"It's always nice to start off with a good result"
About this Quote
The intent is practical: set the tone early, lower the temperature, keep the narrative in his team’s control. “Start off” signals a season, a tournament, a new manager bounce, even a fresh partnership up front. It quietly acknowledges how fragile momentum is in football culture, where one wobble can become a “crisis” by Tuesday’s back page. A “good result” is deliberately vague: not “a win,” not “three points,” not “we dominated.” It leaves room for a draw away from home, a gritty performance, an ugly victory. Keane’s language protects optionality.
The subtext is leadership-by-neutrality. He’s reassuring teammates and supporters that the basics are being handled, while denying critics anything sharp to grab. There’s also a distinctly Irish/UK media awareness here: enthusiasm is acceptable, arrogance is punishable. “Always nice” is the verbal equivalent of a firm handshake - positive, but not performative.
Contextually, this sits in the press-conference ecosystem where players are paid in scrutiny and rewarded for saying nothing combustible. Keane’s line isn’t empty; it’s a tool for managing expectation, pressure, and the week-to-week mood swings of football.
Quote Details
| Topic | Victory |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite | Cite this Quote |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Keane, Robbie. (n.d.). It's always nice to start off with a good result. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/its-always-nice-to-start-off-with-a-good-result-81369/
Chicago Style
Keane, Robbie. "It's always nice to start off with a good result." FixQuotes. Accessed February 2, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/its-always-nice-to-start-off-with-a-good-result-81369/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"It's always nice to start off with a good result." FixQuotes, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/its-always-nice-to-start-off-with-a-good-result-81369/. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.








