--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I like to play against strikers and think…" description: "\"I like to play against strikers and think that, from my size alone, I'm more of a central defender.\" — Jerome Boateng" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b38/jerome-boateng-8344_alone_i-like-to-play-against-strikers-and-thin_563821.jpg" --- # I like to play against strikers and think that, from my… ![“I like to play against strikers and think that, from my size alone, I'm more of a central defender.” quote by Jerome Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b38/jerome-boateng-8344_alone_i-like-to-play-against-strikers-and-thin_563821.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b38/jerome-boateng-8344_alone_i-like-to-play-against-strikers-and-thin_563821.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b38/jerome-boateng-8344_alone_i-like-to-play-against-strikers-and-thin_563821.jpg) > “I like to play against strikers and think that, from my size alone, I'm more of a central defender.” [Jerome Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-boateng/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He emphasizes his defensive role despite being smaller, focusing on positioning and intelligence over physical size. **In simple terms:** Defenders can excel through skill, not just size. Key Takeaway Leverage technique and game reading. Themes defense strategy physicality Mood determined confident Type advice motivational When to use this quote - team defense - personal development - coaching sessions Key Concepts tactical awareness positional play Questions to Reflect On - How can smaller players compensate for size? - What training improves defensive intelligence? A Different Perspective Physical size alone doesn't guarantee defensive success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alone/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Strikers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strikers/) ## Related quotes > [The only way you can play with three strikers - which we did at Juventus - is if the three work really hard, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluca-vialli/the-only-way-you-can-play-with-three-strikers-which-we-did-at/) [Gianluca Vialli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianluca-vialli/) > [Strikers love to play with other strikers, as I did with Sergio Aguero, Luis Suarez, and Edinson Cavani. You can make the most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-forlan/strikers-love-to-play-with-other-strikers-as-i-did-with-sergio-aguero/) [Diego Forlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-forlan/) > [I played central defender for the most part when I started playing football, either central defence or right-back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-played-central-defender-for-the-most-part-when-i-started-playing/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [I played a lot of times at the beginning at Ajax as a left full back with a fantastic combination with Mark Overmars but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-de-boer/i-played-a-lot-of-times-at-the-beginning-at-ajax-as-a-left-full-back/) [Frank de Boer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-de-boer/) > [What's for sure is that the profile of the central defender is evolving. At one time it was all about the stopper and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-varane/what-s-for-sure-is-that-the-profile-of-the-central-defender-is/) [Raphael Varane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-varane/) > [I think as a central defender you grow as a player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-van-dijk/i-think-as-a-central-defender-you-grow-as-a-player/) [Virgil van Dijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil-van-dijk/) > [When I was younger, I played as a right-back. I also played as a central defender, but I realised that I could dominate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-firmino/when-i-was-younger-i-played-as-a-right-back-i-also-played-as-a/) [Roberto Firmino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-firmino/) > [Julie Johnston is what I would call a loud central defender, as far as how she tackles and how she plays - you notice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-sauerbrunn/julie-johnston-is-what-i-would-call-a-loud-central-defender-as-far-as/) [Becky Sauerbrunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-sauerbrunn/) > [I like playing as a central defender, but I also feel good as a holding midfielder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-matip/i-like-playing-as-a-central-defender-but-i-also-feel-good-as-a/) [Joel Matip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-matip/) > [My position is a centre back, but I've played right back before and I started my footballing career as a midfielder. I see myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-lindelof/my-position-is-a-centre-back-but-i-ve-played-right-back-before-and-i/) [Victor Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-lindelof/) > [For you to even enquire about one player, he is expensive. You go to buy a right-back, a left-back, or a central defender, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-conte/for-you-to-even-enquire-about-one-player-he-is-expensive-you-go-to/) [Antonio Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-conte/) > [The strikers are the first defenders. And the first defender is the first striker to build from the back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-luiz/the-strikers-are-the-first-defenders-and-the-first-defender-is-the/) [David Luiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-luiz/) > [Not many know this, but in training sessions, I like to play in the center-back position sometimes. I think I'm good at that position,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimitar-berbatov/not-many-know-this-but-in-training-sessions-i-like-to-play-in-the/) [Dimitar Berbatov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimitar-berbatov/) > [I was really good, I had a coach who said to me, 'If you want to be a top player, you will need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-was-really-good-i-had-a-coach-who-said-to-me-if-you-want-to-be-a/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [As much as you want to improve or help the team, as a centre-back your job is to go under the radar and keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrone-mings/as-much-as-you-want-to-improve-or-help-the-team-as-a-centre-back-your/) [Tyrone Mings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrone-mings/) ## More by Jerome Boateng > [Jay-Z is one of the biggest stars in the world and such an icon. He was so down to earth. It was like talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-boateng/jay-z-is-one-of-the-biggest-stars-in-the-world-and-such-an-icon-he/) [Jerome Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-boateng/) > [I'm a fighter - I learned this as a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-boateng/i-m-a-fighter-i-learned-this-as-a-child/) [Jerome Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-boateng/) > [When you have two daughters, you are complete. The whole day changes for you. 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I act smarter now, have better anticipation, and also start earlier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-boateng/when-we-lose-the-ball-i-don-t-want-to-win-it-back-directly-i-act/) [Jerome Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-boateng/) > [I can play at full back on either side, but I prefer the central defensive position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-boateng/i-can-play-at-full-back-on-either-side-but-i-prefer-the-central/) [Jerome Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-boateng/) > [It's difficult to leave FC Bayern. 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Due to my technical skills, I've always got by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-boateng/as-a-child-i-played-on-the-road-against-bigger-players-due-to-my/) [Jerome Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-boateng/) [Explore all 81 Jerome Boateng quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-boateng/) ## More Alone quotes > [I can be taken away from myself quite easily, I kind of start betraying myself and compromising my integrity, to keep someone else happy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-lou-wood/i-can-be-taken-away-from-myself-quite-easily-i-kind-of-start/) [Aimee Lou Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-lou-wood/) > [Perhaps our own opposition to even the level of European integration we have now, let alone any more, is well known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-farage/perhaps-our-own-opposition-to-even-the-level-of-european-integration/) [Nigel Farage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-farage/) > [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/) > [With my songs, the question is always, 'Can you pull it off live, alone on just an acoustic guitar?' 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