--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a player, you'd rather be up against…" description: "\"As a player, you'd rather be up against Barcelona, Real Madrid, or Bayern. Big clubs. Great atmosphere. Real excitement.\" — Lothar Matthaus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f1/lothar-matthaus-6058_barcelona_as-a-player-you-d-rather-be-up-against-b_1365819.jpg" --- # As a player, you'd rather be up against Barcelona, Real… ![“As a player, you'd rather be up against Barcelona, Real Madrid, or Bayern. Big clubs. Great atmosphere. Real excitement.” quote by Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f1/lothar-matthaus-6058_barcelona_as-a-player-you-d-rather-be-up-against-b_1365819.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f1/lothar-matthaus-6058_barcelona_as-a-player-you-d-rather-be-up-against-b_1365819.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f1/lothar-matthaus-6058_barcelona_as-a-player-you-d-rather-be-up-against-b_1365819.jpg) > “As a player, you'd rather be up against Barcelona, Real Madrid, or Bayern. Big clubs. Great atmosphere. Real excitement.” [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Competing against elite clubs offers unmatched excitement and atmosphere, underscoring the value of high‑level challenges. **In simple terms:** Playing top teams is thrilling. Key Takeaway Seek high‑quality challenges for growth. Themes sports competition excellence Mood enthusiastic energetic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career decisions - team selection - performance goals Key Concepts motivation team dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What drives you to pursue elite competition? - How can smaller teams create similar excitement? A Different Perspective Focusing only on big clubs can limit development opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Barcelona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barcelona/) [Barcelona Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barcelona-real-902604/) [Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Madrid Bayern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madrid-bayern-341156/) [Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player/) [Player Barcelona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player-barcelona-2014879/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real madrid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-madrid/) ## Related quotes > [If I would have had the absolute will, I would have been a starting XI player at Barcelona or would have played 10 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-prince-boateng/if-i-would-have-had-the-absolute-will-i-would-have-been-a-starting-xi/) [Kevin-Prince Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-prince-boateng/) > [Liverpool are one of the dynasties of the game. They have won five European Cups and their status is up there with AC Milan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan/liverpool-are-one-of-the-dynasties-of-the-game-they-have-won-five/) [Brendan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan/) > [If you are in the Premier League or at Barcelona, Real Madrid, or Bayern Munich, you are at an end station.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-van-der-sar/if-you-are-in-the-premier-league-or-at-barcelona-real-madrid-or/) [Edwin van der Sar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-van-der-sar/) > [Barcelona, Real Madrid, City - there are many teams you'd want to play against.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-alcantara/barcelona-real-madrid-city-there-are-many-teams-you-d-want-to-play/) [Thiago Alcantara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-alcantara/) > [At Brazil, we play as a collective, something that also happens in Barcelona, but not at Real Madrid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-alves/at-brazil-we-play-as-a-collective-something-that-also-happens-in/) [Dani Alves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-alves/) > [Messi is the same player in Barcelona and Argentina, and it would be the same if he played with Australia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernesto-valverde/messi-is-the-same-player-in-barcelona-and-argentina-and-it-would-be/) [Ernesto Valverde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernesto-valverde/) > [It is clear that for any player of Barcelona's youth squad their dream is to play for the club's first team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordi-alba/it-is-clear-that-for-any-player-of-barcelona-s-youth-squad-their/) [Jordi Alba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordi-alba/) > [In Europe, I always say that Barcelona and Real Madrid are the ones to look out for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-eto-o/in-europe-i-always-say-that-barcelona-and-real-madrid-are-the-ones-to/) [Samuel Eto'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-eto-o/) > [United are one of the biggest clubs in the world with Barcelona and Real Madrid. They have a lot of wonderful people there. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-hargreaves/united-are-one-of-the-biggest-clubs-in-the-world-with-barcelona-and/) [Owen Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-hargreaves/) > [Barcelona or Real Madrid, I think I would say yes to playing for these teams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hulk/barcelona-or-real-madrid-i-think-i-would-say-yes-to-playing-for-these/) [Hulk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hulk/) > [When big clubs don't win - whether it's Barcelona, Real Madrid or whoever - it's always a big disaster. Players can't come out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deco/when-big-clubs-don-t-win-whether-it-s-barcelona-real-madrid-or/) [Deco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deco/) > [If you want to go all the way in the Champions League, you're always going to face Barcelona, Real and Bayern Munich in rotation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-chiellini/if-you-want-to-go-all-the-way-in-the-champions-league-you-re-always/) [Giorgio Chiellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-chiellini/) > [The best and most important step of my career was when I moved here - and Louis van Gaal brought me from Madrid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjen-robben/the-best-and-most-important-step-of-my-career-was-when-i-moved-here/) [Arjen Robben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjen-robben/) > [If you want to keep up with the changes, then you have to watch as much football as you can. Live is the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sven-goran-eriksson/if-you-want-to-keep-up-with-the-changes-then-you-have-to-watch-as/) [Sven-Goran Eriksson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sven-goran-eriksson/) > [ The fact that an Englishman has an Argentinian as an idol is very rare. I keep watching my \[title-winning\] goal against QPR and every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-aguero/the-fact-that-an-englishman-has-an-argentinian-as-an-idol-is-very/) [Sergio Aguero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-aguero/) ## More by Lothar Matthaus > [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/) > [Guardiola won so many trophies at Barcelona that he had a huge impact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/guardiola-won-so-many-trophies-at-barcelona-that-he-had-a-huge-impact/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) > [I am not a superstar, nor do I want to be remembered as one. I have always been a team player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/i-am-not-a-superstar-nor-do-i-want-to-be-remembered-as-one-i-have/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) > [I always thought I'd be a coach, but I'm still open to everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/i-always-thought-i-d-be-a-coach-but-i-m-still-open-to-everything/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) > [Dele