--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What I am saying is that mental ability…" description: "\"What I am saying is that mental ability is really important for defenders.\" — Matthijs de Ligt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9b/matthijs-de-ligt-5478_ability_what-i-am-saying-is-that-mental-ability_2845010.jpg" --- # What I am saying is that mental ability is really… ![“What I am saying is that mental ability is really important for defenders.” quote by Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9b/matthijs-de-ligt-5478_ability_what-i-am-saying-is-that-mental-ability_2845010.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9b/matthijs-de-ligt-5478_ability_what-i-am-saying-is-that-mental-ability_2845010.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9b/matthijs-de-ligt-5478_ability_what-i-am-saying-is-that-mental-ability_2845010.jpg) > “What I am saying is that mental ability is really important for defenders.” [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He emphasizes that mental ability is crucial for defenders in sports. **In simple terms:** Mental skill is key for defenders. Key Takeaway Train the mind as much as the body. Themes sports defense mental ability Mood analytical motivational Type educational practical When to use this quote - team sports - defensive tactics Key Concepts cognitive training decision making focus Practical Applications - mental resilience - strategic thinking Questions to Reflect On - How can defenders improve mental sharpness? - What drills enhance cognitive performance? A Different Perspective Physical skill alone isn’t enough. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Ability Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability-really-1904746/) [Defenders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defenders/) [I am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-am/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important Defenders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-defenders-3752303/) [Mental Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-ability/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying/) [Saying Mental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying-mental-3228029/) ## Related quotes > [I keep saying this about a mental state, but the more that I am physically active, the more that my mind is clear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-keep-saying-this-about-a-mental-state-but-the-more-that-i-am/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [Every now and then I hear voices in my head, but not very clear. I can't understand what they are saying. It's a mental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wilson/every-now-and-then-i-hear-voices-in-my-head-but-not-very-clear-i-can/) [Brian Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wilson/) > [Your belief in yourselves is the only thing that will make a difference and create an ability for you to see for yourselves, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-anka/your-belief-in-yourselves-is-the-only-thing-that-will-make-a/) [Darryl Anka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-anka/) > [Aside from everything on the court that I've learned from Sue, I think that the thing that I've learned from her most is just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/breanna-stewart/aside-from-everything-on-the-court-that-i-ve-learned-from-sue-i-think/) [Breanna Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/breanna-stewart/) > [Sia's talent lies in her ability to really understand what pop is. And I think because she used to write for a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-martin/sia-s-talent-lies-in-her-ability-to-really-understand-what-pop-is-and/) [Stacy Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-martin/) > [My shot-blocking ability, it's really second to none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-bamba/my-shot-blocking-ability-it-s-really-second-to-none/) [Mohamed Bamba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-bamba/) > [I don't know what it is about fast bowling. I guess it's the ability to do something that nobody else can really do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-steyn/i-don-t-know-what-it-is-about-fast-bowling-i-guess-it-s-the-ability/) [Dale Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-steyn/) > [I'm extremely proud of the ability to really go forth and minister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/i-m-extremely-proud-of-the-ability-to-really-go-forth-and-minister/) [Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/) > [I was always very independent and looked out for myself. I think that ability really helped me in later years both in sports and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wagner/i-was-always-very-independent-and-looked-out-for-myself-i-think-that/) [Jack Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wagner/) > [I definitely took bits and pieces of a lot of fighters that I liked, but I don't know if I have the ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-epps/i-definitely-took-bits-and-pieces-of-a-lot-of-fighters-that-i-liked/) [Omar Epps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-epps/) > [What your strengths are are always going to be the things that you're going to go back to, especially in the that spot where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-barnett/what-your-strengths-are-are-always-going-to-be-the-things-that-you-re/) [Josh Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-barnett/) > [In Italy they ask a lot of defenders. It's not possible to make a mistake. They're hard on them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/in-italy-they-ask-a-lot-of-defenders-it-s-not-possible-to-make-a/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [To be honest I'm not a defender who uses their arm so much. You have a lot of defenders who use their arms and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/to-be-honest-i-m-not-a-defender-who-uses-their-arm-so-much-you-have-a/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [The key in terms of mental ability is chess. There's never been a woman Grand Master chess player. Once you get one, then I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-robertson/the-key-in-terms-of-mental-ability-is-chess-there-s-never-been-a/) [Pat Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-robertson/) > [“What capacity could have renovated your brain, endowing you with new, specialised skills as well as inducing specific codnitive deficits? This exotic mental ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-henrich/what-capacity-could-have-renovated-your-brain-endowing-you-with-new/) [Joseph Henrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-henrich/) ## More by Matthijs de Ligt > [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-ask-for-tips-for-advice-what-i-have-also-learnt-is-that-i-need-to/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [It's important to know how much I'll play and how much the club trusts me, that's why I picked Juventus because they told me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/it-s-important-to-know-how-much-i-ll-play-and-how-much-the-club/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [Pressure is normal in football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/pressure-is-normal-in-football/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [As a defender, it's really important to communicate with the players in front of you and next to you. It makes it easier for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/as-a-defender-it-s-really-important-to-communicate-with-the-players/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [As long as I feel good with my behaviour and how I dress, I am satisfied. The most important thing is to perform well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/as-long-as-i-feel-good-with-my-behaviour-and-how-i-dress-i-am/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [I don't have a dream club apart from Ajax. The only dream I had was to play for Ajax.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-don-t-have-a-dream-club-apart-from-ajax-the-only-dream-i-had-was-to/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [No, I didn't chose Juventus for Cristiano Ronaldo, this was not the reason why I came to Italy and Torino.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/no-i-didn-t-chose-juventus-for-cristiano-ronaldo-this-was-not-the/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [We all have our different characteristics and I do not try and copy them but I look at Ronaldo and see what he does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/we-all-have-our-different-characteristics-and-i-do-not-try-and-copy/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [For me, it's an honour to play for Ajax and deal with the pressure that comes with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/for-me-it-s-an-honour-to-play-for-ajax-and-deal-with-the-pressure/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [I know what I can do and what I can give to the Dutch team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-know-what-i-can-do-and-what-i-can-give-to-the-dutch-team/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [If you play for Juventus you must always try to win everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/if-you-play-for-juventus-you-must-always-try-to-win-everything/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [It's always nice to go somewhere and to feel that you're part of a new project, to feel that you're part of something new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/it-s-always-nice-to-go-somewhere-and-to-feel-that-you-re-part-of-a/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best players in the world and Juventus are stronger with him, but on the other hand it'd be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/cristiano-ronaldo-is-one-of-the-best-players-in-the-world-and/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [I dreamed of becoming Ajax captain, but more like at the age of 24 or 25, to be honest. That it came so soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-dreamed-of-becoming-ajax-captain-but-more-like-at-the-age-of-24-or/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [Cristiano Ronaldo is a great character, he talks a lot with his teammates, with the young players, and is always ready to help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/cristiano-ronaldo-is-a-great-character-he-talks-a-lot-with-his/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) [Explore all 100 Matthijs de Ligt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What I am saying is that mental ability is really important for defenders.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matthijs de Ligt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/what-i-am-saying-is-that-mental-ability-is-really-important-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/what-i-am-saying-is-that-mental-ability-is-really-important-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9b/matthijs-de-ligt-5478_ability_what-i-am-saying-is-that-mental-ability_2845010.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9b/matthijs-de-ligt-5478_ability_what-i-am-saying-is-that-mental-ability_2845010.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9b/matthijs-de-ligt-5478_ability_what-i-am-saying-is-that-mental-ability_2845010.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What I am saying is that mental ability is really important for defenders.” — Matthijs de Ligt", "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": "Matthijs de Ligt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What I am saying is that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/what-i-am-saying-is-that-mental-ability-is-really-important-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/what-i-am-saying-is-that-mental-ability-is-really-important-for/#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 } } ] } ```