you do nothing, say nothing and be nothing, there will still be many who will criticise you. It is much better to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/awdhesh-singh/even-if-you-do-nothing-say-nothing-and-be-nothing-there-will-still-be/) [Awdhesh Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/awdhesh-singh/) > [Failure isn't a character quality. It's just an event. How you respond to failure is your character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/failure-isn-t-a-character-quality-it-s-just-an-event-how-you-respond/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Truth telling is the first building block of character -- a quality that seems to be getting rarer and rarer in all-forgiving America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mona-charen/truth-telling-is-the-first-building-block-of-character-a-quality-that/) [Mona Charen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mona-charen/) > [Good character is that quality which makes one dependable whether being watched or not, which makes one truthful when it is to one's advantage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-s-adams/good-character-is-that-quality-which-makes-one-dependable-whether/) Arthur S. Adams > [Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-inglis-anderson/bad-things-do-happen-how-i-respond-to-them-defines-my-character-and/) [Walter Inglis Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-inglis-anderson/) > [The best part of the character and quality of the leader is expressing who you are in the work you do and how you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/the-best-part-of-the-character-and-quality-of-the-leader-is/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [Character is a quality that embodies many important traits, such as integrity, courage, perseverance, confidence and wisdom. Unlike your fingerprints that you are born…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/character-is-a-quality-that-embodies-many-important-traits-such-as/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [Truly, spiritual courage is on the endangered character-quality list.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hybels/truly-spiritual-courage-is-on-the-endangered-character-quality-list/) [Bill Hybels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hybels/) > [People with self-respect exhibit a certain toughness, a kind of moral nerve; they display what was once called \*character,\* a quality which, although approved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/people-with-self-respect-exhibit-a-certain-toughness-a-kind-of-moral/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [Perseverance may be the top character quality of successful people. Not about looks or IQ, DONT QUIT!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/perseverance-may-be-the-top-character-quality-of-successful-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Perhaps the greatest definition I think of character and quality is people who when they're truly great rather than making you feel that tall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/perhaps-the-greatest-definition-i-think-of-character-and-quality-is/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [The worst thing is when people criticise you and you go, 'Yeah, you're right.' It's really hard to take.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckley/the-worst-thing-is-when-people-criticise-you-and-you-go-yeah-you-re/) [James Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-buckley/) > [Choosing how you live should be up to you not the people that would criticise your well being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-hayward/choosing-how-you-live-should-be-up-to-you-not-the-people-that-would/) [Courtney Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-hayward/) ## More by Diego Costa > [I consider myself a player who fights and gives everything on the pitch. Those who know me and appreciate those values understand what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-costa/i-consider-myself-a-player-who-fights-and-gives-everything-on-the/) [Diego Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-costa/) > [If you pinpointed someone before the kick-off, probably you would become embroiled in a fight, and you would be distracted from what really matters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-costa/if-you-pinpointed-someone-before-the-kick-off-probably-you-would/) [Diego Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-costa/) > [A season is very long, and there will be periods where you'll be very good and moments where you won't be as good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-costa/a-season-is-very-long-and-there-will-be-periods-where-you-ll-be-very/) [Diego Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-costa/) > [I've done everything to come back to Atletico, but I wouldn't fight the same to return. When Atletico didn't wait for me, I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-costa/i-ve-done-everything-to-come-back-to-atletico-but-i-wouldn-t-fight/) [Diego Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-costa/) > [I can only watch calmly if the match is decided or my team are dominating. But I get passionate very easily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-costa/i-can-only-watch-calmly-if-the-match-is-decided-or-my-team-are/) [Diego Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-costa/) > [Obviously, I have to enjoy all I have. People depend on you, and now I can look back at everything I've gone through to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-costa/obviously-i-have-to-enjoy-all-i-have-people-depend-on-you-and-now-i/) [Diego Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-costa/) > [You know when you have a manager that is always successful, is always in the title race and always playing in the Champions League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-costa/you-know-when-you-have-a-manager-that-is-always-successful-is-always/) [Diego Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-costa/) > [I have to be extra careful, but I'm never going to change the way I play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-costa/i-have-to-be-extra-careful-but-i-m-never-going-to-change-the-way-i/) [Diego Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-costa/) > [I want to be on the pitch, and I want to be cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-costa/i-want-to-be-on-the-pitch-and-i-want-to-be-cool/) [Diego Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-costa/) > [Every striker has their way of playing and their strengths and a different team behind them. That is very important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-costa/every-striker-has-their-way-of-playing-and-their-strengths-and-a/) [Diego Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-costa/) > [On the pitch, I will always be like that. That's my character, and I will always compete and compete - always. I'm a different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-costa/on-the-pitch-i-will-always-be-like-that-that-s-my-character-and-i/) [Diego Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-costa/) > [I want to be competitive; I want to run all over - I want to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-costa/i-want-to-be-competitive-i-want-to-run-all-over-i-want-to-win/) [Diego Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-costa/) > [Always, when things don't go the way that everyone expects, people - the supporters as well - always look for someone to blame. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-costa/always-when-things-don-t-go-the-way-that-everyone-expects-people-the/) [Diego Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-costa/) > [If you ask a million players who they would want as manager, they will come back with a top three list of Mourinho, Pep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-costa/if-you-ask-a-million-players-who-they-would-want-as-manager-they-will/) [Diego Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-costa/) > [I'm just like that: I just always try to win, to get better, do my best, and it always annoys me to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-costa/i-m-just-like-that-i-just-always-try-to-win-to-get-better-do-my-best/) [Diego Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-costa/) [Explore all 92 Diego Costa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-costa/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I haven't done great things for Spain - I can't lie - but when I play well, they should say so. 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