In sports, particularly soccer, having control over the ball more than your opponents can give you a significant advantage. However, merely possessing the ball is not enough; it's crucial to make effective and strategic plays with it to maintain this advantage and ultimately score goals.
The quote also has broader implications beyond just sports. It suggests that having resources or opportunities at your disposal is important but only valuable if you use them wisely and effectively. For example, in business or personal life, possessing more information than others is beneficial, but leveraging that knowledge to make informed decisions and take action is what truly drives success. Similarly, acquiring skills or assets without utilizing them efficiently can lead to missed opportunities.
Frank de Boer, the author of this quote, is a well-known former professional soccer player and current manager from the Netherlands. Throughout his career, he played for several top clubs and was also part of the Dutch national team. His extensive experience as both a player and coach makes his insights into strategy and effective play particularly insightful and valuable to those in sports and beyond.