--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I arrived at Benfica I'd been…" description: "\"When I arrived at Benfica I'd been playing like a No. 10 in the team, but the first thing the coach did was tell me: 'You are going to be a defensive m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbb/nemanja-matic-16660_coach_when-i-arrived-at-benfica-i-d-been-playi_1757192.jpg" --- # When I arrived at Benfica I'd been playing like a No. 10… ![“When I arrived at Benfica I'd been playing like a No. 10 in the team, but the first thing the coach did was tell me: 'You are going to be a defensive midfielder here.'” quote by Nemanja Matic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbb/nemanja-matic-16660_coach_when-i-arrived-at-benfica-i-d-been-playi_1757192.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbb/nemanja-matic-16660_coach_when-i-arrived-at-benfica-i-d-been-playi_1757192.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbb/nemanja-matic-16660_coach_when-i-arrived-at-benfica-i-d-been-playi_1757192.jpg) > “When I arrived at Benfica I'd been playing like a No. 10 in the team, but the first thing the coach did was tell me: 'You are going to be a defensive midfielder here.'” [Nemanja Matic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nemanja-matic/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The player was reassigned to a defensive role despite previously playing an attacking position. **In simple terms:** Adapt to a new role on a team. Key Takeaway Embrace positional changes. Themes adaptability team dynamics role change Mood reflective strategic Type motivational sports When to use this quote - sports - team sports - career transitions - skill development Key Concepts football strategy coach authority Questions to Reflect On - How do you adjust your mindset to a new position? - What can you learn from a defensive role? A Different Perspective May limit personal expression on the field. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coach/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) ## Related quotes > [You start talking about God and a lot of people are going to become very defensive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/you-start-talking-about-god-and-a-lot-of-people-are-going-to-become/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [Defensive midfielder is my position and I have to be focused on that role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nemanja-matic/defensive-midfielder-is-my-position-and-i-have-to-be-focused-on-that/) [Nemanja Matic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nemanja-matic/) > [I can be the only defensive midfielder and try and break up play. Or I can play a little more forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-busquets/i-can-be-the-only-defensive-midfielder-and-try-and-break-up-play-or-i/) [Sergio Busquets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-busquets/) > [I'm not really a defensive midfielder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/i-m-not-really-a-defensive-midfielder/) [Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/) > [I prefer defensive midfielder because I know my job when I play there. More things are in front of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marouane-fellaini/i-prefer-defensive-midfielder-because-i-know-my-job-when-i-play-there/) [Marouane Fellaini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marouane-fellaini/) > [When I first got to Lyon, my coach at the time, Nicolas Quinault, was very keen for me to play as a defensive midfielder,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendie-renard/when-i-first-got-to-lyon-my-coach-at-the-time-nicolas-quinault-was/) [Wendie Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendie-renard/) > [I have already worked Dunga. He helped me at Internacional, making me a more defensive midfielder. But I can play as a first or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred/i-have-already-worked-dunga-he-helped-me-at-internacional-making-me-a/) [Fred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred/) > [In my country, they used to call players who play in my position a defensive midfielder, but it is not defensive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernandinho/in-my-country-they-used-to-call-players-who-play-in-my-position-a/) [Fernandinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernandinho/) > [On a tactical level the defensive midfielder in a 4-3-3 formation is just about the most demanding position there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-busquets/on-a-tactical-level-the-defensive-midfielder-in-a-4-3-3-formation-is/) [Sergio Busquets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-busquets/) > [Everyone knows where I play, as a defensive midfielder, more or less the same, so in the last six or seven years I play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nemanja-matic/everyone-knows-where-i-play-as-a-defensive-midfielder-more-or-less/) [Nemanja Matic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nemanja-matic/) > [Erik ten Hag is a super coach, he did an amazing job at Ajax.