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Robben: nothing wrong with my walk!

February 15th, 2008 | By: Jan | 10 Comments »

Arjen Robben will need to learn how to walk again, in order to finish off his long spell of injuries. This remarkable news item came through from Spain the other day. “Nonsense,” said the Madrid striker who scored his first liga goal last Sunday.

So, you need to re-learn how to walk?

Robben: ,”I was surprised reading that. Some anonymous member of the medical staf said that. That I was in therapy with my walk for months. That is a crock of shit. I walk like I walk, and I do that my whole life and I will do that for the rest of my life.”

It sounded credible.

“Not if you anything about the body and what we’re doing. My injuries are related to my back, not my feet. The medical staff is working on that with me intensively. The club doctors will never ever say anything about that publically. So you know these quotes are fake. We think we know what to do now. But I won’t say more. I’ve learned the hard way that you can’t be too open about your injuries. There are no guarantees.”

Last Sunday you started for Real Madrid, with one goal and two assists. Is the worst behind you now?

“I think everyone will understand that this first half year in Madrid wasn’t fun. Last Sunday was the first time I felt I can add value to the team. Now I have to hang on to this form. I feel the pressure of the expectations, but I need to be careful not to force anything. All in all, I think I handled it pretty well.”

Did you see Oranje play last week?

“Oh yeah. It looked good, with the new playing style. I can see clear parallels with our style at Madrid. We played with an open right flank and two players centrally (Raul and Ruud). In Oranje it was Huntelaar with Van der Vaart. I can still play the left winger role in this concept, but we’ll have to wait and see how the group forms itself in the run-up to the EC.”

John van ’t Schip saw you some time ago. Marco van Basten was on holiday. What did you discuss?

“He was here in January. We had a short chat, nothing more. I just wait and see. I want to focus on Real Madrid first and play some solid matches, to get in rhythm. I don’t know everything that is happening in and around Oranje. That’s how it is when you’re focussing on your own recovery.”

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Comments

By Jan | February 15th, 2008 at 3:39 pm

Rafael is out for two weeks and Wesley broke a rib on training. Ruud will be back for the AS Roma CL game next week.

Injury God, hit our players NOW and leave them alone after March, please…

Posted from Australia

By dirk v.d berg | February 15th, 2008 at 5:20 pm

This is a bit off topic but I didn’t know where else to bring it up. If a player like Edgar Davids still wants to play international games, but isn’t getting called up by the Oranje, couldn’t he decide to play for Suriname instead. I really feel bad for Suriname, because they could’ve easily been a good CONCACAF team if there players hadn’t opted to play for Holland. I’d like to see Suriname in WC 2010, but realize it’s unreasonable to consider, because they have no real stars on the team.

Posted from Canada

By dirk v.d berg | February 15th, 2008 at 5:23 pm

And Royston’s little brother is playing for the Surinamese national team right now, which is a little strange.

Posted from Canada

By goose | February 15th, 2008 at 6:20 pm

@dirk; no, Davids couldnt play official games for another national team.. about Surinam; dont forget that all these players had their football education in Holland..that makes quit a difference, im not sure at all that they would have grown to the players they are today if they were educated in Surinam…. still think a mix is the best, like with Rijkaard and Gullit who both have dutch mothers

one a year all the surinam players (kleurrijk elftal= colourful team) who play in Holland have a friendly match in honour of the victems of the wellknown plane crash in the 80’s wich killed several good surinam players

btw; YES Robben, something is wrong with the way you walk…you walk like a little girl!! (and dive like one!)

Posted from Netherlands

By dirk v.d berg | February 15th, 2008 at 9:17 pm

Would a player like Drenthe, who played u-20 with Oranje, be able to play for Suriname? And does anyone know why Stekelenburg was subbed out in Ajax’s game today?

Posted from Canada

By Lerkot | February 16th, 2008 at 2:33 am

About Drenthe: Yes, theoretically, he would be able to play for Suriname according to the FIFA rules, but laws and rules in Suriname forbids it. To play in the Surinamese national team, you have to play in the Surinamese league, if I’ve understod it right. Their bondscoach, Kenneth Jaliens, wants to change the rules in order to become a team to count with again, like in the 60s.

By Jan | February 16th, 2008 at 2:56 am

Stekelenburg has a back injury… Or…does he walk funny :-)?

Davids was subbed though. Koster wanted to play Rasmus Lindgren. Ajax beat Sparta Rotterdam 6-2. Two goals Heitinga, Huntelaar, Lindgren and twice Perez.

Posted from Australia

By Finnster01 | February 17th, 2008 at 12:06 pm

I don’t know why, but this thread has had me humming the old hit “Walk like an Egyptian” all day…I can’t get it out of my head unfortunately… I think I need a vacation…Maybe I should swing by Holland and catch a game in Eresdivisie one weekend? Could be fun, but lots of flying (and no sleep, but who cares). BTW, when is the last round in ED anyone?

Anyway, I think the Bangles should stage a comeback and release a new version of their hit called “Dive like a certain Portugese”… At least I think Goose and myself would buy a copy.

Posted from United States

By dirk v.d berg | February 17th, 2008 at 9:32 pm

It actually looks like Robben’s going to stay healthy for a bit. In his last two games he’s been playing great. I think he’s not sidelining himself from the little bumps, because he knows he has to bring up his form if he wants to be a starter in Euro 2008. Before its been a given for him, he’d miss three monthes with a bump, and then van Basten would pick him up for a game over Babel or other in form players. A good example was the Euro Qualification against Slovenia, where he hadn’t even played a game for Madrid, I don’t think.

Posted from Canada

By Caleb | February 18th, 2008 at 10:53 am

I agree, Robben (and even Drenthe) have been playing very well lately. After so much time with Robben being injured and Goose saying he is no good and will never show form like he had before, I was starting to believe him, haha. But now Robben has played to very good games for Real and I can already see him getting back to his old form. I know you don’t like him Goose, but he is a great player when he is on form.

Posted from Japan