Player Psychology Quotes

I don't think enough players channel the energy of the crowd. If it's done properly, and you don't let anger overwhelm and distract you, it's like a shot of adrenaline in the arm, and it gets the crowd pumped up.

I have the mindset of a coach. I have to think, what would a coach think? How would a coach feel if I'm playing a guy a certain way?

There are a few players who don't like to think about the game.

I will never demand to be traded. Because if I do, then I'm at fault, I'm the bad guy, I'm the crybaby, I'm immature.

This was how Johan Cruyff worked. He was demanding a lot, but when you got there, and you were in his team, he was an incredible protector. He would push and push you, and then he would protect you. He was a master at handling players. He knew when you needed to be pushed or protected.

I played Zidane throughout my career, and for many players you reach a point where you learn lessons on how to handle them. But from the first match I played against him to the last, Zidane would find different ways to beat me.

The knockout games of a major tournament are when you see players' true characters.

I'm OK with having a really good football player with a chip on his shoulder because he's going to come to prove to not only the people that didn't draft him, but himself, that I'm a pretty good football player.

It's not just about talent. It's about having players with good mentality.

The era of playing aggressive cricket and to have the mid-on up is gone. You now try to read the mindset of a batsman.

In terms of playing ability there is nothing to choose between number one and 100. Instead, it's a question of who believes and who wants it more? Which player is mentally stronger? Which player is going to fight the hardest in the big points? These are the things that determine who is the champion.

We have a psychologist at Chelsea who goes around seeing the loan players. He said every top, top player has a dark side. So someone like Diego Costa sometimes oversteps the mark. But you can see he plays on the edge. He said I had to develop that. It's not natural for me to be like that.

Cricket is 90-95 per cent mental. To score runs, you've got to feel good about yourself.

Mentally, starting the game versus coming off the bench, there are different vibes.

If there is one thing that all players have in common it is that winning, competitive gene; the ability to overcome obstacles and fight for what you want from your career.

The best thing I've ever heard another player say is, 'I hate playing against you.'

I think, at the end of the day, when you hear the same voice all the time, it goes in one ear and out the other when you're a player.

As someone who has carved out a career in this league by making winning plays, being tough on defense and just generally doing the dirty work for my team, I always hesitate to say any player is unguardable. I just hate that term.

The first time I played against Seattle was the only time I felt destroyed. Vin Baker just manhandled me. The whole thing, their double teams, their movement, everything. I must've had eight turnovers. Which isn't a big deal for me because I turn the ball over a lot.

The difference between players is not always the quality but their mentality.

Randy Wittman told me not to shoot 3-pointers. That got me very uncomfortable. There were certain labels tagged on me very early in my career, spots on the floor where I felt uncomfortable.

If you try to give them a scheme, most hitters will rebel.

The fans just see what's going on on the field, but there's a lot more that goes into it behind the scenes.

Confidence? Are you kidding me? I mean, please. Look, some players grow up and play like that. I remember losing junior matches. Just being down 5-2 in the third, and they all just start slapping shots.

To have harmony on a team, you need a coach who can get inside the head of every player and get them all pulling in one direction.