--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you play, you do not ask yourself…" description: "\"When you play, you do not ask yourself how it feels to be on the bench. You have to live it to understand how difficult it is to be there without being..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddf/fernando-torres-6957_ask-yourself_when-you-play-you-do-not-ask-yourself-ho_240248.jpg" --- # When you play, you do not ask yourself how it feels to be… ![“When you play, you do not ask yourself how it feels to be on the bench. You have to live it to understand how difficult it is to be there without being there. To enter a match knowing you do not have the confidence of the coach. To play when you simply don't have the habit of playing.” quote by Fernando Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddf/fernando-torres-6957_ask-yourself_when-you-play-you-do-not-ask-yourself-ho_240248.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddf/fernando-torres-6957_ask-yourself_when-you-play-you-do-not-ask-yourself-ho_240248.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddf/fernando-torres-6957_ask-yourself_when-you-play-you-do-not-ask-yourself-ho_240248.jpg) > “When you play, you do not ask yourself how it feels to be on the bench. You have to live it to understand how difficult it is to be there without being there. To enter a match knowing you do not have the confidence of the coach. To play when you simply don't have the habit of playing.” [Fernando Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-torres/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding the pressure of being a substitute reveals the hidden challenges of lacking confidence and habit in performance. **In simple terms:** Being a bench player is tough without confidence or habit. Key Takeaway Build confidence and practice regularly. Themes confidence performance pressure Mood reflective determined Type motivational sports When to use this quote - sports teams - training sessions - career setbacks Key Concepts psychology team dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can a substitute stay motivated? - What habits build confidence? A Different Perspective Confidence alone may not guarantee playing time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coach/) [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ## Related quotes > [What's important to us is developing the habit of playing harder than our opponent every night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-vogel/what-s-important-to-us-is-developing-the-habit-of-playing-harder-than/) [Frank Vogel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-vogel/) > [As a coach, you have to play to how your team is built.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-vogel/as-a-coach-you-have-to-play-to-how-your-team-is-built/) [Frank Vogel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-vogel/) > [It was crazy, like I watched him on TV growing up. And you know, I'd be a little starstruck sometimes, because we'd be in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zion-williamson/it-was-crazy-like-i-watched-him-on-tv-growing-up-and-you-know-i-d-be/) [Zion Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zion-williamson/) > [I want to go to China or coach or play arena football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/metta-world-peace/i-want-to-go-to-china-or-coach-or-play-arena-football/) [Metta World Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/metta-world-peace/) > [The secret is to work less as individuals and more as a team. As a coach, I play not my eleven best, but my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knute-rockne/the-secret-is-to-work-less-as-individuals-and-more-as-a-team-as-a/) [Knute Rockne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knute-rockne/) > [I would just say I'm a coachable person, so any way that a coach can coach me to play, I think I have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sony-michel/i-would-just-say-i-m-a-coachable-person-so-any-way-that-a-coach-can/) [Sony Michel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sony-michel/) > [I will always try to give my best and convince the coach that I should play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keylor-navas/i-will-always-try-to-give-my-best-and-convince-the-coach-that-i/) [Keylor Navas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keylor-navas/) > [As a young player the most important thing besides having a very good coach is to play a lot because you improve that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-kimmich/as-a-young-player-the-most-important-thing-besides-having-a-very-good/) [Joshua Kimmich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-kimmich/) > [In his sophomore year Wilbanks tried out for the high school basketball team and made it. On the first day of practice his coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-g-robbins/in-his-sophomore-year-wilbanks-tried-out-for-the-high-school/) [Lynn G. Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-g-robbins/) > [Messi would never tell a coach who he has to play or not. I think he not only lacks the power to do that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-tevez/messi-would-never-tell-a-coach-who-he-has-to-play-or-not-i-think-he/) [Carlos Tevez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-tevez/) > [I think that's why we all coach. We don't want to admit it, but we coach because we can't play, we could never play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/i-think-that-s-why-we-all-coach-we-don-t-want-to-admit-it-but-we/) [Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/) > [I'm going to try to get our team to work hard, play together, play with good fundamentals and technique, play as a team, try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-flores/i-m-going-to-try-to-get-our-team-to-work-hard-play-together-play-with/) [Brian Flores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-flores/) > [“I've written about persistence and perseverance and yet for those of us with patchwork lives (projects, earnings, caretaking, home-tending, playing, friending, loving, celebrating, hurting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shellen-lubin/i-ve-written-about-persistence-and-perseverance-and-yet-for-those-of/) [Shellen Lubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shellen-lubin/) > [Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions… Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/cultivate-the-habit-of-thinking-ahead-and-of-anticipating-the/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [“If you want to stop smoking, ask yourself, do you do it because you love nicotine, or because it provides a burst of stimulation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/if-you-want-to-stop-smoking-ask-yourself-do-you-do-it-because-you/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) ## More by Fernando Torres > [The Champions League is a big ambition, and all the footballers want to play in it; it is a very important competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-torres/the-champions-league-is-a-big-ambition-and-all-the-footballers-want/) [Fernando Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-torres/) > [Each player has one place in the world where he is happy, and as a result, he plays well. My place is Anfield. Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-torres/each-player-has-one-place-in-the-world-where-he-is-happy-and-as-a/) [Fernando Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-torres/) > [Steven Gerrard is the best player I have played with throughout my career; therefore, my ideal player would be very like him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-torres/steven-gerrard-is-the-best-player-i-have-played-with-throughout-my/) [Fernando Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-torres/) > [The Premier League is very difficult football and very different to when you play in Europe, but the player has to have experience to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-torres/the-premier-league-is-very-difficult-football-and-very-different-to/) [Fernando Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-torres/) > [Liverpool is a massive club in reputation, but as soon as I came here, it felt like Atletico to me. It is a working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-torres/liverpool-is-a-massive-club-in-reputation-but-as-soon-as-i-came-here/) [Fernando Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-torres/) > [You always have to aspire to everything; winning titles is what I've been missing. And I will give my life and everything I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-torres/you-always-have-to-aspire-to-everything-winning-titles-is-what-i-ve/) [Fernando Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-torres/) > [I want to thank my two English clubs: Liverpool for bringing me to the Premier League and Chelsea for the trophies I won.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-torres/i-want-to-thank-my-two-english-clubs-liverpool-for-bringing-me-to-the/) [Fernando Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-torres/) > [I have good memories and bad memories of games against Chelsea. All the goals are good memories because all of them are special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-torres/i-have-good-memories-and-bad-memories-of-games-against-chelsea-all/) [Fernando Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-torres/) > [When young players become one of the best in the world, everyone wants to sign them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-torres/when-young-players-become-one-of-the-best-in-the-world-everyone-wants/) [Fernando Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-torres/) > [My son is a Liverpool fan, and he was already kicking a ball before he was one. He was born in the football city;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-torres/my-son-is-a-liverpool-fan-and-he-was-already-kicking-a-ball-before-he/) [Fernando Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-torres/) > [I had team-mates who didn't care if the team won or lost because they were not playing. I never wanted to be like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-torres/i-had-team-mates-who-didn-t-care-if-the-team-won-or-lost-because-they/) [Fernando Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-torres/) > [Living in Brooklyn it's a very fend-for-yourself place. Maybe it's made me a little bit harsh but I don't consider that to be pejorative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-torres/living-in-brooklyn-it-s-a-very-fend-for-yourself-place-maybe-it-s/) [Fernando Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-torres/) > [I had the best three years of my career at Liverpool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-torres/i-had-the-best-three-years-of-my-career-at-liverpool/) [Fernando Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-torres/) > [When I was a child, my dream was to play for Atletico.