I’ve come across this question many times in my mind.

As a natural disclaimer, it is clearly different from age category to age category, but here I’m talking about performance, about adults Football.

Therefore, in the essence, the question is always: What does it mean the Coach to the player?

“The player will be thinking: ‘1.Can he make us winners? 2. Can he make me a better footballer? 3. Is he loyal to us?”

Sir Alex Ferguson

I found my answer, or my truth, through experience, but also from reading. 

I love reading, and specially biographies, because it has the power to give me an extract of many years of experience or research done on a defined theme. 

And my answer was found in the Sir Alex Ferguson biography, when he says: “The player will be thinking: ‘1.Can he make us winners? 2. Can he make me a better footballer? 3. Is he loyal to us?’ 

Then, Sir Alex Ferguson resumed that if the player answers “No” to one or 2 questions, you will hardly take the best out of him; if he answers “No” to the 3 of them you will not hold in that position for long-time, specially if it’s an idea that is throughout the squad. 

But the real power is if the players answer “Yes” to all of them.

This made so much sense to me at the time.

I remember I was still playing at the time – also starting my Coaching career – and I felt that I couldn’t trust the Coach.

And that impacted directly, not only me, but the entire squad and our results.

Then, I made a quick comparison with other previous coaches I had, and matched with the results or performances.

I knew I found my truth there on building my Coaching Philosophy, the way I wanted to do things.

Naturally, it doesn’t mean that you will win every match. 

However, this is the only way to play the long-game.

The game that will sustain your career.

What it meant to me?
Simply put, it installed triggers in my mind.

I have to be ready.

I have to create relationships. 

I have to add value.

I have to win.

This sentence was a gift that I had learn from Sir Alex Ferguson.

Hope it gives you the same clarity and sense to you too!