---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think, always, the form of the players…"
description: "\"I think, always, the form of the players is a decisive factor. And a game-plan and the referee. He can influence the game. And in a derby, a cool head ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/louis-van-gaal-4298_always_i-think-always-the-form-of-the-players-i_2062046.jpg"
---

#  I think, always, the form of the players is a decisive…

![“I think, always, the form of the players is a decisive factor. And a game-plan and the referee. He can influence the game. And in a derby, a cool head is also very important.” quote by Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/louis-van-gaal-4298_always_i-think-always-the-form-of-the-players-i_2062046.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/louis-van-gaal-4298_always_i-think-always-the-form-of-the-players-i_2062046.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/louis-van-gaal-4298_always_i-think-always-the-form-of-the-players-i_2062046.jpg)

> “I think, always, the form of the players is a decisive factor. And a game-plan and the referee. He can influence the game. And in a derby, a cool head is also very important.”

[Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Team composition, strategy, and calm leadership shape outcomes; a cool head is vital in high‑pressure matches.

**In simple terms:** Team, plan, and calmness affect game results.

Key Takeaway

Maintain composure under pressure.

Themes

leadership strategy team dynamics

Mood

analytical motivational

Type

sports leadership

When to use this quote

- football matches
- business negotiations
- crisis response
- team projects

Key Concepts

sports psychology decision making stress management

Questions to Reflect On

- How does calmness compensate for skill deficits?
- When is strategy more important than talent?

A Different Perspective

Even with calm, skill gaps can dominate.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Cool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cool/) [Derby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/derby/) [Derby Cool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/derby-cool-3939383/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Form Players](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form-players-3939382/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Players Decisive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/players-decisive-1443556/) [Referee Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/referee-influence-3939381/)

## Related quotes

> [When you build a team, and you have 24 or 25 players, all can be decisive; can be important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mauricio-pochettino/when-you-build-a-team-and-you-have-24-or-25-players-all-can-be/)

[Mauricio Pochettino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mauricio-pochettino/)

> [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/)

[Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/)

> [I love the derby because of the banter and rivalry. If you live outside of Manchester, you can take it out of context sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-kompany/i-love-the-derby-because-of-the-banter-and-rivalry-if-you-live/)

[Vincent Kompany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-kompany/)

> [Going on loan certainly helped me, speaking to players who've been in the game longer than me at that young age, especially at Derby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-mount/going-on-loan-certainly-helped-me-speaking-to-players-who-ve-been-in/)

[Mason Mount](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-mount/)

> [I find the education I got from living in Derby and being streetwise and knowing the people that I know, the lessons that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-o-connell/i-find-the-education-i-got-from-living-in-derby-and-being-streetwise/)

[Jack O'Connell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-o-connell/)

> [I hold the record now with Dixie Dean for being the only Everton player to score three Merseyside derby goals at Anfield. I still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-f-cahill/i-hold-the-record-now-with-dixie-dean-for-being-the-only-everton/)

[Timothy F. Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-f-cahill/)

> [It is a human demolition derby!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ross/it-is-a-human-demolition-derby/)

[Jim Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ross/)

> [The Merseyside derby games are unique in the city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-rodgers/the-merseyside-derby-games-are-unique-in-the-city/)

[Brendan Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-rodgers/)

> [We cannot have Derby County going the same way as Macclesfield and Bury. That would be a stain on English football. It simply cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-savage/we-cannot-have-derby-county-going-the-same-way-as-macclesfield-and/)

[Robbie Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-savage/)

> [The Kentucky Derby is one of the most recognized sporting events in the world, so don't even think about missing out if you're a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-kentucky-derby-is-one-of-the-most-recognized-sporting-events-in/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You have to break clean. If you miss the break in the Derby, it's over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-baffert/you-have-to-break-clean-if-you-miss-the-break-in-the-derby-it-s-over/)

[Bob Baffert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-baffert/)

> [On derby day it's not down to form, it's on the day, who's prepared for the game and who wants to battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-barkley/on-derby-day-it-s-not-down-to-form-it-s-on-the-day-who-s-prepared-for/)

[Ross Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-barkley/)

> [We are creating a political demolition derby, not a presidential debate. Those strange impulses in the American soul that have produced mud wrestling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-sidey/we-are-creating-a-political-demolition-derby-not-a-presidential/)

