QuoteProject
We have to cut out some of our mistakes, but the main thing in English football is controlling the second ball. Without that, you cannot survive.
Pep Guardiola
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Controlling the second ball is crucial for success in football, as it allows a team to maintain possession and create opportunities.

Pep Guardiola emphasizes the importance of managing the second ball in football, which is the ball that comes loose after the initial play. This control is vital for any team's survival and success on the field, as it allows players to dictate the pace of the game and capitalize on opportunities, demonstrating the need for both skillful execution and strategic positioning.

Themes

FootballSecond BallControlSuccessStrategy

In practice

Example use cases

Using this quote during a sports coaching seminar to stress the importance of possession in football.

More from Pep Guardiola

People talk about tactics, but when you look at it, tactics are just players. You change things so that the team can get the most out of the skills they have to offer, but you don't go any further than that.
Pep GuardiolaRead
In football, the worst things are excuses. Excuses mean you cannot grow or move forward.
Pep GuardiolaRead
Maybe Klopp is the best manager in the world at creating teams who attack the back four with so many players, from almost anywhere on the pitch. They have an intensity with the ball and without the ball, and it is not easy to do that.
Pep GuardiolaRead
Put in the superlatives yourselves, I'm running out. It's already been a while now that he has been outstanding. He's more than decisive in every way. That he's capable of doing everything that he does at his age is something impressive, that doesn't make any sense.
Pep GuardiolaRead
If you want to win, you have to beat the big teams in Europe, and Juventus are awesome.
Pep GuardiolaRead
There are teams that wait for you and teams that look for you: Espanyol look for you. I feel very close to their style of football.
Pep GuardiolaRead

Similar quotes

On the best tactic when playing alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar- Just give him the ball.
Magic JohnsonRead
Sports are a great place to show that equality can happen.
Venus WilliamsRead
The glory of sport is witnessing a well-coached team perform as a single unit, striving for a common goal and ultimately bringing distinction to the jersey the players represent.
Dick VitaleRead
Basketball may have been invented in Massachusetts, but it was made for Indiana.
Bobby KnightRead
I think I could describe the perfect quarterback. Take a little piece of everybody. Take John Elway's arm, Dan Marino's release, maybe Troy Aikman's drop-back, Brett Favre's scrambling ability, Joe Montana's two-minute poise and, naturally, my speed.
Peyton ManningRead
And a pick and roll in the women's game is a pick and roll on the men's game... I mean, character, working for each other - trusting your teammates. That stuff, that's universal.
Becky HammonRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.