Hold it more important to have the players' confidence than their affection.
It does not matter how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get up.
Mental toughness is many things and rather difficult to explain. Its qualities are sacrifice and self-denial. Also, most importantly, it is combined with a perfectly disciplined will that refuses to give in. It's a state of mind-you could call it character in action.
If it doesn't matter who wins or loses, then why do they keep score?
Greatness is not attainable, but in the pursuit of it, you can achieve excellence.
You defeat defeatism with confidence.