Robin van Persie: I used to make excuses, but not anymore
Written by Renzo on May 13, 2011 – 4:45
Arsenal and Holland striker Robin van Persie confessed a player will never improve if he is not honest with himself.
Speaking to Arsenal TV Online, the Dutchman explained that when he was young he used to make excuses to justify below-par performances just to feel better but as he grew up and became more mature he started to be more aware of where he can improve his game.
The 27-year old continued by saying that analysing mistakes is not just part of the game but also an important element in life as it helps you improve and give everything.
van Persie concluded by saying that it’s no use lying to yourself adding that sometimes you have to be hard with yourself and also with those around you, always keeping one target in mind: to be a winner.
On his winning mentality, the striker said:
I used to make excuses here and there just to give myself a better feeling about my own performance, for example. That’s what has changed, because I’m the first one who knows if I had a good or bad game.
I’m the first one who tells myself. In general, in any sort of business you do, ask yourself a question, “What did you give? Did you give everything? Did you play well” and then look at the situations, that’s the only way to improve.
If you lie to yourself when are you going to improve, what’s the point to lie? You need to be honest to yourself, be hard sometimes, for yourself and sometimes for others around you as well.
But with one target in your head: being a winner, that’s the end result but to achieve that you need to really honest with yourself.
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I believe Wenger knows it better, it’s just the situation he was put in with the move to the new stadium…etc. He had NO other way but to adopt to something special that will at least keep Arsenal near the top and that have happened. IWenger probably hasn’t been too honest publicly about his team the past few years, but can you find me a single manager that does otherwise?