--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My father said, 'You're not going to make…" description: "\"My father said, 'You're not going to make it.' That took a lot of pressure from me. I took football like a hobby.\" — Per Mertesacker" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/per-mertesacker-6549_father_my-father-said-you-re-not-going-to-make_120101.jpg" --- # My father said, 'You're not going to make it.' That took a… ![“My father said, 'You're not going to make it.' That took a lot of pressure from me. I took football like a hobby.” quote by Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/per-mertesacker-6549_father_my-father-said-you-re-not-going-to-make_120101.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/per-mertesacker-6549_father_my-father-said-you-re-not-going-to-make_120101.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/per-mertesacker-6549_father_my-father-said-you-re-not-going-to-make_120101.jpg) > “My father said, 'You're not going to make it.' That took a lot of pressure from me. I took football like a hobby.” [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A son recalls his father's discouragement, which reduced pressure and allowed him to treat football as a leisure activity rather than a career burden. **In simple terms:** Father's doubt eased pressure, turning sport into a hobby. Key Takeaway External expectations shape personal motivation. Themes Family Pressure Sports Self‑perception Mood Reflective Calm Type Personal anecdote Motivational insight When to use this quote - Youth sports - Career choice dilemmas - Parental influence - Managing expectations Key Concepts Motivation theory Practical Applications - Reframe expectations as personal choice - Separate identity from performance Questions to Reflect On - How does parental belief affect self‑confidence? - Can pressure ever be beneficial? A Different Perspective Ignoring constructive criticism may limit growth potential. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Father Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father-said/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Football Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football-like/) [Hobby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hobby/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Pressure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pressure/) [Pressure Took](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pressure-took-1402278/) [Took](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/took/) [Took Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/took-football-1402277/) ## Related quotes > [I've had partners - life partners, that didn't understand it and I felt the pressure of that and took it out on Tessa, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-moir/i-ve-had-partners-life-partners-that-didn-t-understand-it-and-i-felt/) [Scott Moir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-moir/) > [I've always had such wonderful opportunities, but I never made the effort, haven't put on the pressure. But I never took them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-vreeland/i-ve-always-had-such-wonderful-opportunities-but-i-never-made-the/) [Diana Vreeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-vreeland/) > [Mostly in high school, when peer pressure took its big hold on me, that's when I started getting into my faith, and that helped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jabari-parker/mostly-in-high-school-when-peer-pressure-took-its-big-hold-on-me-that/) [Jabari Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jabari-parker/) > [My career only took off because of one football game. I thought it was funny. 'Playboy' called and offered me a cover just like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-anderson/my-career-only-took-off-because-of-one-football-game-i-thought-it-was/) [Pamela Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-anderson/) > [My brother took me to my first football match when I was five, and I quickly acquired a passion for it: once you've walked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/my-brother-took-me-to-my-first-football-match-when-i-was-five-and-i/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [When I was growing up, I always liked playing football, and my mum always took me to football games. I owe her a lot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-essien/when-i-was-growing-up-i-always-liked-playing-football-and-my-mum/) [Michael Essien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-essien/) > [Dad took me to football but there was never any sense I would follow him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ward-prowse/dad-took-me-to-football-but-there-was-never-any-sense-i-would-follow/) [James Ward-Prowse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ward-prowse/) > [I was the one who took football off the back pages and put it on to page one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-best/i-was-the-one-who-took-football-off-the-back-pages-and-put-it-on-to/) [George Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-best/) > [Iniesta is my ideal player. I've watched him throughout my career and hoped to be like him. It's fun to watch him play and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinji-kagawa/iniesta-is-my-ideal-player-i-ve-watched-him-throughout-my-career-and/) [Shinji Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinji-kagawa/) > [Bayern play the kind of football I like to play, and have already had a lot of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-coman/bayern-play-the-kind-of-football-i-like-to-play-and-have-already-had/) [Kingsley Coman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-coman/) > [Football is like war. It's about taking territory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/football-is-like-war-it-s-about-taking-territory/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [Football is like hunting. One second can change it all, but it's not just any second, it's a flash. The prey is there and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-simeone/football-is-like-hunting-one-second-can-change-it-all-but-it-s-not/) [Diego Simeone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-simeone/) > [Sometimes I wake up and I think, where did my memory go? But at the same time, I signed up for it. Football has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-reed/sometimes-i-wake-up-and-i-think-where-did-my-memory-go-but-at-the/) [Ed Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-reed/) > [Football is like recreation for me. I'd sooner be playing five-a-side than going out to eat or shopping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukas-podolski/football-is-like-recreation-for-me-i-d-sooner-be-playing-five-a-side/) [Lukas Podolski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-podolski/) > [I like English football, Spanish football, Italian football. I like all of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hulk/i-like-english-football-spanish-football-italian-football-i-like-all/) [Hulk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hulk/) ## More by Per Mertesacker > [When you step up as a young talent, you need to challenge the old lads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/when-you-step-up-as-a-young-talent-you-need-to-challenge-the-old-lads/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) > [Sometimes you need a humbling experience to think about a few things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/sometimes-you-need-a-humbling-experience-to-think-about-a-few-things/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) > [We cannot take responsibility for every goal we concede, we all need to do our part across the field to ensure we win as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/we-cannot-take-responsibility-for-every-goal-we-concede-we-all-need/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) > [There are not a lot of German players out there who are successful in a foreign country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/there-are-not-a-lot-of-german-players-out-there-who-are-successful-in/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) > [I've never had that dream in my head: 'I want to play Bundesliga or Premier League.' I was a fan, but it was never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/i-ve-never-had-that-dream-in-my-head-i-want-to-play-bundesliga-or/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) > [I invested a lot in my fitness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/i-invested-a-lot-in-my-fitness/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) > [I had a totally different upbringing, totally different background, raised in Germany, small town, now I am in London taking care of 180 kids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/i-had-a-totally-different-upbringing-totally-different-background/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) > [As long as you are winning it is a good day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/as-long-as-you-are-winning-it-is-a-good-day/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) > [You spend some time with kids, you always take something with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/you-spend-some-time-with-kids-you-always-take-something-with-you/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) > [Obviously, everyone looks at whether we bring young footballers into the first team, that's one of the goals. But I wouldn't discard someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/obviously-everyone-looks-at-whether-we-bring-young-footballers-into/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) > [I never heard anything about 'potatoes' or 'kanaken' during my time in the national team. However I have been called 'potato,' too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/i-never-heard-anything-about-potatoes-or-kanaken-during-my-time-in/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) > [Wenger has won three Premier League titles, which is proof enough of his standing as a manager.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/wenger-has-won-three-premier-league-titles-which-is-proof-enough-of/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) > [I think it is so beneficial to English and British football when youngsters see different cultures and environments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/i-think-it-is-so-beneficial-to-english-and-british-football-when/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) > [I was lucky to get a professional contract. I wasn't that sort of talent that is considered to be a professional player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/i-was-lucky-to-get-a-professional-contract-i-wasn-t-that-sort-of/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) > [I had a great time at SV Werder Bremen and I'm grateful to the club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/i-had-a-great-time-at-sv-werder-bremen-and-i-m-grateful-to-the-club/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) [Explore all 98 Per Mertesacker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) ## More Father quotes > [Whatever meaning 'Annie's Song' had for me on a personal level, there was also a larger context. 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So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [My parents were not musical, and they were not effervescent people; everything was very quiet. 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They were made of kindness, and silver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/liesel-observed-the-strangeness-of-her-foster-father-s-eyes-they-were/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) [Browse all 19,784 Father quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My father said, 'You're not going to make it.' That took a lot of pressure from me. 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