--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most important thing is they have to…" description: "\"The most important thing is they have to know why we do things and when. A lot of players are playing intuitively, and I want them to think and know wh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dd/louis-van-gaal-4298_football_the-most-important-thing-is-they-have-to_816054.png" --- # The most important thing is they have to know why we do… ![“The most important thing is they have to know why we do things and when. A lot of players are playing intuitively, and I want them to think and know why they do something.” quote by Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dd/louis-van-gaal-4298_football_the-most-important-thing-is-they-have-to_816054.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dd/louis-van-gaal-4298_football_the-most-important-thing-is-they-have-to_816054.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dd/louis-van-gaal-4298_football_the-most-important-thing-is-they-have-to_816054.png) > “The most important thing is they have to know why we do things and when. A lot of players are playing intuitively, and I want them to think and know why they do something.” [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. Coaches should understand the reasoning behind players’ decisions, not just rely on intuition. **In simple terms:** Know why players act, not just what they do. Key Takeaway Teach strategic thinking to athletes. Themes sports strategy education Mood analytical instructional Type coaching educational When to use this quote - team meetings - training drills - game analysis Key Concepts cognitive coaching decision making Questions to Reflect On - How to balance intuition with analysis? - What methods reveal decision rationales? A Different Perspective Players may resist analytical approaches. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Lot Players](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lot-players/) [Players Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/players-playing-321803/) [Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing/) [Playing Intuitively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-intuitively-321802/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Think Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-know/) [Why](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/why/) ## Related quotes > [It's obviously important for the English national team if you have a lot of players playing big matches. You are more mature and know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-davids/it-s-obviously-important-for-the-english-national-team-if-you-have-a/) [Edgar Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-davids/) > [I want to show the world how good Korean players are by playing well in the top flight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-ji-sung/i-want-to-show-the-world-how-good-korean-players-are-by-playing-well/) [Park Ji-sung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-ji-sung/) > [Players playing with a lot of confidence can achieve great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-seaman/players-playing-with-a-lot-of-confidence-can-achieve-great-things/) [David Seaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-seaman/) > [I want to be the man to take Brentford into the Premier League, but it's not just myself, it's going to be the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-toney/i-want-to-be-the-man-to-take-brentford-into-the-premier-league-but-it/) [Ivan Toney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-toney/) > [We've got a lot of players not playing domestic football week in, week out. 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Is it the crest on their chest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-page/we-ve-got-a-lot-of-players-not-playing-domestic-football-week-in-week/) [Rob Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-page/) > [There's really good players out there, and we're all playing hard and trying to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-jones/there-s-really-good-players-out-there-and-we-re-all-playing-hard-and/) [Mac Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-jones/) > [Tactics are just a part of football because the players are playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrikh-mkhitaryan/tactics-are-just-a-part-of-football-because-the-players-are-playing/) [Henrikh Mkhitaryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrikh-mkhitaryan/) > [I think it's a good match, Dutch players playing in England.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-van-der-vaart/i-think-it-s-a-good-match-dutch-players-playing-in-england/) [Rafael van der Vaart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-van-der-vaart/) > [We believe the most important thing is giving back to this game, not just for the players that are playing today but for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-clarke/we-believe-the-most-important-thing-is-giving-back-to-this-game-not/) [Michael Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-clarke/) > [Some days on court, you just don't feel it; the other players are playing too good. 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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 Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. 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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": "The most important thing is they have to know why we do things and when. 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