[Hugh Sidey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-sidey/)

> [Every derby match is different, just like every season is different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-silva/every-derby-match-is-different-just-like-every-season-is-different/)

[David Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-silva/)

> [I enjoyed playing against Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool but the north London derby was totally different. I have so many great memories from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pires/i-enjoyed-playing-against-chelsea-manchester-united-and-liverpool-but/)

[Robert Pires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pires/)

## More by Louis van Gaal

> [I watch the Premier League, the Spanish and Dutch leagues, and a little bit of the German league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/i-watch-the-premier-league-the-spanish-and-dutch-leagues-and-a-little/)

[Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/)

> [I have no ambition to be a technical director or TV pundit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/i-have-no-ambition-to-be-a-technical-director-or-tv-pundit/)

[Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/)

> [Players count for nothing. The team is everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/players-count-for-nothing-the-team-is-everything/)

[Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/)

> [I am amazed when people say I am single-minded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/i-am-amazed-when-people-say-i-am-single-minded/)

[Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/)

> [Success at United doesn't depend on money but about which players we bring in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/success-at-united-doesn-t-depend-on-money-but-about-which-players-we/)

[Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/)

> [When I buy, I buy players for the long term, not the short term because I do respect the club a lot and also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/when-i-buy-i-buy-players-for-the-long-term-not-the-short-term-because/)

[Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/)

> [In the football world, you have to deliver. However, as an ex-player, you always have more credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/in-the-football-world-you-have-to-deliver-however-as-an-ex-player-you/)

[Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/)

> [I criticize the media for inventing stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/i-criticize-the-media-for-inventing-stories/)

[Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/)

> [I am more open than other coaches with all of my players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/i-am-more-open-than-other-coaches-with-all-of-my-players/)

[Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/)

> [You need always guts to put youngsters in the squad and also in the line-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/you-need-always-guts-to-put-youngsters-in-the-squad-and-also-in-the/)

[Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/)

> [We need to learn that in the Champions League, the referees are vigilant and quick to whistle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/we-need-to-learn-that-in-the-champions-league-the-referees-are/)

[Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/)

> [Sometimes players are very fed up with my communication, but that's what I do, and they know how I think. But they know I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/sometimes-players-are-very-fed-up-with-my-communication-but-that-s/)

[Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/)

> [I had to follow Bobby Robson at Barcelona. He had won three titles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/i-had-to-follow-bobby-robson-at-barcelona-he-had-won-three-titles/)

[Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/)

> [Having coached Ajax, Barcelona, the Netherlands, FC Bayern, and Manchester United like I did, it is difficult for any offer to be interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/having-coached-ajax-barcelona-the-netherlands-fc-bayern-and/)

[Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/)

> [It's not always the fault of the manager when a player is not performing well, I can tell you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/it-s-not-always-the-fault-of-the-manager-when-a-player-is-not/)

[Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/)

[Explore all 113 Louis van Gaal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/)

## More Always quotes

> [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/)

[Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/)

> [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/)

[Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/)

> [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/)

[Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/)

> [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/)

[William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/)

> [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/)

[Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/)

> [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/)

[Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/)

> [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/)

[Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/)

> [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/)

[Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/)

> [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/)

[Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/)

> [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/)

[Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/)

> [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/)

[Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/)

> [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/)

[Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/)

> [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/)

[Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/)

> [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/)

[Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/)

> [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/)

[Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I think, always, the form of the players is a decisive factor. And a game-plan and the referee. He can influence the game. And in a derby, a cool head is also very important.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Louis van Gaal"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/i-think-always-the-form-of-the-players-is-a-decisive-factor-and-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Always"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/i-think-always-the-form-of-the-players-is-a-decisive-factor-and-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/louis-van-gaal-4298_always_i-think-always-the-form-of-the-players-i_2062046.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/louis-van-gaal-4298_always_i-think-always-the-form-of-the-players-i_2062046.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/louis-van-gaal-4298_always_i-think-always-the-form-of-the-players-i_2062046.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think, always, the form of the players is a decisive factor. And a game-plan and the referee. He can…” — Louis van Gaal",
                "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": "Louis van Gaal",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I think, always, the form of...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/i-think-always-the-form-of-the-players-is-a-decisive-factor-and-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/i-think-always-the-form-of-the-players-is-a-decisive-factor-and-a/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
