--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I saw Iker play at the beginning…" description: "\"When I saw Iker play at the beginning, what most caught my attention is that a goalkeeper of 18 could stand the pressure of the Bernabeu. He had to be ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/696/thibaut-courtois-9556_attention_when-i-saw-iker-play-at-the-beginning-wh_2125035.jpg" --- # When I saw Iker play at the beginning, what most caught my… ![“When I saw Iker play at the beginning, what most caught my attention is that a goalkeeper of 18 could stand the pressure of the Bernabeu. He had to be very strong.” quote by Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/696/thibaut-courtois-9556_attention_when-i-saw-iker-play-at-the-beginning-wh_2125035.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/696/thibaut-courtois-9556_attention_when-i-saw-iker-play-at-the-beginning-wh_2125035.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/696/thibaut-courtois-9556_attention_when-i-saw-iker-play-at-the-beginning-wh_2125035.jpg) > “When I saw Iker play at the beginning, what most caught my attention is that a goalkeeper of 18 could stand the pressure of the Bernabeu. He had to be very strong.” [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Young talent can handle immense pressure with mental strength. **In simple terms:** Youth can thrive under high stakes. Key Takeaway Develop mental resilience early. Themes sports pressure growth Mood determined inspiring Type motivational psychological When to use this quote - professional football - high‑stakes competitions - training camps Key Concepts psychology of performance youth development Questions to Reflect On - How do young athletes build confidence? - What role does mentorship play? A Different Perspective Pressure may overwhelm without support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Attention Goalkeeper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention-goalkeeper-4353895/) [Bernabeu Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bernabeu-strong-4353893/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Goalkeeper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goalkeeper/) [Goalkeeper 18](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goalkeeper-18-4353892/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Pressure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pressure/) [Pressure Bernabeu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pressure-bernabeu-4353894/) ## Related quotes > [As a goalkeeper, you want to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/as-a-goalkeeper-you-want-to-play/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [It is difficult to begin with Atletico, because there is pressure from the fans, because they are accustomed to a very good goalkeeper, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/it-is-difficult-to-begin-with-atletico-because-there-is-pressure-from/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [It's one of my stronger points claiming high balls. I'm tall, so that helps me. If you're a smaller goalkeeper, crosses in England are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/it-s-one-of-my-stronger-points-claiming-high-balls-i-m-tall-so-that/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [The weakest point is between the legs for a goalkeeper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/the-weakest-point-is-between-the-legs-for-a-goalkeeper/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [I think a goalkeeper has to participate at the back of the defence and come off the line to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/i-think-a-goalkeeper-has-to-participate-at-the-back-of-the-defence/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [Penalty shoot-outs are the most high-pressure situation that a goalkeeper will face, and in a World Cup, it's even worse because the stakes are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schmeichel/penalty-shoot-outs-are-the-most-high-pressure-situation-that-a/) [Peter Schmeichel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schmeichel/) > [As a goalkeeper you need to be good at organising the people in front of you and motivating them. You need to see what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shilton/as-a-goalkeeper-you-need-to-be-good-at-organising-the-people-in-front/) [Peter Shilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shilton/) > [The goalkeeper also should not be the one with the most contact on the ball. In almost every league and every country, the goalkeeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralf-rangnick/the-goalkeeper-also-should-not-be-the-one-with-the-most-contact-on/) [Ralf Rangnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralf-rangnick/) > [I played handball up until I joined United, both as a goalkeeper and an outfield player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schmeichel/i-played-handball-up-until-i-joined-united-both-as-a-goalkeeper-and/) [Peter Schmeichel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schmeichel/) > [I'm not the sort of person who poses in their underwear. I hate the red carpet. I prefer the green grass. After the games…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-neuer/i-m-not-the-sort-of-person-who-poses-in-their-underwear-i-hate-the/) [Manuel Neuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-neuer/) > [I want to become the best goalkeeper in the country and the best goalkeeper around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-butland/i-want-to-become-the-best-goalkeeper-in-the-country-and-the-best/) [Jack Butland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-butland/) > [I have played as a goalkeeper since I was six but I always worked on my ball skills, playing with my foot, knowing how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudio-bravo/i-have-played-as-a-goalkeeper-since-i-was-six-but-i-always-worked-on/) [Claudio Bravo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudio-bravo/) > [If a defender has the ball and turns, we start pressing the goalkeeper before he passes back because if they make a mistake, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demba-ba/if-a-defender-has-the-ball-and-turns-we-start-pressing-the-goalkeeper/) [Demba Ba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demba-ba/) > [Top of my wishlist is to play for a club that wants me to be their goalkeeper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hart/top-of-my-wishlist-is-to-play-for-a-club-that-wants-me-to-be-their/) [Joe Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hart/) > [I can play in any position except goalkeeper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-alcantara/i-can-play-in-any-position-except-goalkeeper/) [Thiago Alcantara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-alcantara/) ## More by Thibaut Courtois > [I think a goalkeeper has to participate at the back of the defence and come off the line to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/i-think-a-goalkeeper-has-to-participate-at-the-back-of-the-defence/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [The Premier League is different to Spain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/the-premier-league-is-different-to-spain/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [When I left Spain, I had it very clear in my mind that I would return one day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/when-i-left-spain-i-had-it-very-clear-in-my-mind-that-i-would-return/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [Everybody wants to play in Europe, and if you're in the rhythm of playing a game every three or four days, sometimes you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/everybody-wants-to-play-in-europe-and-if-you-re-in-the-rhythm-of/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [It's a great feeling to be champion of Spain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/it-s-a-great-feeling-to-be-champion-of-spain/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [At first sight, Shane Long is just a short striker, but he's good in the air; he's quick, very dangerous, has good feet, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/at-first-sight-shane-long-is-just-a-short-striker-but-he-s-good-in/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [If the coach on the sidelines is not that strong, transmitting the kind of spirit he has, players won't always handle it well. Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/if-the-coach-on-the-sidelines-is-not-that-strong-transmitting-the/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [When you get injured for a long time, it's not nice because you are out of the team and not involved anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/when-you-get-injured-for-a-long-time-it-s-not-nice-because-you-are/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [When I came to England, everyone told me that I'd get the hits, so I was prepared for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/when-i-came-to-england-everyone-told-me-that-i-d-get-the-hits-so-i/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [Madrid and London are great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/madrid-and-london-are-great/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [My first days in London were not easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/my-first-days-in-london-were-not-easy/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [Everyone knows how much and how hard we train. If I hope to continue goalkeeping until I am 36 or 37, then you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/everyone-knows-how-much-and-how-hard-we-train-if-i-hope-to-continue/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [It is a childhood dream to be in the World Cup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/it-is-a-childhood-dream-to-be-in-the-world-cup/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [Nobody is guaranteed to be a starter; thinking that would be a mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/nobody-is-guaranteed-to-be-a-starter-thinking-that-would-be-a-mistake/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [I have the biggest respect for Petr Cech. He is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, so I think putting him and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/i-have-the-biggest-respect-for-petr-cech-he-is-one-of-the-best/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) [Explore all 72 Thibaut Courtois quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I saw Iker play at the beginning, what most caught my attention is that a goalkeeper of 18 could stand the pressure of the Bernabeu. 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