--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I got the ball in the reserves…" description: "\"When I got the ball in the reserves, within two touches I would turn and look to attack my opponent, whereas in the first team, I was trying for the sa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e96/raheem-sterling-10410_basics_when-i-got-the-ball-in-the-reserves-with_1022494.jpg" --- # When I got the ball in the reserves, within two touches I… ![“When I got the ball in the reserves, within two touches I would turn and look to attack my opponent, whereas in the first team, I was trying for the safer option. I needed to go back to basics. I needed to get defenders on the back foot again.” quote by Raheem Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e96/raheem-sterling-10410_basics_when-i-got-the-ball-in-the-reserves-with_1022494.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e96/raheem-sterling-10410_basics_when-i-got-the-ball-in-the-reserves-with_1022494.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e96/raheem-sterling-10410_basics_when-i-got-the-ball-in-the-reserves-with_1022494.jpg) > “When I got the ball in the reserves, within two touches I would turn and look to attack my opponent, whereas in the first team, I was trying for the safer option. I needed to go back to basics. I needed to get defenders on the back foot again.” [Raheem Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-sterling/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He realized he had become overly cautious in higher‑level play and needed to return to fundamentals to pressure opponents. **In simple terms:** He needed to simplify and be more aggressive. Key Takeaway Return to basics and trust instincts. Themes confidence risk development Mood determined focused Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - match play - training sessions - coaching meetings Key Concepts football tactics psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance safety and aggression? - What basics can you rediscover? A Different Perspective Higher competition may demand more nuanced decision‑making. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attack Opponent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attack-opponent-1280969/) [Basics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basics/) [Defenders Foot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defenders-foot-2288035/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Got Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-ball-236592/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Opponent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opponent/) [Reserves Touches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reserves-touches-2288034/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [The more you attack, the more your opponent will make mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcelo-garcia/the-more-you-attack-the-more-your-opponent-will-make-mistakes/) [Marcelo Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcelo-garcia/) > [“I don't like people who attack when their opponent's back's turned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/i-don-t-like-people-who-attack-when-their-opponent-s-back-s-turned/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [Never be too eager to attack your opponent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-be-too-eager-to-attack-your-opponent/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Offensively, you do what you do best and you do it again and again. Defensively, you attack your opponent's strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/offensively-you-do-what-you-do-best-and-you-do-it-again-and-again/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [The height of strategy, is to attack your opponent's strategy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-height-of-strategy-is-to-attack-your-opponent-s-strategy/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [When you've got the ball 65-70% of the time, it's a football death for the other team...It's death by football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-rodgers/when-you-ve-got-the-ball-65-70-of-the-time-it-s-a-football-death-for/) [Brendan Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-rodgers/) > [Shots were open for me and my teammates got the ball to me. It wasn't anything that I did, we just executed well and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twiggy-mcintyre/shots-were-open-for-me-and-my-teammates-got-the-ball-to-me-it-wasn-t/) [Twiggy McIntyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twiggy-mcintyre/) > [You've got to be on the ball from the minute you step out into that spotlight. You gotta know exactly what you're doing every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sinatra/you-ve-got-to-be-on-the-ball-from-the-minute-you-step-out-into-that/) [Frank Sinatra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sinatra/) > [To win, you've got to put the ball in the macramé.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mcguire/to-win-you-ve-got-to-put-the-ball-in-the-macram/) [Terry McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mcguire/) > [You got the ball in your hands and you're in command, and if you get your good pitch where you want it, nobody's gonna…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-gooden/you-got-the-ball-in-your-hands-and-you-re-in-command-and-if-you-get/) [Dwight Gooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-gooden/) > [If you ain't got the ball, you can't shoot the ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses-malone/if-you-ain-t-got-the-ball-you-can-t-shoot-the-ball/) [Moses Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses-malone/) > [At Huddersfield we were never in a rush when we played the big teams. The more time they've got with the ball, the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mooy/at-huddersfield-we-were-never-in-a-rush-when-we-played-the-big-teams/) [Aaron