--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't have an easy path through the…" description: "\"I didn't have an easy path through the national team, especially in the youth.\" — Weston McKennie" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/weston-mckennie-6693_easy_i-didn-t-have-an-easy-path-through-the-n_153035.jpg" --- # I didn't have an easy path through the national team… ![“I didn't have an easy path through the national team, especially in the youth.” quote by Weston McKennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/weston-mckennie-6693_easy_i-didn-t-have-an-easy-path-through-the-n_153035.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/weston-mckennie-6693_easy_i-didn-t-have-an-easy-path-through-the-n_153035.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/weston-mckennie-6693_easy_i-didn-t-have-an-easy-path-through-the-n_153035.jpg) > “I didn't have an easy path through the national team, especially in the youth.” [Weston McKennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weston-mckennie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Overcoming obstacles in elite sports requires perseverance and resilience, especially early on. **In simple terms:** Hard work and persistence are needed to succeed in top-level sports. Key Takeaway Stay resilient despite early challenges. Themes sports perseverance career development Mood determined reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - youth training - national team selection - injury recovery - mental toughness Key Concepts resilience growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - What personal habits helped you push through early setbacks? - How can you support teammates facing similar hurdles? A Different Perspective Success may still be limited by systemic biases. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Didn Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-easy-1698286/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Especially Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/especially-youth-589191/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [National](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national/) [National team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-team/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Team Especially](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team-especially-1698285/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [I always look forward to playing for my national team, especially at a major tournament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luka-modric/i-always-look-forward-to-playing-for-my-national-team-especially-at-a/) [Luka Modric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luka-modric/) > [People ask if success changes one overnight. I am just doing my job, and I worked way too hard to get here. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakul-preet-singh/people-ask-if-success-changes-one-overnight-i-am-just-doing-my-job/) [Rakul Preet Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakul-preet-singh/) > [Roc Nation is such an incredible, unique team, especially in the music industry. Everyone genuinely loves and cares about each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-ora/roc-nation-is-such-an-incredible-unique-team-especially-in-the-music/) [Rita Ora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-ora/) > [When you come to a new team, especially in the middle of the season, you don't want to come in and be ball dominant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-beverley/when-you-come-to-a-new-team-especially-in-the-middle-of-the-season/) [Patrick Beverley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-beverley/) > [Even when I played at Newcastle my mam and dad didn't give me an easy time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-carroll/even-when-i-played-at-newcastle-my-mam-and-dad-didn-t-give-me-an-easy/) [Andy Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-carroll/) > [When you beat a team so often - especially like this season when Chelsea had already lost three times to us - you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-bergkamp/when-you-beat-a-team-so-often-especially-like-this-season-when/) [Dennis Bergkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-bergkamp/) > [“It says a lot about you that you didn't take the easy option. It's easy to blame other people. It's far harder to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-osborne/it-says-a-lot-about-you-that-you-didn-t-take-the-easy-option-it-s/) [Bella Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-osborne/) > [In Brazil, I didn't have it easy growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robinho/in-brazil-i-didn-t-have-it-easy-growing-up/) [Robinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robinho/) > [For passion, be it observed, brings insight with it; it can give a sort of intelligence to simpletons, fools, and idiots, especially during youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/for-passion-be-it-observed-brings-insight-with-it-it-can-give-a-sort/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [In general - especially in my youth - I was a bit wild.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-meade/in-general-especially-in-my-youth-i-was-a-bit-wild/) [Emily Meade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-meade/) > [Not less, but more democracy - that is the demand, that is the great goal that we have to prescribe for ourselves, and especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustav-heinemann/not-less-but-more-democracy-that-is-the-demand-that-is-the-great-goal/) [Gustav Heinemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustav-heinemann/) > [We should integrate the quality of ex-players at the highest level more in football, especially in the youth sector. That is absolutely crucial for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ballack/we-should-integrate-the-quality-of-ex-players-at-the-highest-level/) [Michael Ballack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ballack/) > [My family and I love Sacramento and this community and it means a great deal to us to be able to give back and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domantas-sabonis/my-family-and-i-love-sacramento-and-this-community-and-it-means-a/) [Domantas Sabonis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domantas-sabonis/) > [Saint John Paul II, pray for us and especially for our youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/saint-john-paul-ii-pray-for-us-and-especially-for-our-youth/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I'm here to save someone. I really want to help other people, especially the youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-milian/i-m-here-to-save-someone-i-really-want-to-help-other-people/) [Christina Milian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-milian/) ## More by Weston McKennie > [I thought I wasn't going to have a career, because I was told I wasn't good enough. So my journey with the national team…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weston-mckennie/i-thought-i-wasn-t-going-to-have-a-career-because-i-was-told-i-wasn-t/) [Weston McKennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weston-mckennie/) > [I've always stayed true to myself. I've always been my outgoing and outspoken self, and just a funny guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weston-mckennie/i-ve-always-stayed-true-to-myself-i-ve-always-been-my-outgoing-and/) [Weston McKennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weston-mckennie/) > [Every voice matters, no matter how big or how small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weston-mckennie/every-voice-matters-no-matter-how-big-or-how-small/) [Weston McKennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weston-mckennie/) > [I'm from Dallas, I have to speak Spanish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weston-mckennie/i-m-from-dallas-i-have-to-speak-spanish/) [Weston McKennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weston-mckennie/) > [When you're in the zone, you're in the zone and on the field, you're in your own little