--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Zidane is a top player and he knows that…" description: "\"Zidane is a top player and he knows that if players do not perform, there needs to be a little bit of silence and hard work.\" — Marcel Desailly" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/311/marcel-desailly-5030_football_zidane-is-a-top-player-and-he-knows-that_1682772.png" --- # Zidane is a top player and he knows that if players do not… ![“Zidane is a top player and he knows that if players do not perform, there needs to be a little bit of silence and hard work.” quote by Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/311/marcel-desailly-5030_football_zidane-is-a-top-player-and-he-knows-that_1682772.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/311/marcel-desailly-5030_football_zidane-is-a-top-player-and-he-knows-that_1682772.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/311/marcel-desailly-5030_football_zidane-is-a-top-player-and-he-knows-that_1682772.png) > “Zidane is a top player and he knows that if players do not perform, there needs to be a little bit of silence and hard work.” [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Team success requires both performance and disciplined silence for reflection and hard work. **In simple terms:** Great teams balance action with quiet focus and effort. Key Takeaway Embrace both performance and reflective practice. Themes teamwork discipline reflection hard work performance Mood analytical motivational Type sports leadership When to use this quote - training sessions - match preparation - post‑game analysis - team meetings Key Concepts Leadership sports psychology team dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does silence improve team cohesion? - When should you speak up instead? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on silence may hinder communication. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Zidane has been a player and knows what the players want and think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pepe/zidane-has-been-a-player-and-knows-what-the-players-want-and-think/) [Pepe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pepe/) > [Zidane the player made me dream and still makes me dream when I watch videos of him. The coach is completely different, he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylian-mbappe/zidane-the-player-made-me-dream-and-still-makes-me-dream-when-i-watch/) [Kylian Mbappe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylian-mbappe/) > [If the coach on the sidelines is not that strong, transmitting the kind of spirit he has, players won't always handle it well. Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/if-the-coach-on-the-sidelines-is-not-that-strong-transmitting-the/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [No coach has ever won a game by what he knows; it's what his players know that counts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-coach-has-ever-won-a-game-by-what-he-knows-it-s-what-his-players/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People obviously don't know what football players go through and the stress football players put on themselves to perform, because it's not like we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weston-mckennie/people-obviously-don-t-know-what-football-players-go-through-and-the/) [Weston McKennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weston-mckennie/) > [For players to perform near their best every week is commendable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/for-players-to-perform-near-their-best-every-week-is-commendable/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [You are responsible to each other because when you win a game of football, you only need eight players to perform well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/you-are-responsible-to-each-other-because-when-you-win-a-game-of/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [As a coach, your high standards of performance, attention to detail and - above all - how hard you work set the stage for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/as-a-coach-your-high-standards-of-performance-attention-to-detail-and/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [Any footballer who understands space and time and positioning can become a better player because he knows how to receive the ball alone with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quique-setien/any-footballer-who-understands-space-and-time-and-positioning-can/) [Quique Setien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quique-setien/) > [Pepe is a phenomenal player, everyone knows that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcelo/pepe-is-a-phenomenal-player-everyone-knows-that/) [Marcelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcelo/) > [I think it's our job to create a culture and an environment where a gay player knows he is safe and welcome. If and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bettman/i-think-it-s-our-job-to-create-a-culture-and-an-environment-where-a/) [Gary Bettman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bettman/) > [Every football player knows when his time is up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-grange/every-football-player-knows-when-his-time-is-up/) [Red Grange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-grange/) > [Any time you get a Hall of Fame player that even knows my name, you're going to be pumped up about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-donald/any-time-you-get-a-hall-of-fame-player-that-even-knows-my-name-you-re/) [Aaron Donald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-donald/) > [Edinson is the type of player who always knows exactly where the goal is, but there's much more to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-matuidi/edinson-is-the-type-of-player-who-always-knows-exactly-where-the-goal/) [Blaise Matuidi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-matuidi/) > [It's rare to have a best friend who is also your brother and also