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-hargreaves/erik-ten-hag-is-a-super-coach-he-did-an-amazing-job-at-ajax/) [Owen Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-hargreaves/) > [In high school I was on the basketball team, but the coach did something I didn't dig and the next day he looked up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mingus/in-high-school-i-was-on-the-basketball-team-but-the-coach-did/) [Charles Mingus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mingus/) > [Mr. Mourinho is a wonderful coach and did great things at Porto, winning trophies, and I will respect that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/mr-mourinho-is-a-wonderful-coach-and-did-great-things-at-porto/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [I was impressionable at that age, and my high school coach did such an unbelievable job helping me, so I want to do that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-watt/i-was-impressionable-at-that-age-and-my-high-school-coach-did-such-an/) [J. J. Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-watt/) > [It was very interesting, when I went on the road and started recruiting college and I spoke to coaches around the country, of how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-donovan/it-was-very-interesting-when-i-went-on-the-road-and-started/) [Billy Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-donovan/) ## More by Nemanja Matic > [I've played regularly in a big club at Benfica, where it is not easy and there is a lot of pressure. In those years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nemanja-matic/i-ve-played-regularly-in-a-big-club-at-benfica-where-it-is-not-easy/) [Nemanja Matic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nemanja-matic/) > [I have enjoyed my time at Chelsea and would like to thank the club and the fans for their support.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nemanja-matic/i-have-enjoyed-my-time-at-chelsea-and-would-like-to-thank-the-club/) [Nemanja Matic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nemanja-matic/) > [When you don't have results it is very difficult for players to have that high confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nemanja-matic/when-you-don-t-have-results-it-is-very-difficult-for-players-to-have/) [Nemanja Matic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nemanja-matic/) > [Vidic was a great player and one of the players where I look to be similar because he had a great career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nemanja-matic/vidic-was-a-great-player-and-one-of-the-players-where-i-look-to-be/) [Nemanja Matic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nemanja-matic/) > [The Premier League is not easy for young players because it is very hard, very tough. Most of the players are very tall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nemanja-matic/the-premier-league-is-not-easy-for-young-players-because-it-is-very/) [Nemanja Matic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nemanja-matic/) > [The Manchester derby, for our supporters, is the most important game in the season. Always, a few days before the game, the people create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nemanja-matic/the-manchester-derby-for-our-supporters-is-the-most-important-game-in/) [Nemanja Matic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nemanja-matic/) > [For me, I want to improve, to play good football in a good league; the money is not the most important thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nemanja-matic/for-me-i-want-to-improve-to-play-good-football-in-a-good-league-the/) [Nemanja Matic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nemanja-matic/) > [I am delighted to have joined Manchester United. To work with Jose Mourinho once again was an opportunity I couldn't turn down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nemanja-matic/i-am-delighted-to-have-joined-manchester-united-to-work-with-jose/) [Nemanja Matic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nemanja-matic/) > [To play at Old Trafford in a Manchester shirt I think is something special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nemanja-matic/to-play-at-old-trafford-in-a-manchester-shirt-i-think-is-something/) [Nemanja Matic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nemanja-matic/) > [I'm happy to be working with Mourinho.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nemanja-matic/i-m-happy-to-be-working-with-mourinho/) [Nemanja Matic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nemanja-matic/) > [Defensive midfielder is my position and I have to be focused on that role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nemanja-matic/defensive-midfielder-is-my-position-and-i-have-to-be-focused-on-that/) [Nemanja Matic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nemanja-matic/) > [I think derbies are really special because it's two local teams playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nemanja-matic/i-think-derbies-are-really-special-because-it-s-two-local-teams/) [Nemanja Matic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nemanja-matic/) > [I played for Chelsea for three-and-a-half years and I gave them my best to win against them and show my quality again. