--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: With Pep’s help and his own intuition…" description: "\"“With Pep’s help and his own intuition, Messi started playing football with an accordion-like movement: the further the ball was away from him, the mor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/237/guillem-balague-2956_football_with-pep-s-help-and-his-own-intuition-me_552201.jpg" --- # With Pep’s help and his own intuition, Messi started… ![“With Pep’s help and his own intuition, Messi started playing football with an accordion-like movement: the further the ball was away from him, the more distance he would put between himself and the ball. The closer it was to him, the closer he would move to get involved.” quote by Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/237/guillem-balague-2956_football_with-pep-s-help-and-his-own-intuition-me_552201.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/237/guillem-balague-2956_football_with-pep-s-help-and-his-own-intuition-me_552201.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/237/guillem-balague-2956_football_with-pep-s-help-and-his-own-intuition-me_552201.jpg) > ““With Pep’s help and his own intuition, Messi started playing football with an accordion-like movement: the further the ball was away from him, the more distance he would put between himself and the ball. The closer it was to him, the closer he would move to get involved.”” [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Messi adapts his movement based on distance, using space creatively to engage with the ball. **In simple terms:** Adjust movement to ball distance. Key Takeaway Play with spatial awareness. Themes football tactics creativity adaptation Mood analytical instructive Type sports educational When to use this quote - coaching - player development - game analysis Key Concepts spatial dynamics intuition Questions to Reflect On - How does distance influence your decision‑making? - When should intuition be overridden by strategy? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on intuition may reduce tactical discipline. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Closer Involved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closer-involved-4594071/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Football Accordion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football-accordion-4594070/) [Intuition Messi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intuition-messi-4594069/) [Messi Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messi-started-3635181/) [Movement Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement-ball-730522/) [Playing football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-football/) ## Related quotes > [Besides my father, who used to be a footballer at the local level, it is Messi for whom I started to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/besides-my-father-who-used-to-be-a-footballer-at-the-local-level-it/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [A couple of games, I played up front when Diego Costa was not there. We know to create movement - not even to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eden-hazard/a-couple-of-games-i-played-up-front-when-diego-costa-was-not-there-we/) [Eden Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eden-hazard/) > [When you have player movement, ball movement, and everybody involved, it's going to make it easier for everyone on the floor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lee/when-you-have-player-movement-ball-movement-and-everybody-involved-it/) [David Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lee/) > [I've probably improved the most with my vision of the game and my movement off the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-morgan/i-ve-probably-improved-the-most-with-my-vision-of-the-game-and-my/) [Alex Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-morgan/) > [The key for me is movement. When the ball comes into the box, or when the wide players get it, that's where I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermain-defoe/the-key-for-me-is-movement-when-the-ball-comes-into-the-box-or-when/) [Jermain Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermain-defoe/) > [When I have the ball I try to see as much of the pitch as possible, and movement off the ball helps you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-moutinho/when-i-have-the-ball-i-try-to-see-as-much-of-the-pitch-as-possible/) [Joao Moutinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-moutinho/) > [I started playing football young, and my career was on the pitch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pep-guardiola/i-started-playing-football-young-and-my-career-was-on-the-pitch/) [Pep Guardiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pep-guardiola/) > [I grew up playing football. I'm a huge hockey and football fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-campbell/i-grew-up-playing-football-i-m-a-huge-hockey-and-football-fan/) [Danielle Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-campbell/) > [My motto is I'm going to go out and work every day no matter who is here. It's a mentality that I always play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deandre-hopkins/my-motto-is-i-m-going-to-go-out-and-work-every-day-no-matter-who-is/) [DeAndre Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deandre-hopkins/) > [My ambition is to win some trophies. That's why I am playing football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-giroud/my-ambition-is-to-win-some-trophies-that-s-why-i-am-playing-football/) [Olivier Giroud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-giroud/) > [I am used to just playing football with my mates at Newcastle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-longstaff/i-am-used-to-just-playing-football-with-my-mates-at-newcastle/) [Sean Longstaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-longstaff/) > [My first experience with football was not very good because I didn't plan on playing football. I was just playing hookie one day and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/my-first-experience-with-football-was-not-very-good-because-i-didn-t/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [I've always loved playing football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pires/i-ve-always-loved-playing-football/) [Robert Pires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pires/) > [Yes, I love playing football, so it doesn't matter where I play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-luiz/yes-i-love-playing-football-so-it-doesn-t-matter-where-i-play/) [David Luiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-luiz/) > [I've been playing football all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amari-cooper/i-ve-been-playing-football-all-my-life/) [Amari Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amari-cooper/) ## More by Guillem Balague > [“The German team became more German than ever. They used in their performance the ‘Mia San Mia’ motto that the players wear on their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/the-german-team-became-more-german-than-ever-they-used-in-their/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [“Before heading out on to the pitch, Johan Cruyff gave his players a simple instruction: ‘Go out there and enjoy yourselves.’ It was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/before-heading-out-on-to-the-pitch-johan-cruyff-gave-his-players-a/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [“Ronaldo also dropped deep to receive the ball, turn round and run towards goal – and he always found space as the centre backs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/ronaldo-also-dropped-deep-to-receive-the-ball-turn-round-and-run/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [“It is better for a player to lose the ball when he is dribbling, feeling over-confident, than for a blunder, a mistake due to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/it-is-better-for-a-player-to-lose-the-ball-when-he-is-dribbling/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [“We have to transmit trust and security in all the decisions we make. ‘That trust, security and sincerity are the fundamental pillars for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/we-have-to-transmit-trust-and-security-in-all-the-decisions-we-make/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [“On one occasion Guardiola explained that there are two types of coaches: those who think problems solve themselves and those who solve problems. Guardiola…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/on-one-occasion-guardiola-explained-that-there-are-two-types-of/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [“He could live with them playing badly now and again, he told them, but he demanded 100 per cent on the pitch in every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/he-could-live-with-them-playing-badly-now-and-again-he-told-them-but/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [“The coach sat down with president Laporta, Beguiristain and Estiarte in the suite of the hotel in which the team were staying in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/the-coach-sat-down-with-president-laporta-beguiristain-and-estiarte/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [“Failure is when a player does not have a good training session, when the coach relaxes and stops caring, when the team doesn’t care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/failure-is-when-a-player-does-not-have-a-good-training-session-when/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [“Ingla and Txiki set out a plan for the rest of the season which saw them working and consulting simultaneously with both Rijkaard and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/ingla-and-txiki-set-out-a-plan-for-the-rest-of-the-season-which-saw/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [“Searching for that flash of inspiration, that moment, the magical moment: ‘I’ve got it. I’ve got it. This is how we are going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/searching-for-that-flash-of-inspiration-that-moment-the-magical/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [“The players who go through La Masía are taught to behave with civility and humility. The theory being that, not only is it pleasant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/the-players-who-go-through-la-mas-a-are-taught-to-behave-with/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [“In future they must place themselves more cleverly to receive the pass, and to start pressuring their opponents more quickly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/in-future-they-must-place-themselves-more-cleverly-to-receive-the/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [“I saw Guardiola as a mystical type of person. The way he dressed – always in black – he was sometimes very quiet, constantly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/i-saw-guardiola-as-a-mystical-type-of-person-the-way-he-dressed/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) > [“What you can’t do is study the talks, learn them by heart. Two or three concepts are all you need . . . and then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/what-you-can-t-do-is-study-the-talks-learn-them-by-heart-two-or-three/) [Guillem Balague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) [Explore all 142 Guillem Balague quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/) [Brendan Mundorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-mundorf/) > [Giggs is the realest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/giggs-is-the-realest/) [Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/) > [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/) [Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/) > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“With Pep’s help and his own intuition, Messi started playing football with an accordion-like movement: the further the ball was away from him, the more distance he would put between himself and the ball. The closer it was to him, the closer he would move to get involved.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Guillem Balague" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/with-pep-s-help-and-his-own-intuition-messi-started-playing-football/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Football" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/with-pep-s-help-and-his-own-intuition-messi-started-playing-football/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/237/guillem-balague-2956_football_with-pep-s-help-and-his-own-intuition-me_552201.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/237/guillem-balague-2956_football_with-pep-s-help-and-his-own-intuition-me_552201.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/237/guillem-balague-2956_football_with-pep-s-help-and-his-own-intuition-me_552201.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“With Pep’s help and his own intuition, Messi started playing football with an accordion-like movement: the…” — Guillem Balague", "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": "Guillem Balague", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillem-balague/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“With Pep’s help and his own...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/with-pep-s-help-and-his-own-intuition-messi-started-playing-football/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillem-balague/with-pep-s-help-and-his-own-intuition-messi-started-playing-football/#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 } } ] } ```