--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never tackle, never go down, we've heard…" description: "\"Never tackle, never go down, we've heard it over and over again. You have to try to keep Messi away from the goal and block him with multiple players w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f8/per-mertesacker-6549_again_never-tackle-never-go-down-we-ve-heard-i_2233566.jpg" --- # Never tackle, never go down, we've heard it over and over… ![“Never tackle, never go down, we've heard it over and over again. You have to try to keep Messi away from the goal and block him with multiple players while being as close to him as possible. He is too quick, too fast, too intense with the ball.” quote by Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f8/per-mertesacker-6549_again_never-tackle-never-go-down-we-ve-heard-i_2233566.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f8/per-mertesacker-6549_again_never-tackle-never-go-down-we-ve-heard-i_2233566.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f8/per-mertesacker-6549_again_never-tackle-never-go-down-we-ve-heard-i_2233566.jpg) > “Never tackle, never go down, we've heard it over and over again. You have to try to keep Messi away from the goal and block him with multiple players while being as close to him as possible. He is too quick, too fast, too intense with the ball.” [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. Defensive strategy emphasizes staying close to a fast attacker, using multiple players to block him and limit his impact. **In simple terms:** Stay close and block the opponent with many defenders. Key Takeaway Use tight, coordinated defense against quick attackers. Themes defense teamwork strategy Mood focused determined analytical Type tactical instructional When to use this quote - soccer matches - coaching drills - player training - game planning Key Concepts spatial awareness pressure management Questions to Reflect On - How can defenders maintain cohesion under pressure? - What drills improve close marking? A Different Perspective Requires high stamina and communication; can be risky if players are out of position. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/again/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Intense Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intense-ball-5034729/) [Messi Away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messi-away-5034728/) [Multiple Players](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/multiple-players-5034730/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possible/) [Tackle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tackle/) [Tackle Ve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tackle-ve-2496304/) [Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try/) ## Related quotes > [Going in for a tackle, you've got to be able to defeat a block. You have to be able to have the correct leverage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-vander-esch/going-in-for-a-tackle-you-ve-got-to-be-able-to-defeat-a-block-you/) [Leighton Vander Esch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-vander-esch/) > [I know you cannot just dive into any tackle. You've got to make sure you time it right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-wan-bissaka/i-know-you-cannot-just-dive-into-any-tackle-you-ve-got-to-make-sure/) [Aaron Wan-Bissaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-wan-bissaka/) > [Most teams won't really focus on one player because they've got multiple players to defend and that will open up a lot of things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kentavious-caldwell-pope/most-teams-won-t-really-focus-on-one-player-because-they-ve-got/) [Kentavious Caldwell-Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kentavious-caldwell-pope/) > [I already have legitimacy as a filmmaker and now I'm trying to do stuff that's just fun. Until I find a cool tangible subject…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singleton/i-already-have-legitimacy-as-a-filmmaker-and-now-i-m-trying-to-do/) [John Singleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-singleton/) > [I don't know technique-wise, just I've always tackled the same. I've never even really thought about how I tackle or any of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-mccourty/i-don-t-know-technique-wise-just-i-ve-always-tackled-the-same-i-ve/) [Devin McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-mccourty/) > [Since arriving in Washington in January 2015, I have pushed for a strategic framework that clearly articulates how we'll tackle threats in cyberspace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-sasse/since-arriving-in-washington-in-january-2015-i-have-pushed-for-a/) [Ben Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-sasse/) > [If we cannot accurately measure poverty, we surely cannot accurately measure our efforts to tackle it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/if-we-cannot-accurately-measure-poverty-we-surely-cannot-accurately/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [American naturalism is what my indulgent actor side loves: a bit of Tennessee Williams, a bit of Clifford Odets, August Wilson - I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilia-clarke/american-naturalism-is-what-my-indulgent-actor-side-loves-a-bit-of/) [Emilia Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilia-clarke/) > [I broke my finger in a stunt in a very not-too-romantic way. I was just trying to tackle someone, and I just flicked his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/i-broke-my-finger-in-a-stunt-in-a-very-not-too-romantic-way-i-was/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [Whatever I tackle I like to attack a situation, hit it head on, go for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-pritchard/whatever-i-tackle-i-like-to-attack-a-situation-hit-it-head-on-go-for/) [A. J. Pritchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-pritchard/) > [Sometimes I can tackle an issue -homelessness, tobacco litigation, insurance fraud, the death penalty - and wrap a good story around it. These are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/sometimes-i-can-tackle-an-issue-homelessness-tobacco-litigation/) [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) > [One step makes a huge difference. Obviously, if you're in better position to make a tackle when you're farther up on him or to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-vander-esch/one-step-makes-a-huge-difference-obviously-if-you-re-in-better/) [Leighton Vander Esch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-vander-esch/) > [When the tone needs to be set and the crowd need to be revved up, nothing is better than a big, shuddering tackle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/when-the-tone-needs-to-be-set-and-the-crowd-need-to-be-revved-up/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [You do not have time in international rugby to stop and think, 'This is tough.' It's more a case of, 'Let's crack on.' Where's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alun-wyn-jones/you-do-not-have-time-in-international-rugby-to-stop-and-think-this-is/) [Alun