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-torres/when-i-was-a-child-my-dream-was-to-play-for-atletico/) [Fernando Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-torres/) > [I learnt that if we won, it didn't matter that I hadn't played. I had to keep working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-torres/i-learnt-that-if-we-won-it-didn-t-matter-that-i-hadn-t-played-i-had/) [Fernando Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-torres/) [Explore all 96 Fernando Torres quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-torres/) ## More Ask yourself quotes > [“If you want to stop smoking, ask yourself, do you do it because you love nicotine, or because it provides a burst of stimulation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/if-you-want-to-stop-smoking-ask-yourself-do-you-do-it-because-you/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions… Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/cultivate-the-habit-of-thinking-ahead-and-of-anticipating-the/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [“I've written about persistence and perseverance and yet for those of us with patchwork lives (projects, earnings, caretaking, home-tending, playing, friending, loving, celebrating, hurting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shellen-lubin/i-ve-written-about-persistence-and-perseverance-and-yet-for-those-of/) [Shellen Lubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shellen-lubin/) > [When you experience difficulty at work or in your life, instead of looking back on it as something that was really challenging, look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-ghosn/when-you-experience-difficulty-at-work-or-in-your-life-instead-of/) [Caroline Ghosn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-ghosn/) > [“ask yourself how many people you have met who grumbled at a thing as incurable, and how many who attacked it as curable? How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/ask-yourself-how-many-people-you-have-met-who-grumbled-at-a-thing-as/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [“I have seen plenty of ‘Struggle minus Success’ stories where you are forced to ask yourself ‘Why to him/her?’. There are few questions unanswered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavik-sarkhedi/i-have-seen-plenty-of-struggle-minus-success-stories-where-you-are/) [Bhavik Sarkhedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavik-sarkhedi/) > [“What is true for you? What makes your heart smile? When do you feel most yourself? What do you love to do? Ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stabile/what-is-true-for-you-what-makes-your-heart-smile-when-do-you-feel/) [Scott Stabile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stabile/) > [“When a bad experience shakes your faith in humanity, hold those depressing thoughts and ask yourself. 1. How many things in life have you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drishti-bablani/when-a-bad-experience-shakes-your-faith-in-humanity-hold-those/) [Drishti Bablani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drishti-bablani/) > [“It is important you understand how fear affects you and how it drives human behavior so you can start to see situations and people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/it-is-important-you-understand-how-fear-affects-you-and-how-it-drives/) [Kimberly Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/) > [“It is idle to talk always of the alternative of reason and faith. Reason is itself a matter of faith. It is an act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/it-is-idle-to-talk-always-of-the-alternative-of-reason-and-faith/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [Picture your life exactly the way you want it and then ask yourself, am I doing the things that will take me there? Take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-cook/picture-your-life-exactly-the-way-you-want-it-and-then-ask-yourself/) [Stephanie Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-cook/) > [“Just make sure you've taken a moment or two to ask yourself if it's really a need, and to reflect on the potential benefits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-laricchia/just-make-sure-you-ve-taken-a-moment-or-two-to-ask-yourself-if-it-s/) [Pam Laricchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-laricchia/) > [“Em's the first woman I've met who seems to be...well, the answer.' 'Answer to what?' He shrugged. 'All the questions, I suppose.' Fay looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-gillard/em-s-the-first-woman-i-ve-met-who-seems-to-be-well-the-answer-answer/) [Linda Gillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-gillard/) > [“Listen to what you tell yourself about your life situation. If you find it's pessimistic or negative, ask yourself, "What's another way of thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-a-robinson/listen-to-what-you-tell-yourself-about-your-life-situation-if-you/) [Lynn A. Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-a-robinson/) > [“Often the most tricky questions are the ones we secretly know the answers of. What are you running from? What are you waiting for?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanhita-baruah/often-the-most-tricky-questions-are-the-ones-we-secretly-know-the/) [Sanhita Baruah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanhita-baruah/) Browse all 1,272 Ask yourself quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you play, you do not ask yourself how it feels to be on the bench. You have to live it to understand how difficult it is to be there without being there. To enter a match knowing you do not have the confidence of the coach. 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