world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weston-mckennie/when-you-re-in-the-zone-you-re-in-the-zone-and-on-the-field-you-re-in/) [Weston McKennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weston-mckennie/) > [I left Schalke and went to Juventus and nobody knew me. Everyone doubted me. It's too big of a club. I'll never play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weston-mckennie/i-left-schalke-and-went-to-juventus-and-nobody-knew-me-everyone/) [Weston McKennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weston-mckennie/) > [You know what the problem is with Italian food? It's great, it's good specific food that you do very well, but in America if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weston-mckennie/you-know-what-the-problem-is-with-italian-food-it-s-great-it-s-good/) [Weston McKennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weston-mckennie/) > [If I have to take the consequences to express my opinion, to express my feelings, to stand up for what I believe in, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weston-mckennie/if-i-have-to-take-the-consequences-to-express-my-opinion-to-express/) [Weston McKennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weston-mckennie/) > [It's a big opportunity to be the first American player in the history of Juventus. Having the opportunity to wear this shirt, representing my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weston-mckennie/it-s-a-big-opportunity-to-be-the-first-american-player-in-the-history/) [Weston McKennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weston-mckennie/) > [Obviously, none of us take for granted playing for the national team. None of us want to lose games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weston-mckennie/obviously-none-of-us-take-for-granted-playing-for-the-national-team/) [Weston McKennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weston-mckennie/) > [Of course, maybe some people don't agree with it, but that's their opinion and for me, I felt like it was my duty and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weston-mckennie/of-course-maybe-some-people-don-t-agree-with-it-but-that-s-their/) [Weston McKennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weston-mckennie/) > [Soccer's a funny sport. You never know. You might find a last-place team beating a first-place team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weston-mckennie/soccer-s-a-funny-sport-you-never-know-you-might-find-a-last-place/) [Weston McKennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weston-mckennie/) > [Honestly, I get advice from everyone. And I'm like no problem, tell me more. How I take it is, if they're criticizing me, one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weston-mckennie/honestly-i-get-advice-from-everyone-and-i-m-like-no-problem-tell-me/) [Weston McKennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weston-mckennie/) > [My routine in the locker room is to take a shower before the games most of the time, kind of like I'm preparing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weston-mckennie/my-routine-in-the-locker-room-is-to-take-a-shower-before-the-games/) [Weston McKennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weston-mckennie/) > [I'm not the egoist or anything. I'm not someone that's like, 'Oh, if I'm not playing this position, I don't want to play.' I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weston-mckennie/i-m-not-the-egoist-or-anything-i-m-not-someone-that-s-like-oh-if-i-m/) [Weston McKennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weston-mckennie/) [Explore all 98 Weston McKennie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weston-mckennie/) ## More Easy quotes > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [I don't want easy success. It's boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sudeep/i-don-t-want-easy-success-it-s-boring/) [Sudeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sudeep/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [she got a reputation for an easy smile and a sharp tongue, and using one to balance the other, she seemed friendly but distant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/she-got-a-reputation-for-an-easy-smile-and-a-sharp-tongue-and-using/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [People think that the Club World Cup is an easy competition, but it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keylor-navas/people-think-that-the-club-world-cup-is-an-easy-competition-but-it-s/) [Keylor Navas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keylor-navas/) > [New York is large, glamorous, easy-going, kindly and incurious, but above all it is a crucible - because it is large enough to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/new-york-is-large-glamorous-easy-going-kindly-and-incurious-but-above/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [Sometimes life can suck and not be fair ,but we have to deal with it,because we feel we cant do anything but,we can.We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-life-can-suck-and-not-be-fair-but-we-have-to-deal-with-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Mortals are such fragile things. Just tender feelings walking around exposed in their delicate shells...Easy to crush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-marr/mortals-are-such-fragile-things-just-tender-feelings-walking-around/) [Melissa Marr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-marr/) > [Certainly these are not easy times. But history does not contain very many easy times. Years from now, we will look back at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/certainly-these-are-not-easy-times-but-history-does-not-contain-very/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) > [I don't know why, but I'm an easy target. And I don't do anything to dispel it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-mcginley/i-don-t-know-why-but-i-m-an-easy-target-and-i-don-t-do-anything-to/) [Ted McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-mcginley/) > [I know that I'm going to have to work hard, keep working hard, and not because of this victory think, "I'm back." I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-clijsters/i-know-that-i-m-going-to-have-to-work-hard-keep-working-hard-and-not/) [Kim Clijsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-clijsters/) > [It's easy to make mistakes. It's living with the consequences of them that's the hardest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/it-s-easy-to-make-mistakes-it-s-living-with-the-consequences-of-them/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) [Browse all 14,306 Easy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I didn't have an easy path through the national team, especially in the youth.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Weston McKennie" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weston-mckennie/i-didn-t-have-an-easy-path-through-the-national-team-especially-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Easy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weston-mckennie/i-didn-t-have-an-easy-path-through-the-national-team-especially-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/weston-mckennie-6693_easy_i-didn-t-have-an-easy-path-through-the-n_153035.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/weston-mckennie-6693_easy_i-didn-t-have-an-easy-path-through-the-n_153035.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/weston-mckennie-6693_easy_i-didn-t-have-an-easy-path-through-the-n_153035.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I didn't have an easy path through the national team, especially in the youth.” — Weston McKennie", "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": "Weston McKennie", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weston-mckennie/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I didn't have an easy path...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weston-mckennie/i-didn-t-have-an-easy-path-through-the-national-team-especially-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weston-mckennie/i-didn-t-have-an-easy-path-through-the-national-team-especially-in/#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 } } ] } ```