Wyn Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alun-wyn-jones/) > [At comedy festivals, we always get grouped with other musical comedians, so you can get to know them and see what everyone is doing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-micucci/at-comedy-festivals-we-always-get-grouped-with-other-musical/) [Kate Micucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-micucci/) ## 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/) > [My father said, 'You're not going to make it.' That took a lot of pressure from me. I took football like a hobby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/my-father-said-you-re-not-going-to-make-it-that-took-a-lot-of/) [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/) [Explore all 98 Per Mertesacker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) ## More Again quotes > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [I've always been interested in photographs, collecting them not systematically but randomly. They get lost, then turn up again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-g-sebald/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-photographs-collecting-them-not/) [W. G. Sebald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-g-sebald/) > [I say this about everything: when I was on 'Neighbours,' I said, 'These are the best years of my life!' When I was filming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-robbie/i-say-this-about-everything-when-i-was-on-neighbours-i-said-these-are/) [Margot Robbie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-robbie/) > [I don't think you should ever say, 'This is the last time'. Music isn't like that. You'll be sitting there not wishing to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-daltrey/i-don-t-think-you-should-ever-say-this-is-the-last-time-music-isn-t/) [Roger Daltrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-daltrey/) > [I don't know about writing. It's quite lonely. You have to have a lot of patience with yourself. I don't know if I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-wilson/i-don-t-know-about-writing-it-s-quite-lonely-you-have-to-have-a-lot/) [Ruth Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-wilson/) > [Inspiration comes from so many sources. Music, other fiction, the non-fiction I read, TV shows, films, news reports, people I know, stories I hear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trudi-canavan/inspiration-comes-from-so-many-sources-music-other-fiction-the-non/) [Trudi Canavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trudi-canavan/) > [You couldn't get me to go travel around and sit in a hotel room again. I have no interest in doing that. So everybody's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-everly/you-couldn-t-get-me-to-go-travel-around-and-sit-in-a-hotel-room-again/) [Phil Everly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-everly/) > [In theater, one of the biggest problems when you're rehearsing comedy over and over again is that you stop laughing at each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ashley-carter/in-theater-one-of-the-biggest-problems-when-you-re-rehearsing-comedy/) [Lauren Ashley Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ashley-carter/) > [I'd like to do some female roles again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron-mitchell/i-d-like-to-do-some-female-roles-again/) [John Cameron Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron-mitchell/) > [Death is a sniper. It strikes people you love, people you like, people you know - it's everywhere. You could be next. But then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/death-is-a-sniper-it-strikes-people-you-love-people-you-like-people/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [Well, a lot of our concerts do okay, and I know we still get royalty checks which still isn't that important, but again, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-johnston/well-a-lot-of-our-concerts-do-okay-and-i-know-we-still-get-royalty/) [Bruce Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-johnston/) > [Oh wow, you know what's wrong with all these families on TV? All these kids say stuff no kid would say. Stuff grown-ups want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macaulay-culkin/oh-wow-you-know-what-s-wrong-with-all-these-families-on-tv-all-these/) [Macaulay Culkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macaulay-culkin/) > [We must resist the temptation of once again turning America into the traditional bogeyman of the left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-napolitano/we-must-resist-the-temptation-of-once-again-turning-america-into-the/) [Giorgio Napolitano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-napolitano/) > [We won the Europa League in 2013 and it was an amazing night, an amazing feeling. I take those memories and think to myself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cahill/we-won-the-europa-league-in-2013-and-it-was-an-amazing-night-an/) [Gary Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cahill/) > [The coronavirus has yet again exposed the strong contrast between President Trump - who is working ardently for the American people - and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/the-coronavirus-has-yet-again-exposed-the-strong-contrast-between/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) [Browse all 2,975 Again quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/again/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Never tackle, never go down, we've heard it over and over again. You have to try to keep Messi away from the goal and block him with multiple players while being as close to him as possible. He is too quick, too fast, too intense with the ball.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Per Mertesacker" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/never-tackle-never-go-down-we-ve-heard-it-over-and-over-again-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Again" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/never-tackle-never-go-down-we-ve-heard-it-over-and-over-again-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f8/per-mertesacker-6549_again_never-tackle-never-go-down-we-ve-heard-i_2233566.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f8/per-mertesacker-6549_again_never-tackle-never-go-down-we-ve-heard-i_2233566.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f8/per-mertesacker-6549_again_never-tackle-never-go-down-we-ve-heard-i_2233566.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Never tackle, never go down, we've heard it over and over again. You have to try to keep Messi away from the…” — Per Mertesacker", "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": "Per Mertesacker", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Never tackle, never go down, we've...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/never-tackle-never-go-down-we-ve-heard-it-over-and-over-again-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/never-tackle-never-go-down-we-ve-heard-it-over-and-over-again-you/#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 } } ] } ```