an NFL football player, and he knows exactly what I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/it-s-rare-to-have-a-best-friend-who-is-also-your-brother-and-also-an/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) ## More by Marcel Desailly > [The way to win is to win together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/the-way-to-win-is-to-win-together/) [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) > [To experience playing with other big players, to be maybe a second choice. To face difficulty, a new language for his family. It's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/to-experience-playing-with-other-big-players-to-be-maybe-a-second/) [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) > [Honestly when you look at football when Sepp Blatter was made FIFA president in 1998, the global budget for the World Cup in France,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/honestly-when-you-look-at-football-when-sepp-blatter-was-made-fifa/) [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) > [Because he knows he has the talent to change games, you get the impression Neymar wants to be the one to do that something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/because-he-knows-he-has-the-talent-to-change-games-you-get-the/) [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) > [In 2002 we went into the first World Cup in Asia as reigning champions and we had also added the European crown in 2000,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/in-2002-we-went-into-the-first-world-cup-in-asia-as-reigning/) [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) > [This is the sort of situation I enjoy: a game in the San Siro, a huge crowd and a night for big men. Remember,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/this-is-the-sort-of-situation-i-enjoy-a-game-in-the-san-siro-a-huge/) [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) > [Giroud is the perfect team-mate and player for the France national team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/giroud-is-the-perfect-team-mate-and-player-for-the-france-national/) [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) > [As a player, Di Matteo helped build the foundations of a winning mentality that Chelsea was in need of at the time. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/as-a-player-di-matteo-helped-build-the-foundations-of-a-winning/) [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) > [Lyon is a big club, but it's not Milan, Barcelona or Chelsea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/lyon-is-a-big-club-but-it-s-not-milan-barcelona-or-chelsea/) [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) > [Smaller nations now believe in their capacity to cause problems and to challenge the traditional powers of world football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/smaller-nations-now-believe-in-their-capacity-to-cause-problems-and/) [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) > [I'm not like those who moan about having little teams at these competitions - for me that's what the World Cup is all about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/i-m-not-like-those-who-moan-about-having-little-teams-at-these/) [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) > [Ronaldo has never won anything with Portugal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/ronaldo-has-never-won-anything-with-portugal/) [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) > [To compete with Spain and France you have to copy the model that we have established in the clubs. You have to start from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/to-compete-with-spain-and-france-you-have-to-copy-the-model-that-we/) [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) > [I nearly signed for Monaco because it was a more stable club. My family were in favour of Monaco. At Marseille everything is more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/i-nearly-signed-for-monaco-because-it-was-a-more-stable-club-my/) [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) > [I remember we had a terrible start to the 2002 World Cup, losing to Senegal when we were the reigning world and European champions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/i-remember-we-had-a-terrible-start-to-the-2002-world-cup-losing-to/) [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) [Explore all 104 Marcel Desailly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) ## 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": "Zidane is a top player and he knows that if players do not perform, there needs to be a little bit of silence and hard work.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marcel Desailly" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/zidane-is-a-top-player-and-he-knows-that-if-players-do-not-perform/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Football" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/zidane-is-a-top-player-and-he-knows-that-if-players-do-not-perform/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/311/marcel-desailly-5030_football_zidane-is-a-top-player-and-he-knows-that_1682772.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/311/marcel-desailly-5030_football_zidane-is-a-top-player-and-he-knows-that_1682772.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/311/marcel-desailly-5030_football_zidane-is-a-top-player-and-he-knows-that_1682772.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Zidane is a top player and he knows that if players do not perform, there needs to be a little bit of…” — Marcel Desailly", "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": "Marcel Desailly", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Zidane is a top player and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/zidane-is-a-top-player-and-he-knows-that-if-players-do-not-perform/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/zidane-is-a-top-player-and-he-knows-that-if-players-do-not-perform/#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 } } ] } ```