--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No matter how much striking power you…" description: "\"No matter how much striking power you have got, you need to have a sense of defensive compactness from everyone.\" — Per Mertesacker" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/per-mertesacker-6549_everyone_no-matter-how-much-striking-power-you-ha_2117370.jpg" --- # No matter how much striking power you have got, you need… ![“No matter how much striking power you have got, you need to have a sense of defensive compactness from everyone.” quote by Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/per-mertesacker-6549_everyone_no-matter-how-much-striking-power-you-ha_2117370.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/per-mertesacker-6549_everyone_no-matter-how-much-striking-power-you-ha_2117370.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/per-mertesacker-6549_everyone_no-matter-how-much-striking-power-you-ha_2117370.jpg) > “No matter how much striking power you have got, you need to have a sense of defensive compactness from everyone.” [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 awareness is essential regardless of offensive strength; teamwork requires everyone to stay compact and protect each other. **In simple terms:** Even strong attackers need solid defense from all teammates. Key Takeaway Prioritize collective defensive positioning. Themes teamwork defense cooperation Mood focused strategic Type motivational instructional When to use this quote - football matches - training drills - team meetings - game analysis Key Concepts tactical awareness spatial discipline Questions to Reflect On - How can you train a team to maintain compactness under pressure? - What signals indicate a loss of defensive shape? A Different Perspective If a player overcommits, defensive compactness can still break down. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compactness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compactness-4302403/) [Defensive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defensive/) [Defensive Compactness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defensive-compactness-4302401/) [Everyone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everyone/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense/) [Sense Defensive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-defensive-4302402/) [Striking Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/striking-power-4302400/) ## Related quotes > [(Scottish Terriers) have all the compactness of a small dog and all the valor of a big one. And they are so exceedingly sturdy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/scottish-terriers-have-all-the-compactness-of-a-small-dog-and-all-the/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [Sometimes as a player you have a different view and you can't believe what we did as a defensive unit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/sometimes-as-a-player-you-have-a-different-view-and-you-can-t-believe/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) > [One of the turning points in the look of the Guardian is when we decided Logan Thackeray would be a Guardian as opposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-grubb/one-of-the-turning-points-in-the-look-of-the-guardian-is-when-we/) [Jeff Grubb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-grubb/) > [“Defense mechanisms protect us. Fortresses isolate us. And far too often we begin with the former and end up constructing the latter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/defense-mechanisms-protect-us-fortresses-isolate-us-and-far-too-often/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [The top coaches want wide strikers who cut inside. They want playmaking midfielders who can play between the lines as well as perform their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/the-top-coaches-want-wide-strikers-who-cut-inside-they-want/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [I've never just thought of myself as a defensive-only player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-g-anunoby/i-ve-never-just-thought-of-myself-as-a-defensive-only-player/) [O. G. Anunoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-g-anunoby/) > [“To switch effectively from defense to social engagement strategies, the nervous system must do two things: (1) assess risk, and (2) if the environment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-w-porges/to-switch-effectively-from-defense-to-social-engagement-strategies/) [Stephen W. Porges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-w-porges/) > [Iran has little capacity to deploy force. Its strategic doctrines are defensive, designed to deter invasion long enough for diplomacy to set it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/iran-has-little-capacity-to-deploy-force-its-strategic-doctrines-are/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I'm a coach who likes to have the ball, but what I really think is, 'How can you be in charge of the game?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nuno-espirito-santo/i-m-a-coach-who-likes-to-have-the-ball-but-what-i-really-think-is-how/) [Nuno Espirito Santo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nuno-espirito-santo/) > [You have to feel confident. If you don't, then you're going to be hesitant and defensive, and there'll be a lot of things working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/you-have-to-feel-confident-if-you-don-t-then-you-re-going-to-be/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [“I need to ask, are you afraid of spiders?" Nicholas blinked, suddenly caught off guard, "Yes, I'm afraid of spiders." "Were you always?" "What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-m-irwin/i-need-to-ask-are-you-afraid-of-spiders-nicholas-blinked-suddenly/) [Stephen M. Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-m-irwin/) > [Any time I'm healthy I feel like I'm the best defensive player in the NFL.