--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's always difficult not playing games…" description: "\"It's always difficult not playing games and that match fitness and sharpness is something you always lack when you don't get that opportunity.\" — Gary ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da6/gary-cahill-6765_fitness_it-s-always-difficult-not-playing-games_3229174.jpg" --- # It's always difficult not playing games and that match… ![“It's always difficult not playing games and that match fitness and sharpness is something you always lack when you don't get that opportunity.” quote by Gary Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da6/gary-cahill-6765_fitness_it-s-always-difficult-not-playing-games_3229174.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da6/gary-cahill-6765_fitness_it-s-always-difficult-not-playing-games_3229174.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da6/gary-cahill-6765_fitness_it-s-always-difficult-not-playing-games_3229174.jpg) > “It's always difficult not playing games and that match fitness and sharpness is something you always lack when you don't get that opportunity.” [Gary Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cahill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Missing regular competition can erode a player’s match fitness and mental sharpness, making it hard to maintain peak performance without consistent game time. **In simple terms:** Lack of games reduces fitness and sharpness. Key Takeaway Seek regular competitive play to stay sharp. Themes performance fitness mental sharpness competition Mood determined reflective Type motivational practical When to use this quote - team training - individual drills - friendly matches - tournament play Key Concepts sports psychology training periodization Questions to Reflect On - How can you simulate match intensity in practice? - What routines keep you mentally sharp off‑season? A Different Perspective Even with training, the intensity of real matches is hard to replicate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Difficult Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-playing-1397589/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Fitness Sharpness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness-sharpness-6102168/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Games Match](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games-match-6102169/) [Match Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/match-fitness-613449/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Playing games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-games/) ## Related quotes > [The only way you can get match fitness is by playing games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-ramsey/the-only-way-you-can-get-match-fitness-is-by-playing-games/) [Aaron Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-ramsey/) > [I don't need to practise. The only thing I need to do is build up my match fitness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-rudd/i-don-t-need-to-practise-the-only-thing-i-need-to-do-is-build-up-my/) [Phil Rudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-rudd/) > [I have found a flat on Merseyside and am settling down here. If I can keep playing and get back to full match fitness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ginola/i-have-found-a-flat-on-merseyside-and-am-settling-down-here-if-i-can/) [David Ginola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ginola/) > [ I think playing against \[Lionel Messi\] is pretty difficult. Playing by the side of the best of the world is always good. Things get… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neymar/i-think-playing-against-lionel-messi-is-pretty-difficult-playing-by/) [Neymar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neymar/) > [People always say to me, 'It must be so much pressure and so difficult playing out there in front of 60,000 people.' I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-deeney/people-always-say-to-me-it-must-be-so-much-pressure-and-so-difficult/) [Troy Deeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-deeney/) > [It's been so difficult to go from playing every game then get to the seniors and not be given a chance. It's really difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-loftus-cheek/it-s-been-so-difficult-to-go-from-playing-every-game-then-get-to-the/) [Ruben Loftus-Cheek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-loftus-cheek/) > [I had to start all the way down the divisions and that is really difficult. You might be playing well and having great performances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willy-caballero/i-had-to-start-all-the-way-down-the-divisions-and-that-is-really/) [Willy Caballero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willy-caballero/) > [Being in the stands is very difficult. I was never playing but I am nervous watching, waiting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yannick-noah/being-in-the-stands-is-very-difficult-i-was-never-playing-but-i-am/) [Yannick Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yannick-noah/) > [It is always tough, always difficult playing against Klopp's teams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-kroos/it-is-always-tough-always-difficult-playing-against-klopp-s-teams/) [Toni Kroos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-kroos/) > [Even if it is difficult playing with other people - sometimes it's great, sometimes it isn't, but that is kind of the point of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bailey/even-if-it-is-difficult-playing-with-other-people-sometimes-it-s/) [Derek Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bailey/) > [We've been playing games with eachother. We've been trying to see who can outsmart eachother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-minott/we-ve-been-playing-games-with-eachother-we-ve-been-trying-to-see-who/) [Sugar Minott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-minott/) > [“I summon the courage to go for what I want. Having cancer has left me less afraid than I used to be. I’m painfully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-s-force/i-summon-the-courage-to-go-for-what-i-want-having-cancer-has-left-me/) [M.S. Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-s-force/) > [People are playing games on their TV, young men are, and people are shopping... they are not watching their news channels, but they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/people-are-playing-games-on-their-tv-young-men-are-and-people-are/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [Flashing lights, going back to the time, playing games in the street, kicking balls at my feet, theres a numb in my toes standing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-direction/flashing-lights-going-back-to-the-time-playing-games-in-the-street/) [One Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/one-direction/) > [I hate playing games. I want love where there's actual flames.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-playing-games-i-want-love-where-there-s-actual-flames/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Gary Cahill > [I was always confident that if someone took the chance to play me week in and week out that I would fulfil my potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cahill/i-was-always-confident-that-if-someone-took-the-chance-to-play-me/) [Gary Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cahill/) > [We won the Europa League in 2013 and it was an amazing night, an amazing feeling. I take those memories and think to myself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cahill/we-won-the-europa-league-in-2013-and-it-was-an-amazing-night-an/) [Gary Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cahill/) > [I'm human. I want to play, I want to perform well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cahill/i-m-human-i-want-to-play-i-want-to-perform-well/) [Gary Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cahill/) > [Paul Gascoigne was one who I watched as a young boy. He was a hero to all of us really. Chris Waddle was one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cahill/paul-gascoigne-was-one-who-i-watched-as-a-young-boy-he-was-a-hero-to/) [Gary Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cahill/) > [There are challenges in front of you that you face all the time in football. You ride through and come out the other end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cahill/there-are-challenges-in-front-of-you-that-you-face-all-the-time-in/) [Gary Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cahill/) > [I am sure for every striker, scoring goals gives them confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cahill/i-am-sure-for-every-striker-scoring-goals-gives-them-confidence/) [Gary Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cahill/) > [It is difficult to click your fingers and say, 'Right, go and play that formation now.