Mooy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mooy/) > [As kids, we were used to playing football with anything that we managed to kick and whenever we got a ball, it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-jay-okocha/as-kids-we-were-used-to-playing-football-with-anything-that-we/) [Jay-Jay Okocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-jay-okocha/) > [At one point, Mane approached me and told me, 'Hi man, these guys do not want to pass the ball to me, can the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-wanyama/at-one-point-mane-approached-me-and-told-me-hi-man-these-guys-do-not/) [Victor Wanyama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-wanyama/) > [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/) ## More by Raheem Sterling > [I am not saying I don't think I'm good, but I'm not the type of player to have an ego or big myself up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-sterling/i-am-not-saying-i-don-t-think-i-m-good-but-i-m-not-the-type-of-player/) [Raheem Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-sterling/) > [I had a rough year, my first year at Man City, a big club for a big transfer fee. There was a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-sterling/i-had-a-rough-year-my-first-year-at-man-city-a-big-club-for-a-big/) [Raheem Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-sterling/) > [I'm trying to make the box, trying to be more ruthless, more clinical, and trying to decide games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-sterling/i-m-trying-to-make-the-box-trying-to-be-more-ruthless-more-clinical/) [Raheem Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-sterling/) > [Footballers need to be aware kids look up to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-sterling/footballers-need-to-be-aware-kids-look-up-to-them/) [Raheem Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-sterling/) > [It's never been about money. I talk about winning trophies throughout my career. That's all I talk about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-sterling/it-s-never-been-about-money-i-talk-about-winning-trophies-throughout/) [Raheem Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-sterling/) > [I still remember not scoring against United. You always want to score in the big games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-sterling/i-still-remember-not-scoring-against-united-you-always-want-to-score/) [Raheem Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-sterling/) > [I've learned how to deal with pressure more. I'm still trying to achieve more in my game and add more to it. I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-sterling/i-ve-learned-how-to-deal-with-pressure-more-i-m-still-trying-to/) [Raheem Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-sterling/) > [A better goals-to-game ratio is the aim for me now. If you score goals, you will get people talking about you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-sterling/a-better-goals-to-game-ratio-is-the-aim-for-me-now-if-you-score-goals/) [Raheem Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-sterling/) > [When I used to dribble, I'd be on the wing, and I'd control it with the outside of my foot - it slows the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-sterling/when-i-used-to-dribble-i-d-be-on-the-wing-and-i-d-control-it-with-the/) [Raheem Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-sterling/) > [I try to get better in every aspect of my life, not just on the football field. I am competitive, and I just want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-sterling/i-try-to-get-better-in-every-aspect-of-my-life-not-just-on-the/) [Raheem Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-sterling/) > [Something good happens or something bad, I think, 'What can I do better? What didn't I do this year?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-sterling/something-good-happens-or-something-bad-i-think-what-can-i-do-better/) [Raheem Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-sterling/) > [I just don't like losing, I don't like losing, full stop. Even if it's at FIFA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-sterling/i-just-don-t-like-losing-i-don-t-like-losing-full-stop-even-if-it-s/) [Raheem Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-sterling/) > [I don't talk about how many cars I'm going to drive, how many houses I've got. I just purely want to be the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-sterling/i-don-t-talk-about-how-many-cars-i-m-going-to-drive-how-many-houses-i/) [Raheem Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-sterling/) > [If I lose the ball, I want to get on it as quickly as possible and make up for it, whereas before, I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-sterling/if-i-lose-the-ball-i-want-to-get-on-it-as-quickly-as-possible-and/) [Raheem Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-sterling/) > [It's always an honor to put on an England shirt, but this one is different - it makes you really feel fast; plus, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-sterling/it-s-always-an-honor-to-put-on-an-england-shirt-but-this-one-is/) [Raheem Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-sterling/) [Explore all 66 Raheem Sterling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-sterling/) ## More Basics quotes > [Play small ball. Get back to basics. I would say that you need to be a conservative, but you need to maintain your independent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-tantaros/play-small-ball-get-back-to-basics-i-would-say-that-you-need-to-be-a/) [Andrea Tantaros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-tantaros/) > [I learned tabla for three years when in school, then started picking up the basics of the acoustic guitar when in college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anupam-roy/i-learned-tabla-for-three-years-when-in-school-then-started-picking/) [Anupam Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anupam-roy/) > [The