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrann-mathieu/any-time-i-m-healthy-i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-defensive-player-in-the/) [Tyrann Mathieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrann-mathieu/) > [Before I signed for Liverpool, I was playing for Newcastle as a No. 10 - basically, I was always attacking. I didn't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georginio-wijnaldum/before-i-signed-for-liverpool-i-was-playing-for-newcastle-as-a-no-10/) [Georginio Wijnaldum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georginio-wijnaldum/) > [I have my meals delivered... you know what I like? Chicken and rice... But the problem with being a defensive lineman is, if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-douglas/i-have-my-meals-delivered-you-know-what-i-like-chicken-and-rice-but/) [Hugh Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-douglas/) > [Most people do surprisingly poorly when dealing with a relative who is hurting, depressed, or anxious - we get defensive and try to solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/most-people-do-surprisingly-poorly-when-dealing-with-a-relative-who/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) ## 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 Defensive quotes > [Most people do surprisingly poorly when dealing with a relative who is hurting, depressed, or anxious - we get defensive and try to solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/most-people-do-surprisingly-poorly-when-dealing-with-a-relative-who/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [I have my meals delivered... you know what I like? Chicken and rice... But the problem with being a defensive lineman is, if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-douglas/i-have-my-meals-delivered-you-know-what-i-like-chicken-and-rice-but/) [Hugh Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-douglas/) > [Before I signed for Liverpool, I was playing for Newcastle as a No. 10 - basically, I was always attacking. I didn't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georginio-wijnaldum/before-i-signed-for-liverpool-i-was-playing-for-newcastle-as-a-no-10/) [Georginio Wijnaldum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georginio-wijnaldum/) > [Any time I'm healthy I feel like I'm the best defensive player in the NFL.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrann-mathieu/any-time-i-m-healthy-i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-defensive-player-in-the/) [Tyrann Mathieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrann-mathieu/) > [“I need to ask, are you afraid of spiders?" Nicholas blinked, suddenly caught off guard, "Yes, I'm afraid of spiders." "Were you always?" "What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-m-irwin/i-need-to-ask-are-you-afraid-of-spiders-nicholas-blinked-suddenly/) [Stephen M. Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-m-irwin/) > [You have to feel confident. If you don't, then you're going to be hesitant and defensive, and there'll be a lot of things working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/you-have-to-feel-confident-if-you-don-t-then-you-re-going-to-be/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [I'm a coach who likes to have the ball, but what I really think is, 'How can you be in charge of the game?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nuno-espirito-santo/i-m-a-coach-who-likes-to-have-the-ball-but-what-i-really-think-is-how/) [Nuno Espirito Santo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nuno-espirito-santo/) > [Iran has little capacity to deploy force. Its strategic doctrines are defensive, designed to deter invasion long enough for diplomacy to set it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/iran-has-little-capacity-to-deploy-force-its-strategic-doctrines-are/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“To switch effectively from defense to social engagement strategies, the nervous system must do two things: (1) assess risk, and (2) if the environment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-w-porges/to-switch-effectively-from-defense-to-social-engagement-strategies/) [Stephen W. Porges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-w-porges/) > [I've never just thought of myself as a defensive-only player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-g-anunoby/i-ve-never-just-thought-of-myself-as-a-defensive-only-player/) [O. G. Anunoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-g-anunoby/) > [The top coaches want wide strikers who cut inside. They want playmaking midfielders who can play between the lines as well as perform their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/the-top-coaches-want-wide-strikers-who-cut-inside-they-want/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [“Defense mechanisms protect us. Fortresses isolate us. And far too often we begin with the former and end up constructing the latter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/defense-mechanisms-protect-us-fortresses-isolate-us-and-far-too-often/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [One of the turning points in the look of the Guardian is when we decided Logan Thackeray would be a Guardian as opposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-grubb/one-of-the-turning-points-in-the-look-of-the-guardian-is-when-we/) [Jeff Grubb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-grubb/) > [I'm a storyteller... I haves a God-given gift that I can share with you and perhaps entertain you and bring you along for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-sutter/i-m-a-storyteller-i-haves-a-god-given-gift-that-i-can-share-with-you/) [Kurt Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-sutter/) > [The beginning of everything is our defensive organisation. The clean sheet is always the first objective that we have in the game. Always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nuno-espirito-santo/the-beginning-of-everything-is-our-defensive-organisation-the-clean/) [Nuno Espirito Santo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nuno-espirito-santo/) [Browse all 394 Defensive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defensive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No matter how much striking power you have got, you need to have a sense of defensive compactness from everyone.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Per Mertesacker" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/no-matter-how-much-striking-power-you-have-got-you-need-to-have-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Defensive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/no-matter-how-much-striking-power-you-have-got-you-need-to-have-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/per-mertesacker-6549_everyone_no-matter-how-much-striking-power-you-ha_2117370.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/per-mertesacker-6549_everyone_no-matter-how-much-striking-power-you-ha_2117370.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/per-mertesacker-6549_everyone_no-matter-how-much-striking-power-you-ha_2117370.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No matter how much striking power you have got, you need to have a sense of defensive compactness from…” — 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": "No matter how much striking power...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/no-matter-how-much-striking-power-you-have-got-you-need-to-have-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/no-matter-how-much-striking-power-you-have-got-you-need-to-have-a/#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 } } ] } ```