Editor’s note: This story is part of Peak, The Athletic’s new desk covering leadership, personal development and success through the lens of sports. Peak aims to connect readers to ideas they can ...

The difficulty of staying motivated for sports is partly related to the natural programming of our brain. Tips such as keeping goals to oneself or focusing on the effort rather than the result can ...

Some nights define a season, and for Barcelona, this is one of them. Heading into the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg against Atletico Madrid, the task is as clear as it is daunting.

Motivation is an important part of sports, but it's also sometimes misunderstood. Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; iStock This story is part of Peak, The Athletic’s desk covering the mental ...