Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson admits that he was glad of the short break after a gruelling campaign for both club and country.
Robertson started all 38 of The Reds’ Premier League fixtures last season as well as 8 of their 10 Champions League games. He came on as a sub in the other two CL matches.
The Scotland captain has actually started at least 34 of Liverpool’s league games for each of the last three seasons.
In June, he then led his national team through the Euros where they lost to Czech Republic and Croatia but earned an impressive draw against eventual finalists England.
If anyone is deserving of a break, it’s Robbo.
He spoke with Liverpoolfc.com at their training camp in Tirol, saying he now feels recharged:
“… a lot got put into the last season, obviously me playing a lot of games. Physically I felt it but emotionally as well, it was an up-and-down season. I was emotionally drained, I think, after the Euros, obviously I put everything into it and then for the way it ended, the next week I was pretty tired and just tried to relax. Luckily the manager gave me a bit of extra time off, which was appreciated. I got to spend some quality family time but more importantly, let my body recover that wee bit more. I feel good, I feel fresh, I feel ready to go and ready for hopefully another big season ahead.
“The gaffer has been really good with the international boys in terms of us coming in a wee bit later and obviously some lads are still to show up. But the downside of it is that the boys have been in 10, 12 days and are really getting up to speed and you’re still trying to find your feet. I feel good, I feel good physically, and obviously the match sharpness will need to come back in terms of on the ball and everything like that. But the only way by doing that is training, the only way by doing that is getting through the tired legs and hopefully getting some minutes on the pitch as well. When you do that, you get closer and closer, and then the season’s only around the corner and we’ll all be good to go come the Norwich game.”
When asked about the youth talent coming through the ranks and training with the first team this summer, Robertson commented:
“It’s important to not put too much pressure on these lads, it’s important to let them still develop, still play their games, still not try to influence them too much because the spark that they can bring to the game is very unique and it’s about allowing them to do that, it’s about giving them the freedom to do it. Millie and the rest of us all try to help them, help all the young lads. Even some of the newer ones that have come up, we try to help them in every way possible because we know they’re the future, we know they’re the ones that are going to make us even better. Harvey was outstanding last season on loan [at] Blackburn, took the Championship very well and now it’s about the next step, it’s about the next step of now competing here and trying to get minutes here. Curt is coming of age. I thought last season at times he was outstanding but it’s now about the consistency, it’s always about that and doing that on a week-to-week basis. Curt is a great kid, I’ve got a lot of time for him, I try to take him under my wing – probably more so than anyone. He always bounces things off me and I hope this is a big season for him because, like I said, he’s a fantastic player and he’s a fantastic person. I just hope that he can find that consistency, keep that hunger that he’s got and he’ll only get better. I think people forget how young he still is, Harvey as well and all the other young lads. You still need to let them improve but I think hopefully there’s a big season ahead for all of them.”
We may see Robertson get some game-time in Thursday’s friendly game against Hertha BSC. That match kicks off at 19:20 UK time.
🗣️ “I feel good, I feel fresh, I feel ready to go and ready for hopefully another big season ahead.”
Plenty to enjoy in Robbo’s latest pre-season interview 😄👇
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 28, 2021
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