Theo Epstein Quotes

Some of my competitors overlook the importance of knowing as much as possible about their opponents, but I think that it is an invaluable asset that I have gained from working.

Watching tape is key. I basically watch every game. It's the only way to break down your opponents.

Playing tricky poker doesn't have to mean making bizarre moves or playing way out of character. Rather, it's simply about taking advantage of what you know about your opponents and how they perceive your style of play.

At the beginning of the week, when we do our game planning, we look at the opponent and all the unique things they do.

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?

I used to have a log on every corner in the league, what their strengths and weaknesses are.

Scouting is important. You just want to know whom you are playing against and how to play them well within the team's defense.

Every time I go out there, I just try to find the weakness of my opponent and then use that to my advantage.

I was never the most technical; I was never the best at one aspect at this sport, but what I was always good as was negating people's strengths and putting them in terrible situations where they're uncomfortable.

Before I go up against the best forwards in the world - Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar - I study their strengths and weaknesses like an obsession, and then I plan how I am going to attack. My goal is to show the world that Dani Alves is on the same level.

You always have to put pressure on an opponent.

I try to exploit things against everybody; that's part of the game: beat the guy that guards me while you're beating their team.

I feel like I need to find ways to disrupt the other team and apply that pressure they might not be used to. I think being able to set that tone is something I'm priding myself on.

It is basic, serve at the weak point of your opponent.

I'm not a big guy that watches technique from my opponents. I try to do what I do best and hope that my stuff is better than their best stuff.

The more you play against teams and defenders, the more you get to know them. You know if they are more nervous; you know, on the pitch, people are different. I try to adapt to their character.

I work a little bit of slower, methodical pace. I'm able to implement certain different styles depending on who my opponent is.

Football is a game of errors. You want to make your rivals commit them and to avoid them yourself.

I just challenge the big guys and attack them, and use my quickness to my advantage.

It's not being disrespectful, but the less you know an opponent, the more work you have to do.

I thoroughly enjoy this profession and everything that goes into it - from improving your own guys and also the game-planning and studying the opponents. I enjoy that, I really do.

Teams are trying to get the advantage over the other team by what kind of reads we can get, how can we measure guys if they're tired - all these things.

Djokovic against Tsonga in 2008 is not the same as in 2010. He knows that I can play well and he knows that I can beat him if he's not at his best.

If any player in the world tells you he doesn't care about what the opponents do, he is lying.

Whenever I get matched up with a guy, I always look at who beat him and I've got to be better than those guys.