--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was still on the bench at the beginning…" description: "\"I was still on the bench at the beginning in Naples, then I started to play and I wanted to enjoy my moments. I worked so hard to get into the team and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/dries-mertens-16154_beginning_i-was-still-on-the-bench-at-the-beginnin_462496.jpg" --- # I was still on the bench at the beginning in Naples, then… ![“I was still on the bench at the beginning in Naples, then I started to play and I wanted to enjoy my moments. I worked so hard to get into the team and I didn't want to leave - that would have been too easy.” quote by Dries Mertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/dries-mertens-16154_beginning_i-was-still-on-the-bench-at-the-beginnin_462496.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/dries-mertens-16154_beginning_i-was-still-on-the-bench-at-the-beginnin_462496.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/dries-mertens-16154_beginning_i-was-still-on-the-bench-at-the-beginnin_462496.jpg) > “I was still on the bench at the beginning in Naples, then I started to play and I wanted to enjoy my moments. I worked so hard to get into the team and I didn't want to leave - that would have been too easy.” [Dries Mertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dries-mertens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He persisted through early setbacks, worked hard to join the team, and resisted the temptation to quit, valuing effort over ease. **In simple terms:** He kept trying despite challenges. Key Takeaway Stay committed and avoid easy exits. Themes sports perseverance teamwork motivation Mood determined reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - training camps - match preparation - team building Key Concepts Athlete mindset career development resilience Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you to keep pushing? - How do you handle easy shortcuts? A Different Perspective Pressure and burnout can undermine resolve. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beginning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I started to play the guitar for a couple of years, which was fun. I still bring it out once in a while, could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/i-started-to-play-the-guitar-for-a-couple-of-years-which-was-fun-i/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [18 was a great year for me to change me in the right way. 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I didn't want all the stuff around it, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-anelka/when-i-started-to-play-football-as-far-i-was-concerned-i-just-played/) [Nicolas Anelka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-anelka/) > [I wish I had started to play the ukulele much earlier in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-skinner/i-wish-i-had-started-to-play-the-ukulele-much-earlier-in-life/) [Frank Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-skinner/) > [Pearl Jam's 'Alive' is the reason I started to play music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coy-bowles/pearl-jam-s-alive-is-the-reason-i-started-to-play-music/) [Coy Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coy-bowles/) ## More by Dries Mertens > [As it is I'm very pleased at PSV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dries-mertens/as-it-is-i-m-very-pleased-at-psv/) [Dries Mertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dries-mertens/) > [I have so much respect for when my parents did. They did not raise me talking about money and I would have disappointed them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dries-mertens/i-have-so-much-respect-for-when-my-parents-did-they-did-not-raise-me/) [Dries Mertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dries-mertens/) > [Sarri taught me football. He is a coach I really like, well-prepared and even scientific in the way he analyses games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dries-mertens/sarri-taught-me-football-he-is-a-coach-i-really-like-well-prepared/) [Dries Mertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dries-mertens/) > [Neapolitan people are always outside. They are not in front of the television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dries-mertens/neapolitan-people-are-always-outside-they-are-not-in-front-of-the/) [Dries Mertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dries-mertens/) > [My initials are D.M., just like Diego Maradona. And just like him, I want to be remembered by the people of Naples.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dries-mertens/my-initials-are-d-m-just-like-diego-maradona-and-just-like-him-i-want/) [Dries Mertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dries-mertens/) > [I know I'm not a Lionel Messi or a Cristiano Ronaldo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dries-mertens/i-know-i-m-not-a-lionel-messi-or-a-cristiano-ronaldo/) [Dries Mertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dries-mertens/) > [It's simply amazing to have the chance to play for PSV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dries-mertens/it-s-simply-amazing-to-have-the-chance-to-play-for-psv/) [Dries Mertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dries-mertens/) > [I like to live like a local. 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I will always get goals here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dries-mertens/napoli-s-game-is-perfect-for-me-i-will-always-get-goals-here/) [Dries Mertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dries-mertens/) > [It's not easy to be on a diet when you play for Napoli - the food is really good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dries-mertens/it-s-not-easy-to-be-on-a-diet-when-you-play-for-napoli-the-food-is/) [Dries Mertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dries-mertens/) > [I love playing for this team, the fans want me to play for Napoli.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dries-mertens/i-love-playing-for-this-team-the-fans-want-me-to-play-for-napoli/) [Dries Mertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dries-mertens/) > [I chose Napoli with my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dries-mertens/i-chose-napoli-with-my-heart/) [Dries Mertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dries-mertens/) > [You know a dog loves you for who you are; they don't know if you're a soccer player or not. 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Let us give to God what belongs to him: the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/january-is-the-beginning-of-a-new-year-for-us-in-the-western-world/) [Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/) > [In the beginning, if you look at those early label albums of the Chicks, we didn't write all that much. We had an A&R…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martie-maguire/in-the-beginning-if-you-look-at-those-early-label-albums-of-the/) [Martie Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martie-maguire/) > [You need more than a beginning if you're going to start a book. 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