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nemanja-matic/i-played-for-chelsea-for-three-and-a-half-years-and-i-gave-them-my/) [Nemanja Matic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nemanja-matic/) > [When you leave a big club and go on loan to a small club in Holland it is not easy. But I am a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nemanja-matic/when-you-leave-a-big-club-and-go-on-loan-to-a-small-club-in-holland/) [Nemanja Matic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nemanja-matic/) > [When I come home, I always look in the mirror and I want to see where I could do better, where I can improve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nemanja-matic/when-i-come-home-i-always-look-in-the-mirror-and-i-want-to-see-where/) [Nemanja Matic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nemanja-matic/) [Explore all 39 Nemanja Matic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nemanja-matic/) ## More Coach quotes > [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/) [Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/) > [My coach, Robert Allen, helped me a lot. He had more influence on my growth as a player than anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamarcus-aldridge/my-coach-robert-allen-helped-me-a-lot-he-had-more-influence-on-my/) [LaMarcus Aldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamarcus-aldridge/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Every coach in the league does an unbelievable job, and they're prepared and think you're going to outcoach people, or you think that you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d-antoni/every-coach-in-the-league-does-an-unbelievable-job-and-they-re/) [Mike D'Antoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d-antoni/) > [Everything I have experienced and learned in football led me towards one day becoming a coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-carlos/everything-i-have-experienced-and-learned-in-football-led-me-towards/) [Roberto Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-carlos/) > [Often, organizations don't know how good they have it with a player or coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/often-organizations-don-t-know-how-good-they-have-it-with-a-player-or/) [Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/) > [I was just putting way too much pressure on myself. I was just trying to get that validation from my dad. It got so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-griffey-jr/i-was-just-putting-way-too-much-pressure-on-myself-i-was-just-trying/) [Ken Griffey Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-griffey-jr/) > [A lot of the kids gave a lot of positive feedback about if I ever became a coach, they would love to play in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/a-lot-of-the-kids-gave-a-lot-of-positive-feedback-about-if-i-ever/) [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) > [I think it's very important to have contact with the players that I will coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerardo-martino/i-think-it-s-very-important-to-have-contact-with-the-players-that-i/) [Gerardo Martino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerardo-martino/) > [Of course, it's always fun when you're winning and you have a great coach, great organization, great trainers, great strength staff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-gurley/of-course-it-s-always-fun-when-you-re-winning-and-you-have-a-great/) [Todd Gurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-gurley/) > [No one likes a change of coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-azpilicueta/no-one-likes-a-change-of-coach/) [Cesar Azpilicueta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-azpilicueta/) > [As far as being a coach, it's always fascinated me. 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He has told me he believes in me, both in person but also publicly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/memphis-depay/mourinho-is-a-great-coach-he-has-told-me-he-believes-in-me-both-in/) [Memphis Depay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/memphis-depay/) > [I've grown up playing for some incredible coaches, and I don't think anybody's ever been as fortunate as I have in terms of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-brown/i-ve-grown-up-playing-for-some-incredible-coaches-and-i-don-t-think/) [Larry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-brown/) [Browse all 2,963 Coach quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coach/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I arrived at Benfica I'd been playing like a No. 10 in the team, but the first thing the coach did was tell me: 'You are going to be a defensive midfielder here.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nemanja Matic" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nemanja-matic/when-i-arrived-at-benfica-i-d-been-playing-like-a-no-10-in-the-team/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Coach" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nemanja-matic/when-i-arrived-at-benfica-i-d-been-playing-like-a-no-10-in-the-team/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbb/nemanja-matic-16660_coach_when-i-arrived-at-benfica-i-d-been-playi_1757192.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbb/nemanja-matic-16660_coach_when-i-arrived-at-benfica-i-d-been-playi_1757192.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbb/nemanja-matic-16660_coach_when-i-arrived-at-benfica-i-d-been-playi_1757192.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I arrived at Benfica I'd been playing like a No. 10 in the team, but the first thing the coach did was…” — Nemanja Matic", "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": "Nemanja Matic", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nemanja-matic/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I arrived at Benfica I'd...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nemanja-matic/when-i-arrived-at-benfica-i-d-been-playing-like-a-no-10-in-the-team/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nemanja-matic/when-i-arrived-at-benfica-i-d-been-playing-like-a-no-10-in-the-team/#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 } } ] } ```