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cahill/it-is-difficult-to-click-your-fingers-and-say-right-go-and-play-that/) [Gary Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cahill/) > [Playing at a club like Chelsea and being given the opportunity to play with the world-class players that we have means you can learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cahill/playing-at-a-club-like-chelsea-and-being-given-the-opportunity-to/) [Gary Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cahill/) > [Leaving Chelsea was sad, but naturally everything has to come to an end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cahill/leaving-chelsea-was-sad-but-naturally-everything-has-to-come-to-an-end/) [Gary Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cahill/) > [As players we are in control of what we do and the way we prepare for the games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cahill/as-players-we-are-in-control-of-what-we-do-and-the-way-we-prepare-for/) [Gary Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cahill/) > [It's easy to play football when everything is going well and you are winning games back to back, winning, winning, it's the best feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cahill/it-s-easy-to-play-football-when-everything-is-going-well-and-you-are/) [Gary Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cahill/) > [My teammates don't see it, but deep down I find it tough to sit there and not influence big games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cahill/my-teammates-don-t-see-it-but-deep-down-i-find-it-tough-to-sit-there/) [Gary Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cahill/) > [It's tough to be left out. At Chelsea I've probably played 90 per cent of the time. It's not something I handle very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cahill/it-s-tough-to-be-left-out-at-chelsea-i-ve-probably-played-90-per-cent/) [Gary Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cahill/) > [I've got the utmost respect for Azpilicueta as a player and a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cahill/i-ve-got-the-utmost-respect-for-azpilicueta-as-a-player-and-a-person/) [Gary Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cahill/) > [The way that I prepare, the way that I play, the way that I like to speak to the lads or manage situations is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cahill/the-way-that-i-prepare-the-way-that-i-play-the-way-that-i-like-to/) [Gary Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cahill/) [Explore all 97 Gary Cahill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cahill/) ## More Fitness quotes > [I train my muscles, and I do a lot of stretching, and try to kick higher. But for me, practicing kung-fu is a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chow/i-train-my-muscles-and-i-do-a-lot-of-stretching-and-try-to-kick/) [Stephen Chow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chow/) > [Every one knows that the exercise of military power is forever dangerous to civil rights; and we have had recent instances of violences that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/every-one-knows-that-the-exercise-of-military-power-is-forever/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [I do a lot of vocal exercises and drink hot tea, which I hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darci-lynne-farmer/i-do-a-lot-of-vocal-exercises-and-drink-hot-tea-which-i-hate/) [Darci Lynne Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darci-lynne-farmer/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [Spring training means flowers, people coming outdoors, sunshine, optimism and baseball. Spring training is a time to think about being young again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-banks/spring-training-means-flowers-people-coming-outdoors-sunshine/) [Ernie Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-banks/) > [I always wanted to make sure that within my unit that I was never the weak person. So I made sure that my physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carmouche/i-always-wanted-to-make-sure-that-within-my-unit-that-i-was-never-the/) [Liz Carmouche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carmouche/) > [“For those filled with regret, perhaps the most needful exercise of proactivity is to realize that past mistakes are also out there in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/for-those-filled-with-regret-perhaps-the-most-needful-exercise-of/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [Physical beauty is not everything, but the beauty is more careful than anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/physical-beauty-is-not-everything-but-the-beauty-is-more-careful-than/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Of all the train, none escaped except Wamba, who showed upon the occasion much more courage than those who pretended to greater sense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/of-all-the-train-none-escaped-except-wamba-who-showed-upon-the/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [Everyday happiness means getting up in the morning, and you can't wait to finish your breakfast. You can't wait to do your exercises. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-burns/everyday-happiness-means-getting-up-in-the-morning-and-you-can-t-wait/) [George Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-burns/) > [If your goal is to look different, you'll see results faster with strength training than with cardio alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-kaiser/if-your-goal-is-to-look-different-you-ll-see-results-faster-with/) [Anna Kaiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-kaiser/) > [“He sighed. "Look, love, I know I seem like a tactical genius, but really, I'm just a magician who occasionally kills a bunny or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delilah-s-dawson/he-sighed-look-love-i-know-i-seem-like-a-tactical-genius-but-really-i/) [Delilah S. Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delilah-s-dawson/) > [There are things you can do in training like learn from the manager and talk with team-mates, but it's the game that tests you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-burke/there-are-things-you-can-do-in-training-like-learn-from-the-manager/) [Oliver Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-burke/) > [Exercise teaches you the pleasure of discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/exercise-teaches-you-the-pleasure-of-discipline/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) [Browse all 13,910 Fitness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's always difficult not playing games and that match fitness and sharpness is something you always lack when you don't get that opportunity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gary Cahill" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cahill/it-s-always-difficult-not-playing-games-and-that-match-fitness-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fitness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cahill/it-s-always-difficult-not-playing-games-and-that-match-fitness-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da6/gary-cahill-6765_fitness_it-s-always-difficult-not-playing-games_3229174.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da6/gary-cahill-6765_fitness_it-s-always-difficult-not-playing-games_3229174.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da6/gary-cahill-6765_fitness_it-s-always-difficult-not-playing-games_3229174.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's always difficult not playing games and that match fitness and sharpness is something you always lack…” — Gary Cahill", "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": "Gary Cahill", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cahill/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's always difficult not playing games...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cahill/it-s-always-difficult-not-playing-games-and-that-match-fitness-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cahill/it-s-always-difficult-not-playing-games-and-that-match-fitness-and/#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 } } ] } ```