only way you can stay on top is to remember to touch bottom and get back to basics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-black/the-only-way-you-can-stay-on-top-is-to-remember-to-touch-bottom-and/) [Shane Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-black/) > [To succeed, you will soon learn, as I did, the importance of a solid foundation in the basics of education - literacy, both verbal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/to-succeed-you-will-soon-learn-as-i-did-the-importance-of-a-solid/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [I see film as a real opportunity to examine the human condition. No matter where the technology goes in the future, the basics don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-schultz/i-see-film-as-a-real-opportunity-to-examine-the-human-condition-no/) [Michael Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-schultz/) > [Sometimes we think that the more expensive brands will be more effective. Sometimes if you stick to the basics, that's what really matters. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pia-wurtzbach/sometimes-we-think-that-the-more-expensive-brands-will-be-more/) [Pia Wurtzbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pia-wurtzbach/) > [As hundreds of millions of Chinese have improved their standard of living, this has put enormous pressure on natural resources, raw materials, and food…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lubetzky/as-hundreds-of-millions-of-chinese-have-improved-their-standard-of/) [Daniel Lubetzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-lubetzky/) > [Move quickly. Sound, calm mind. Be light in body. Have a clever mind. Master the basics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gogen-yamaguchi/move-quickly-sound-calm-mind-be-light-in-body-have-a-clever-mind/) [Gogen Yamaguchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gogen-yamaguchi/) > [After almost exactly three hours, we rolled into a small hole of a town that had one traffic light and a resturant simply marked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/after-almost-exactly-three-hours-we-rolled-into-a-small-hole-of-a/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [When you're a dancer, you start with the basics. You don't all of a sudden do a grand jete and pirouette. You start with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/when-you-re-a-dancer-you-start-with-the-basics-you-don-t-all-of-a/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [There are huge misconceptions about people on benefits. They are labelled scroungers or cheats. The reality is that many who need that level of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-paphitis/there-are-huge-misconceptions-about-people-on-benefits-they-are/) [Theo Paphitis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-paphitis/) > [It's just lovely to be involved in a movie that does go back to the basics - characters and great writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-owen/it-s-just-lovely-to-be-involved-in-a-movie-that-does-go-back-to-the/) [Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/) > [“When life gets confusing, go back to the basics. The rest is noise!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-shelasky/when-life-gets-confusing-go-back-to-the-basics-the-rest-is-noise/) [Alyssa Shelasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-shelasky/) > [We have to stick to basics. Sometimes, you expect that miracles will happen, but it does not work out that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahid-afridi/we-have-to-stick-to-basics-sometimes-you-expect-that-miracles-will/) [Shahid Afridi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahid-afridi/) > [I don't think that you can write music if you don't know how to play an instrument. You have to know the basics, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alber-elbaz/i-don-t-think-that-you-can-write-music-if-you-don-t-know-how-to-play/) [Alber Elbaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alber-elbaz/) [Browse all 345 Basics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basics/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I got the ball in the reserves, within two touches I would turn and look to attack my opponent, whereas in the first team, I was trying for the safer option. I needed to go back to basics. I needed to get defenders on the back foot again.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Raheem Sterling" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-sterling/when-i-got-the-ball-in-the-reserves-within-two-touches-i-would-turn/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Basics" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-sterling/when-i-got-the-ball-in-the-reserves-within-two-touches-i-would-turn/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e96/raheem-sterling-10410_basics_when-i-got-the-ball-in-the-reserves-with_1022494.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e96/raheem-sterling-10410_basics_when-i-got-the-ball-in-the-reserves-with_1022494.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e96/raheem-sterling-10410_basics_when-i-got-the-ball-in-the-reserves-with_1022494.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I got the ball in the reserves, within two touches I would turn and look to attack my opponent, whereas…” — Raheem Sterling", "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": "Raheem Sterling", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-sterling/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I got the ball in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-sterling/when-i-got-the-ball-in-the-reserves-within-two-touches-i-would-turn/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-sterling/when-i-got-the-ball-in-the-reserves-within-two-touches-i-would-turn/#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 } } ] } ```