Confidence is contagious

Former Green Bay Packers Football Coach Vince Lombardi was once quoted as saying 'Confidence is contagious and so is a lack of confidence'. When listening to the managers and key players from the English Premier League's top teams, it is easy to see that confidence is a key component in their success.

After Liverpool recorded their biggest victory at Old Trafford since 1936, Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez stressed the level of belief his side has at the moment.

"We have beaten Real Madrid and Manchester United in the same week," observed the Liverpool boss. "If we can beat them, we can beat anybody."

He added: "Realistically, we have to win all of our games. But part of winning the war is winning football matches."

"We have more belief and more confidence now. It will be difficult but we can do it."

http://www.givemefootball.com/premier-league/benitez-we-must-win-every-battle


Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson uses a squad rotation system where players are regularly rotated in and out of the lineup, and where it offers the opportunity to keep key players fresh and promotes great depth, there is always potential for players who are not regularly performing to be dissatisfied. Ferguson has done a good job of getting the required 'buy in' from his players, and credits their tremendous attitude and belief in his system.

"The attitude of the players has been marvellous, especially when it comes to the business of being left out," said Ferguson. "There have been no dummies flying out of the pram."

"It's great to have such adaptable players and it's one of our strengths as we enter the last lap of the title race."

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_5062162,00.html


Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack feels that his team's belief and resolve is what has kept them in the title fight this long, and is their key component in keeping their title hopes alive.

"We are not a team that ever give up. It's going to take something big for us to be able to win the league, but in football you never know," the Germany international said in the Daily Express.

"We have to enjoy the moment we are in. Right now we are winning games and looking forward to the next one."

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_5062252,00.html


Lombardi also had referenced once that winning was 'habitual', and I think there is no question that to find success, you need to believe in yourself, your team and expect to have success. Among all three of the top teams in the English Premier League, winning is not a 'sometimes thing', but an 'all the time thing'. It's amazing what you can achieve when your players and coaches believe they are going to win whenever they step on the pitch.