Robin: “I’d start with me…”

When Robin van Persie opened the curtains in his hotel room and looked outside he felt the butterflies in his tummy. After five weeks of hard work, today he will finally join the group is some real football training activities.

“I even was nerveus,” the Arsenal striker admitted after the session.

With his return in the group, the discussion concerning his fitness was given more fuel. Since the match against Derby County on April 28 he hasn’t played single minute. Not even on the trainings pitch.

The technical staff will have to decide whether the Rotterdam born player should play against Italy and whether it’s a responsible thing to do.

Van Persie’s confidence is still in top form. “If it was up to me, I’d start with me,” he laughed in Lausanne.

But, the most skilled Dutch player is realistic. He knows he can’t claim anything.
“I’m really not thinking about whether I play or not. I focus on the here and now. Today, I had a good session. Hopefully tomorrow is good too. My objective was to be ready at the start of the EC. And I am. Now it’s up to Van Basten. I can only say that I have the utmost faith in his judgement. He will make the right choice. He’ll do what’s best for the team and for Oranje. And whatever he decides, I will respect it.”

Team manager van Basten followed his favorite pupil with extra attention. “You can’t expect that he gels in right away. The first time with the ball and direct opponents after a long recovery is always quaint. But, I tink he will reach his regular level soon. And it’s not like he hasn’t played in the last months. I don’t expect issues on the technical level, maybe a little set back in the muscles here and there. We’ll see what happens.”

Van Persie has worked hard at his recovery for months. Now, he wants to enjoy the day he finally can join in the positioning sessions with the other lads.

“I had it tough, to be honest. Whenever I can’t play, I suffer. I find it so hard to watch them play ball. But, I have to say, I work with a technical staff of ex-players who also had their share of injuries and know what a player goes through. They were always there for me. And fysio Leo Echteld is really a hero.”

Van Persie isn’t unhappy about his first training. “Actually, it went well. Physically it went really well. Only my stamina has suffered a bit. I really had to break through that moment when you think you can’t go on anymore… I also miss rhythm, I know that. Just give me a couple more days to work on that.”

“It’s hard to say if I will be able to reach my top level. Normally, you need a couple of games. But, there’s been players who came on after a long rest and played a world class game, so…you never know. To be honest, I don’t think I can play the full 90 minutes. If you think about it, it’s virtually impossible. I think that’s normal. But, I do hope I can be of value for the team on Monday, in whatever capacity, you know.”