Alli doesn't have to show me or anyone else anything - because he has already proved his quality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/dele-alli-doesn-t-have-to-show-me-or-anyone-else-anything-because-he/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) > [I live in Budapest and saw how the football helped the Hungarian people to be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/i-live-in-budapest-and-saw-how-the-football-helped-the-hungarian/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) > [Muller is part No. 7 and part No. 9, a second striker. But in Ancelotti's system, there is no room for that type of player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/muller-is-part-no-7-and-part-no-9-a-second-striker-but-in-ancelotti-s/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) > [Nobody needs to talk about the history of Manchester United because everybody knows it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/nobody-needs-to-talk-about-the-history-of-manchester-united-because/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) > [I'm proud I was first to be named World Player of the Year, in 1991.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/i-m-proud-i-was-first-to-be-named-world-player-of-the-year-in-1991/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) > [For Guardiola, the system and tactics can change but not the approach, attitude, or philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/for-guardiola-the-system-and-tactics-can-change-but-not-the-approach/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) > [I hold Jonas Hector in high esteem, and he is a good player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/i-hold-jonas-hector-in-high-esteem-and-he-is-a-good-player/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) > [If there's one thing that fans like to see, it's a player who can run at full speed towards the goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/if-there-s-one-thing-that-fans-like-to-see-it-s-a-player-who-can-run/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) > [Toni Kroos leaving the German national team would hurt me very much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/toni-kroos-leaving-the-german-national-team-would-hurt-me-very-much/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) > [To speak of Mexico '86, I can make it short and speak only of Maradona. I never saw a player who dominated a World…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/to-speak-of-mexico-86-i-can-make-it-short-and-speak-only-of-maradona/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) > [Robert Lewandowski has had some criticism, but he knows how to find the net.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/robert-lewandowski-has-had-some-criticism-but-he-knows-how-to-find/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Explore all 100 Lothar Matthaus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) ## More Barcelona quotes > [I want to concentrate on winning things with Barcelona and Argentina. Then if people want to say nice things about me when I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-messi/i-want-to-concentrate-on-winning-things-with-barcelona-and-argentina/) [Lionel Messi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-messi/) > [I've played lots of games carrying an injury, but people don't value what I do for Barcelona.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rivaldo/i-ve-played-lots-of-games-carrying-an-injury-but-people-don-t-value/) [Rivaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rivaldo/) > [Sometimes there's too much noise about what's happening, but this is Barcelona - it is a big club. Sometimes people make more of things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernesto-valverde/sometimes-there-s-too-much-noise-about-what-s-happening-but-this-is/) [Ernesto Valverde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernesto-valverde/) > [You never know what the future has in store, but if possible I'd like to hang up my boots at Barcelona.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordi-alba/you-never-know-what-the-future-has-in-store-but-if-possible-i-d-like/) [Jordi Alba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordi-alba/) > [ The fact that an Englishman has an Argentinian as an idol is very rare. I keep watching my \[title-winning\] goal against QPR and every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-aguero/the-fact-that-an-englishman-has-an-argentinian-as-an-idol-is-very/) [Sergio Aguero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-aguero/) > [Leo Messi is the best player in the world for me, but look at the others that have been at Barcelona.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-messi-is-the-best-player-in-the-world-for-me-but-look-at-the/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [My best has to be for Barcelona against Villarreal in 2006 - that is the one I am asked most about, and it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronaldinho/my-best-has-to-be-for-barcelona-against-villarreal-in-2006-that-is/) [Ronaldinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronaldinho/) > [In my childhood, I always played as Barcelona on the PlayStation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-reus/in-my-childhood-i-always-played-as-barcelona-on-the-playstation/) [Marco Reus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-reus/) > [Guardiola won so many trophies at Barcelona that he had a huge impact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/guardiola-won-so-many-trophies-at-barcelona-that-he-had-a-huge-impact/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) > [I am very happy that a great club like Barcelona is interested in me, as that is priceless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulinho/i-am-very-happy-that-a-great-club-like-barcelona-is-interested-in-me/) [Paulinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulinho/) > [Decisions are for the brave, and I am the bravest, deciding to leave Barcelona and Juventus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-alves/decisions-are-for-the-brave-and-i-am-the-bravest-deciding-to-leave/) [Dani Alves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-alves/) > [I'm very fortunate to have worked at two unbelievable clubs, Manchester City and Barcelona, and I feel like I've really changed the way I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-duggan/i-m-very-fortunate-to-have-worked-at-two-unbelievable-clubs/) [Toni Duggan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-duggan/) > [The haunting of history is ever present in Barcelona. I see cities as organisms, as living creatures. To me, Madrid is a man and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/the-haunting-of-history-is-ever-present-in-barcelona-i-see-cities-as/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [If Messi didn't have it clearly in his head that Barcelona have a winning project, maybe he would go, but Barcelona are always looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quique-setien/if-messi-didn-t-have-it-clearly-in-his-head-that-barcelona-have-a/) [Quique Setien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quique-setien/) > [I first went to Barcelona in 1975 after university, and I stayed for three years. I learnt Catalan because that's what everyone speaks in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-toibin/i-first-went-to-barcelona-in-1975-after-university-and-i-stayed-for/) [Colm Toibin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-toibin/) [Browse all 571 Barcelona quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barcelona/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a player, you'd rather be up against Barcelona, Real Madrid, or Bayern. Big clubs. Great atmosphere. 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