--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are always playing for our future…" description: "\"We are always playing for our future, that is as professional players.\" — Erik ten Hag" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07e/erik-ten-hag-6878_always_we-are-always-playing-for-our-future-tha_1051802.jpg" --- # We are always playing for our future, that is as… ![“We are always playing for our future, that is as professional players.” quote by Erik ten Hag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07e/erik-ten-hag-6878_always_we-are-always-playing-for-our-future-tha_1051802.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07e/erik-ten-hag-6878_always_we-are-always-playing-for-our-future-tha_1051802.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07e/erik-ten-hag-6878_always_we-are-always-playing-for-our-future-tha_1051802.jpg) > “We are always playing for our future, that is as professional players.” [Erik ten Hag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-ten-hag/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Professional athletes must constantly plan and act for future success, treating each game as a step toward long‑term goals. **In simple terms:** Players focus on future outcomes. Key Takeaway Plan ahead, act now. Themes future orientation strategy professionalism Mood motivational strategic Type professional When to use this quote - team training - career development - match preparation - contract negotiations Key Concepts goal setting long‑term planning Questions to Reflect On - What future milestones guide your daily actions? - How do you balance present performance with future goals? A Different Perspective Future is uncertain; over‑planning can cause stress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Future Professional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-professional-2520713/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [Players](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/players/) [Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing/) [Playing Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-future-2520712/) [Professional Players](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professional-players-1209983/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [It's almost obscene when you see people who haven't matured, who haven't changed, who don't have the weight of years on them. So that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/it-s-almost-obscene-when-you-see-people-who-haven-t-matured-who-haven/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [I'm able to bring a great deal of experience to a company that is looking to build young talent, which is vital to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-spears/i-m-able-to-bring-a-great-deal-of-experience-to-a-company-that-is/) [Shawn Spears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-spears/) > [Most professional players are their own biggest critics. Some of the things you read in the papers that strike you as bang out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rio-ferdinand/most-professional-players-are-their-own-biggest-critics-some-of-the/) [Rio Ferdinand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rio-ferdinand/) > [Professional players work almost every day, for hours on end, and the emphasis is on the word 'work.' It can be with a partner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viswanathan-anand/professional-players-work-almost-every-day-for-hours-on-end-and-the/) [Viswanathan Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viswanathan-anand/) > [We are professional players and when we go out we want to play well and win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kolo-toure/we-are-professional-players-and-when-we-go-out-we-want-to-play-well/) [Kolo Toure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kolo-toure/) > [During the holidays, professional players would come and say hello to us in the academy and that really made you want to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gervinho/during-the-holidays-professional-players-would-come-and-say-hello-to/) [Gervinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gervinho/) > [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/) > [You cannot win with 11 players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-ten-hag/you-cannot-win-with-11-players/) [Erik ten Hag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-ten-hag/) > [It would be fantastic to have the two top-ranked players in the world playing out of the same club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-higgins/it-would-be-fantastic-to-have-the-two-top-ranked-players-in-the-world/) [John Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-higgins/) > [You get better by studying and playing with better players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michail-antonio/you-get-better-by-studying-and-playing-with-better-players/) [Michail Antonio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michail-antonio/) > [We arrived in Argentina with a lot of injured players, including our goalkeeper. Also we were unlucky to be drawn in the same group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-patini/we-arrived-in-argentina-with-a-lot-of-injured-players-including-our/) [Michel Patini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-patini/) > [I prefer not to talk about other players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andreas-pereira/i-prefer-not-to-talk-about-other-players/) [Andreas Pereira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andreas-pereira/) > [I think it's very important to have contact with the players that I will coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerardo-martino/i-think-it-s-very-important-to-have-contact-with-the-players-that-i/) [Gerardo Martino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerardo-martino/) > [You learn a lot from quality players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marouane-fellaini/you-learn-a-lot-from-quality-players/) [Marouane Fellaini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marouane-fellaini/) > [The human element should be the two players on the court, not the officials. The best officials are the ones you never notice. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-scott/the-human-element-should-be-the-two-players-on-the-court-not-the/) [Gene Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-scott/) ## More by Erik ten Hag > [I am a fighter and I am in that fight and I have to make sure that I share the responsibility with my players…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-ten-hag/i-am-a-fighter-and-i-am-in-that-fight-and-i-have-to-make-sure-that-i/) [Erik ten Hag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-ten-hag/) > [I think especially Harry Kane, I have huge respect because he is a great striker, one of the best ever. Maybe he can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-ten-hag/i-think-especially-harry-kane-i-have-huge-respect-because-he-is-a/) [Erik ten Hag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-ten-hag/) > [Top football is tough nowadays, 60 games a year in club football, 10 international games. Seventy games means that every third or fourth day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-ten-hag/top-football-is-tough-nowadays-60-games-a-year-in-club-football-10/) [Erik ten Hag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-ten-hag/) > [I demand the highest standards in sleep, recovery and nutrition because that makes the difference if you can perform every third or fourth day.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-ten-hag/i-demand-the-highest-standards-in-sleep-recovery-and-nutrition/) [Erik ten Hag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-ten-hag/) > [I never think in a negative scenario.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-ten-hag/i-never-think-in-a-negative-scenario/) [Erik ten Hag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-ten-hag/) > [You cannot win with 11 players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-ten-hag/you-cannot-win-with-11-players/) [Erik ten Hag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-ten-hag/) > [In general when I came in at Man United, the standards were not right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-ten-hag/in-general-when-i-came-in-at-man-united-the-standards-were-not-right/) [Erik ten Hag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-ten-hag/) > [Football is about winning trophies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-ten-hag/football-is-about-winning-trophies/) [Erik ten Hag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-ten-hag/) > [I will never gamble with a player, never. It's about them, their futures. The safety, health of the player is high level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-ten-hag/i-will-never-gamble-with-a-player-never-it-s-about-them-their-futures/) [Erik ten Hag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-ten-hag/) > [Confidence is a great thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-ten-hag/confidence-is-a-great-thing/) [Erik ten Hag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-ten-hag/) > [I think, for every player, Manchester United is a very attractive club and of course you want to play at the highest levels. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-ten-hag/i-think-for-every-player-manchester-united-is-a-very-attractive-club/) [Erik ten Hag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-ten-hag/) > [I know Rashford can score, Hojlund can score, Garnacho can score, Bruno Fernandes can score, Scott McTominay can score.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-ten-hag/i-know-rashford-can-score-hojlund-can-score-garnacho-can-score-bruno/) [Erik ten Hag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-ten-hag/) > [He has to fight for his position. He is a very good centre-back, and I believe in the potential of Harry Maguire. It's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-ten-hag/he-has-to-fight-for-his-position-he-is-a-very-good-centre-back-and-i/) [Erik ten Hag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-ten-hag/) > [Only once in his career has Pep made a mistake - in his first year at Manchester City when he completely underestimated the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-ten-hag/only-once-in-his-career-has-pep-made-a-mistake-in-his-first-year-at/) [Erik ten Hag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-ten-hag/) > [Everyone is highly motivated when you go to Anfield, it's a great place to go. You know it's going to be tough and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-ten-hag/everyone-is-highly-motivated-when-you-go-to-anfield-it-s-a-great/) [Erik ten Hag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-ten-hag/) [Explore all 97 Erik ten Hag quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-ten-hag/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [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/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We are always playing for our future, that is as professional players.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Erik ten Hag" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-ten-hag/we-are-always-playing-for-our-future-that-is-as-professional-players/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-ten-hag/we-are-always-playing-for-our-future-that-is-as-professional-players/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07e/erik-ten-hag-6878_always_we-are-always-playing-for-our-future-tha_1051802.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07e/erik-ten-hag-6878_always_we-are-always-playing-for-our-future-tha_1051802.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07e/erik-ten-hag-6878_always_we-are-always-playing-for-our-future-tha_1051802.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We are always playing for our future, that is as professional players.” — Erik ten Hag", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Erik ten Hag", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-ten-hag/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We are always playing for our...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-ten-hag/we-are-always-playing-for-our-future-that-is-as-professional-players/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-ten-hag/we-are-always-playing-for-our-future-that-is-as-professional-players/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```