--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I felt that we couldn't win the game. It…" description: "\"I felt that we couldn't win the game. It was absolutely shocking.\" — Martin O'Neill" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/martin-o-neill-9898_chairman_i-felt-that-we-couldn-t-win-the-game-it_365776.jpg" --- # I felt that we couldn't win the game. It was absolutely… ![“I felt that we couldn't win the game. It was absolutely shocking.” quote by Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/martin-o-neill-9898_chairman_i-felt-that-we-couldn-t-win-the-game-it_365776.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/martin-o-neill-9898_chairman_i-felt-that-we-couldn-t-win-the-game-it_365776.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/martin-o-neill-9898_chairman_i-felt-that-we-couldn-t-win-the-game-it_365776.jpg) > “I felt that we couldn't win the game. It was absolutely shocking.” [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He expresses disbelief and shock at a loss, highlighting emotional impact of unexpected defeat. **In simple terms:** Unexpected loss feels shocking. Key Takeaway Accept emotions, analyze performance. Themes disappointment shock team morale performance Mood reflective determined Type sports motivational When to use this quote - football matches - tournament eliminations - business setbacks - personal goals Key Concepts sports psychology leadership resilience Questions to Reflect On - What lessons can be drawn from the loss? - How will you prevent similar outcomes? A Different Perspective Shock can hinder constructive analysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Soccer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soccer/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [Liverpool can play for only five minutes and win the game, that is the way they are. They pump the ball into the box…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/liverpool-can-play-for-only-five-minutes-and-win-the-game-that-is-the/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [I've not had to ask permission from Geraldine to take the job. I'm one of the few men in this life who are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/i-ve-not-had-to-ask-permission-from-geraldine-to-take-the-job-i-m-one/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [My youth coach told me he'd got these two great 15-year-olds. I told him I don't want to know, because by the time they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/my-youth-coach-told-me-he-d-got-these-two-great-15-year-olds-i-told/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [To be the England manager you must win every game, not do anything in your private life and hopefully not earn too much money!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sven-goran-eriksson/to-be-the-england-manager-you-must-win-every-game-not-do-anything-in/) [Sven-Goran Eriksson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sven-goran-eriksson/) > [Yorkie has officially retired about 5 times... The man's a clown... People are going on about the game and agents and directors of football…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-keane/yorkie-has-officially-retired-about-5-times-the-man-s-a-clown-people/) [Roy Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-keane/) > [Look at my haircut. I am ready for the war. The objective is to win the Premiershp. I don't want to dominate, to finish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mourinho/look-at-my-haircut-i-am-ready-for-the-war-the-objective-is-to-win-the/) [Jose Mourinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mourinho/) > [I've got a temper if I need it. Nothing wrong with losing your temper, if it's for the right reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/i-ve-got-a-temper-if-i-need-it-nothing-wrong-with-losing-your-temper/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [With no one collecting his knockdowns, what was Crouch supposed to do, juggle the ball with his head until the midfield support arrived?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-cascarino/with-no-one-collecting-his-knockdowns-what-was-crouch-supposed-to-do/) [Tony Cascarino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-cascarino/) > [I asked the players: 'Do you want to enjoy the game? Or do you want to enjoy after the game?' The players told me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mourinho/i-asked-the-players-do-you-want-to-enjoy-the-game-or-do-you-want-to/) [Jose Mourinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mourinho/) > [If someone states that Ajax played a negative game then maybe we are smarter than Manchester City.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-koeman/if-someone-states-that-ajax-played-a-negative-game-then-maybe-we-are/) [Ronald Koeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-koeman/) > [It is like having a blanket that is too small for the bed, you pull the blanket up to keep your chest warm, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mourinho/it-is-like-having-a-blanket-that-is-too-small-for-the-bed-you-pull/) [Jose Mourinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mourinho/) > [Drogba is a fighter. He is the kind of player I would say 'With you I could go to every war.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mourinho/drogba-is-a-fighter-he-is-the-kind-of-player-i-would-say-with-you-i/) [Jose Mourinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mourinho/) > [I'm-A-God-Look-At-Me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/i-m-a-god-look-at-me/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [I Wanted To Sign Scholes For Killie But Fergie Burst Out Laughing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-totten/i-wanted-to-sign-scholes-for-killie-but-fergie-burst-out-laughing/) Alex Totten > [Statistics are like miniskirts: They give you good ideas but hide the important things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebbe-skovdahl/statistics-are-like-miniskirts-they-give-you-good-ideas-but-hide-the/) Ebbe Skovdahl ## More by Martin O'Neill > [I've missed out on a European Cup final because I was injured three weeks beforehand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/i-ve-missed-out-on-a-european-cup-final-because-i-was-injured-three/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [As a player, it took me a long time to get over defeats, and as a manager I get moody and irritable. My wife…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/as-a-player-it-took-me-a-long-time-to-get-over-defeats-and-as-a/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [Roy Keane can talk eloquently about the game. I was hoping he would take the Sunderland job when he was last in the frame…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/roy-keane-can-talk-eloquently-about-the-game-i-was-hoping-he-would/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [The rivalry between Celtic and Rangers is one of the major rivalries in world football let alone European football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/the-rivalry-between-celtic-and-rangers-is-one-of-the-major-rivalries/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [I have to tell you I can count on the fingers of one hand when I got verbally abused on the streets of Glasgow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/i-have-to-tell-you-i-can-count-on-the-fingers-of-one-hand-when-i-got/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [I don't think I have ever in my managerial time really given my valuation its proper consideration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/i-don-t-think-i-have-ever-in-my-managerial-time-really-given-my/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [If Brian Clough, who had the ego the size of 15 houses, had the humility to go for an interview for the England job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/if-brian-clough-who-had-the-ego-the-size-of-15-houses-had-the/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [A manager's tenure at club level is very short and gets shorter as the time goes on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/a-manager-s-tenure-at-club-level-is-very-short-and-gets-shorter-as/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [My mother was an O'Kane from Swatragh in County Derry. My father had a Donegal background. I came into the world when they had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/my-mother-was-an-o-kane-from-swatragh-in-county-derry-my-father-had-a/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [It would make me laugh, make me smile, if some manager came in and said he had a five-year plan for a football club.