--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The target is to win football matches." description: "\"The target is to win football matches.\" — Mike Phelan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/730/mike-phelan-16203_football_the-target-is-to-win-football-matches-91_911197.jpg" --- # The target is to win football matches. ![“The target is to win football matches.” quote by Mike Phelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/730/mike-phelan-16203_football_the-target-is-to-win-football-matches-91_911197.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/730/mike-phelan-16203_football_the-target-is-to-win-football-matches-91_911197.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/730/mike-phelan-16203_football_the-target-is-to-win-football-matches-91_911197.jpg) > “The target is to win football matches.” [Mike Phelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-phelan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The primary goal in football is to secure victory by outscoring the opponent. **In simple terms:** Winning is the main aim. Key Takeaway Focus on strategies that increase win probability. Themes sports competition goal setting Mood determined critical Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - coaching sessions - match preparation - season planning Key Concepts win‑or‑lose mindset team performance Questions to Reflect On - What metrics beyond wins indicate success? - How to balance winning with player growth? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on winning can neglect player development and sportsmanship. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Football match](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football-match/) [Football Matches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football-matches-483555/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Matches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matches/) [Target](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/target/) [Target Win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/target-win-1335615/) [Win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win/) [Win Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win-football/) ## Related quotes > [There are times you have to dig deep to win football matches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-fletcher/there-are-times-you-have-to-dig-deep-to-win-football-matches/) [Darren Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-fletcher/) > [You have to win football matches, and if you don't, you allow people to criticise you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hughes/you-have-to-win-football-matches-and-if-you-don-t-you-allow-people-to/) [Mark Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hughes/) > [It takes more than a coach to win football matches. Players must also be at their best, show commitment and bear in mind that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-osimhen/it-takes-more-than-a-coach-to-win-football-matches-players-must-also/) [Victor Osimhen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-osimhen/) > [There's a lot of work behind the scenes that prepare us for match days and to win football matches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ward-prowse/there-s-a-lot-of-work-behind-the-scenes-that-prepare-us-for-match/) [James Ward-Prowse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ward-prowse/) > [We need to remember that simply being Inter is not enough to win football matches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-mancini/we-need-to-remember-that-simply-being-inter-is-not-enough-to-win/) [Roberto Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-mancini/) > [If the records come, then brilliant, but really my job is to win football matches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jude-bellingham/if-the-records-come-then-brilliant-but-really-my-job-is-to-win/) [Jude Bellingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jude-bellingham/) > [At a club like Man City, if you don't win football matches then you've got to expect fans and people to question you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-greenwood/at-a-club-like-man-city-if-you-don-t-win-football-matches-then-you-ve/) [Alex Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-greenwood/) > [We want to win. We want to win big football matches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steph-houghton/we-want-to-win-we-want-to-win-big-football-matches/) [Steph Houghton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steph-houghton/) > [You cannot win major football matches at international level unless you can deal with the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/you-cannot-win-major-football-matches-at-international-level-unless/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [I used to go play football matches in the morning, and I'd go straight from me football game to a dance competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tristan-macmanus/i-used-to-go-play-football-matches-in-the-morning-and-i-d-go-straight/) [Tristan MacManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tristan-macmanus/) > [“Football Coaches do play football matches; their attitudes toward the game in times of tendencies of losing can cause a change in the scores…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/football-coaches-do-play-football-matches-their-attitudes-toward-the/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Players never want to lose football matches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-deeney/players-never-want-to-lose-football-matches/) [Troy Deeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-deeney/) > [How many women's football matches are selling out week in, week out, 20,000 plus? They're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-deeney/how-many-women-s-football-matches-are-selling-out-week-in-week-out-20/) [Troy Deeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-deeney/) > [What everyone wants to see are exciting football matches where fans get behind the team that they support.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hughton/what-everyone-wants-to-see-are-exciting-football-matches-where-fans/) [Chris Hughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hughton/) > [Aggression is what I do. I go to war. You don't contest football matches in a reasonable state of mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-keane/aggression-is-what-i-do-i-go-to-war-you-don-t-contest-football/) [Roy Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-keane/) ## More by Mike Phelan > [At times you are going to miss people. When that happens, others have to come to the front and show the calibre that brought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/at-times-you-are-going-to-miss-people-when-that-happens-others-have/) [Mike Phelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-phelan/) > [I'm quite open and proud enough to listen to anything really. Be it home, abroad, Premier League, Championships or below that. It's not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/i-m-quite-open-and-proud-enough-to-listen-to-anything-really-be-it/) [Mike Phelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-phelan/) > [A club like Arsenal is a fabulous club, it is a well-run club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/a-club-like-arsenal-is-a-fabulous-club-it-is-a-well-run-club/) [Mike Phelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-phelan/) > [It's hard for an up and coming player who has the eyes of Manchester United on them to take that opportunity and then sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/it-s-hard-for-an-up-and-coming-player-who-has-the-eyes-of-manchester/) [Mike Phelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-phelan/) > [Setting points targets is sometimes the worst thing you can do - it puts pressure on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/setting-points-targets-is-sometimes-the-worst-thing-you-can-do-it/) [Mike Phelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-phelan/) > [Strikers can't score every week, much as they would like to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/strikers-can-t-score-every-week-much-as-they-would-like-to/) [Mike Phelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-phelan/) > [Managing people is no different wherever you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/managing-people-is-no-different-wherever-you-are/) [Mike Phelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-phelan/) > [I guess my career has gone in a roundabout way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/i-guess-my-career-has-gone-in-a-roundabout-way/) [Mike Phelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-phelan/) > [There is fierce competition within the city. If United are at loggerheads within the club, it just helps fuel City's cause more than anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/there-is-fierce-competition-within-the-city-if-united-are-at/) [Mike Phelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-phelan/) > [Many fine coaches never become great managers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/many-fine-coaches-never-become-great-managers/) [Mike Phelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-phelan/) > [Decision making is always top of the tree when it comes to the big football clubs and where it takes you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/decision-making-is-always-top-of-the-tree-when-it-comes-to-the-big/) [Mike Phelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-phelan/) > [I've been in the lower divisions, I've been in the higher divisions so I have got the experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/i-ve-been-in-the-lower-divisions-i-ve-been-in-the-higher-divisions-so/) [Mike Phelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-phelan/) > [You have to master the ball, play with confidence and play with character and courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/you-have-to-master-the-ball-play-with-confidence-and-play-with/) [Mike Phelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-phelan/) > [There's no shortage of investment into Manchester United.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/there-s-no-shortage-of-investment-into-manchester-united/) [Mike Phelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-phelan/) > [I had experience in abundance at Manchester United and it's up to me to bring that here to Hull.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/i-had-experience-in-abundance-at-manchester-united-and-it-s-up-to-me/) [Mike Phelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-phelan/) [Explore all 40 Mike Phelan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-phelan/) ## 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 target is to win football matches.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mike Phelan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/the-target-is-to-win-football-matches/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Football" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/the-target-is-to-win-football-matches/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/730/mike-phelan-16203_football_the-target-is-to-win-football-matches-91_911197.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/730/mike-phelan-16203_football_the-target-is-to-win-football-matches-91_911197.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/730/mike-phelan-16203_football_the-target-is-to-win-football-matches-91_911197.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The target is to win football matches.” — Mike Phelan", "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": "Mike Phelan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-phelan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The target is to win football...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/the-target-is-to-win-football-matches/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/the-target-is-to-win-football-matches/#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 } } ] } ```