Robbie Robinson hoping to apply tough lessons learned to pivotal 2022 with Inter Miami
Robbie Robinson hoping to apply tough lessons learned to pivotal 2022 with Inter Miami
The third-year winger talked on Monday about his desire to stay healthy this season and what he learned from the ordeal with Chile's national team
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Robbie Robinson did not have the easiest of years in 2021. From his ordeal with Chile’s national team to the string of injuries that hindered him with Inter Miami, Robbie Robinson endured his share of rough lessons.
He is hoping to apply them to what could be a very pivotal season for him.
Robinson is heading into his third year as a professional, and is looking to make his “stamp” with Inter Miami after showing some positive signs during a sophomore season that was on the whole a bit of a rollercoaster for him. The speedy winger carved out a bigger role with the South Florida side and scored some goals, but injuries plagued him throughout.
“It was tough for me to handle because I have never had injury after injury like that,” said Robinson at the start of Inter Miami’s 2022 preseason on Monday. “It is a place to learn from, so all I can do is just take care of my body more and more. Of course it was frustrating, but I think this year I am going to stay injury-free hopefully and help the team as much as I can.”
In order to do that and find the consistency he is seeking, the 23-year-old Robinson is planning to take care of his body more so than ever before. He mentioned on Monday putting his entire faith in the new backroom staff members Inter Miami has hired, but also said he has to take care of all the details — “every little thing” — like stretching when he gets home.
Robinson is confident that doing that will allow him to improve on his 2021 numbers of 16 starts, 24 appearances, and four goals.
“I definitely think I understand my body 100 percent more and I think that is a big thing that goes into it,” said Robinson. “Just know what to do, what I need, how much I push myself, how much extra work I do, and just go from there.”
If 2021 was a learning experience for Robinson in terms of his health, it was also a crash course in how serious Chile takes its futbol. The American-born attacker — whose mother is Chilean — was called up by La Roja for the first time last summer ahead of important World Cup Qualifiers, but left the team’s camp after just a few days to avoid being cap-tied.
The irate reaction from the Chilean public took Robinson by surprise, and even caused him to temporarily remove the comments section from his Instagram account in order to put a stop to the incessant vitriol he was receiving online for his decision.
“I did not expect it really, but I never had been in that kind of environment,” said Robinson, who was speaking publicly for the first time since the Chile ordeal. “I have been in the U.S. my whole life, but these people live for it. I do not think it is anything personal against me. I think they just wanted me to play on their team.
“You kind of have to take it as a compliment almost about this hate, because they really want you.”
Robinson continues to assess what he wants to do on the international stage and said Monday he enjoyed his time training alongside greats like Arturo Vidal and Alexis Sanchez, especially since it helped him realize he could compete at that higher level.
Still, he sounded about as confident in himself as he ever has while defending his early exit.
“Maybe the Chilean people did not like it, but it is my career and I make my own decisions,” said Robinson. “If that either helps me or hurts me, whatever, but I am responsible for myself and I am a man, so I think I did the right thing.”
Hearing that type of composed and assured remark from Robinson may be a positive sign of what is to come from him this season. He figures to once again get plenty of minutes with Inter Miami, and needs to produce in the attacking third in order to brush off growing criticisms about his game.
Of course, staying healthy and on the field is first and foremost in order to accomplish that.
“I really want to make my stamp this year,” said Robinson. “I think this can be a really big year for me individually, but also with just this whole entire program. … Part of that is keeping injury-free for me and the rest will take care of itself.”
Poco inteligente y poco audaz. oportunidades como esa no se presentan todos los dias... Es cosa de ver, el caso contrario: Ben Brereton, hoy cosecha para su carrera lo q supo aprovechar inteligentemente en su momento.
If his assessment was that he was going to learn and develop more playing against Haiti , that’s ok ! . But look at Brereton , after playing against players like Messi and Neymar , leads the Championship in goals and premier teams want him .