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/it-would-make-me-laugh-make-me-smile-if-some-manager-came-in-and-said/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [My youth coach told me he'd got these two great 15-year-olds. I told him I don't want to know, because by the time they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/my-youth-coach-told-me-he-d-got-these-two-great-15-year-olds-i-told/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [I would love to tell you I had the worst childhood you could ever imagine but believe it or not it was idyllic. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/i-would-love-to-tell-you-i-had-the-worst-childhood-you-could-ever/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [I think Ashley Young is world class, Id put him in a bracket with Lionel Messi and Ronaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/i-think-ashley-young-is-world-class-id-put-him-in-a-bracket-with/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [My wife, who hated every place she'd been to in her life, absolutely loved it in Scotland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/my-wife-who-hated-every-place-she-d-been-to-in-her-life-absolutely/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [You need to stay disciplined as much as you possibly can. You can't let emotions run too high, but obviously that is easier said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/you-need-to-stay-disciplined-as-much-as-you-possibly-can-you-can-t/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) [Explore all 69 Martin O'Neill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) ## More Chairman quotes > [I've enjoyed my time at every club I have worked at, I've been lucky, but I won't jump in and finish up working with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-redknapp/i-ve-enjoyed-my-time-at-every-club-i-have-worked-at-i-ve-been-lucky/) [Harry Redknapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-redknapp/) > [Some Republicans gave up on winning the African-American vote, looking the other way or trying to benefit politically from racial polarization. I am here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/some-republicans-gave-up-on-winning-the-african-american-vote-looking/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) > [Statistics are like miniskirts: They give you good ideas but hide the important things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebbe-skovdahl/statistics-are-like-miniskirts-they-give-you-good-ideas-but-hide-the/) Ebbe Skovdahl > [In the past there were too many portraits of Chairman Mao in China. They were hung everywhere. That was not proper and it didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deng-xiaoping/in-the-past-there-were-too-many-portraits-of-chairman-mao-in-china/) [Deng Xiaoping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deng-xiaoping/) > [I have decided to quit as I.P.L. Chairman. It is a decision which I was pondering over for some time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajeev-shukla/i-have-decided-to-quit-as-i-p-l-chairman-it-is-a-decision-which-i-was/) [Rajeev Shukla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajeev-shukla/) > [I was the chairman of the Budget Committee and the lead architect the last time it happened in Washington, and when we did it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/i-was-the-chairman-of-the-budget-committee-and-the-lead-architect-the/) [John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/) > [We must learn to do economic work from all who know how, no matter who they are. We must esteem them as teachers, learning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/we-must-learn-to-do-economic-work-from-all-who-know-how-no-matter-who/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [Chairman Mao not only introduced Pinyin in China, but also simplified half the Chinese characters, believing that fewer strokes would enable more people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tang/chairman-mao-not-only-introduced-pinyin-in-china-but-also-simplified/) [David Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tang/) > [Since I became chairman, I've tried to turn EFF into civil liberties and responsibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/since-i-became-chairman-i-ve-tried-to-turn-eff-into-civil-liberties/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [I was the chairman of the House Budget Committee and one of the chief architects the last time we balanced a budget, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/i-was-the-chairman-of-the-house-budget-committee-and-one-of-the-chief/) [John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/) > [You hear entertainers all the time, saying, 'If I couldn't get paid for this, I'd do it for free.' When's the last time you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gregory/you-hear-entertainers-all-the-time-saying-if-i-couldn-t-get-paid-for/) [Dick Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gregory/) > [By the time I became chairman and there was more of a feeling of urgency, there was a willingness to accept more forceful measures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-a-volcker/by-the-time-i-became-chairman-and-there-was-more-of-a-feeling-of/) Paul A. Volcker > [One of the great joys this year and the year before has been how all of the people in this body, men and women,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hayes/one-of-the-great-joys-this-year-and-the-year-before-has-been-how-all/) [Robin Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hayes/) > [I agree with you, Mr. Chairman, that the working men are the basis of all governments, for the plain reason that they are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-agree-with-you-mr-chairman-that-the-working-men-are-the-basis-of/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I think Chairman Davis has said he would always prefer that baseball strengthens its own policies and not leave it to Congress to legislate.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-white/i-think-chairman-davis-has-said-he-would-always-prefer-that-baseball/) [Robert J. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-white/) Browse all 423 Chairman quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I felt that we couldn't win the game. It was absolutely shocking.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin O'Neill" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/i-felt-that-we-couldn-t-win-the-game-it-was-absolutely-shocking/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chairman" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/i-felt-that-we-couldn-t-win-the-game-it-was-absolutely-shocking/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/martin-o-neill-9898_chairman_i-felt-that-we-couldn-t-win-the-game-it_365776.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/martin-o-neill-9898_chairman_i-felt-that-we-couldn-t-win-the-game-it_365776.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/martin-o-neill-9898_chairman_i-felt-that-we-couldn-t-win-the-game-it_365776.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I felt that we couldn't win the game. It was absolutely shocking.” — Martin O'Neill", "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": "Martin O'Neill", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I felt that we couldn't win...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/i-felt-that-we-couldn-t-win-the-game-it-was-absolutely-shocking/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/i-felt-that-we-couldn-t-win-the-game-it-was-absolutely-shocking/#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 } } ] } ```