EMULATING THE KING OF WINGS
Robben cutting inside from the right flank to shoot with his left foot is simply devastating for any defender, but it is inspiring Roberts
FOR Patrick Roberts, the Champions League provides an invitation to meet an inspiration. The Celtic winger has drawn many lessons from the way Arjen Robben slices through defences.
The sight Roberts has studied is one of the most irresistible in football. Robben begins near the right touchline, darting infield at a right angle and drifting along a path roughly 20 yards from goal. All the time his left foot is keeping the ball just out of reach of defenders.
This is the thing about Robben. He doesn’t necessarily need to bring any element of surprise. The opposition know what he is trying to do. They have seen it time after time, on television and in person. But that awareness is of little use if the tools to stop him remain out of reach.
Left-backs and central defenders across Europe have all experienced the same sensation. They think — believe, in fact — that they have managed to stretch into a challenge, only to see the ball elude them by inches.
Frustration morphs into more of a sinking sensation as Robben has the space to draw back that left foot with greater intent. The curling or explosive finish that follows can be masked by a relative lack of back-lift.
A second or two later, the beaten goalkeeper is staring accusingly at those in front of him for allowing the shot. They look back in exasperation and ask what more they could have done.
This scene has been played out time after time. From Robben’s formative days with Groningen to PSV Eindhoven. From Chelsea to Real Madrid. And now in the famous red of Bayern Munich.
A keen student of the wing arts, Roberts has watched the 33-year-old perform the same destructive sleight of foot on numerous occasions. As with his poring over YouTube footage of Lionel Messi’s incredible dribbling skills, the Englishman also grew up asking how Robben does it. And he set his heart on attempting to do the same. From the right wing. On his left foot.
‘I have always enjoyed the way he comes inside and shoots, I’ve said it before,’ insisted Roberts.
‘I’ve tried to emulate that, to come inside and shoot like that. It has really been since he was at Chelsea, and I was only a young boy.’
Indeed, Roberts was only ten years old when his idol exited Stamford Bridge in a £24million transfer to Real Madrid. The years since have seen numerous highlights for a magical talent.
Robben scored the winner for Bayern in the 2013 Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund and has appeared in no fewer than six major tournaments for Holland, reaching the 2010 World Cup final. There will, however, be no glorious swansong in Russia next summer. After Dick Advocaat’s side failed to qualify, Robben announced he was stepping away from international football after 37 goals in 96 caps. He leaves that stage as one of the most celebrated Dutch players of the modern era. ‘You look at the way he has come on and what he has done,’ enthused Roberts.
‘I think he has retired from international football now.
‘Players like that put the hard work in in training throughout the years and that is why they are on the biggest stage in world football. Hopefully one day that can be me but I need to keep practising my technique.’
Robben would certainly have appreciated some of the quicksilver footwork Roberts produced in Celtic’s 1-0 success over Dundee on Saturday. The 20-year-old just couldn’t find the finish to match some of his sinew-twisting approach work.
The 20-year-old has actually only scored once since returning to Celtic for a second loan spell — after an initial 18 months in which he won the adoration of the Parkhead crowd. But that strike came on a higher level than the Scottish Premiership.
Roberts netted what proved to be the killer second goal for Brendan Rodgers’ side in last month’s 3-0 Group B win over Anderlecht in Brussels. It was a result that massively lifted their hopes of retaining European football beyond Christmas.
In truth, it is difficult to imagine that Roberts would have been back at Celtic without the Champions League. Southampton, Huddersfield, Nice and Girona were all keen to borrow him from Manchester City for the season. His parent club would have preferred that he spent time in Spain.
Roberts dug in his heels. Appreciating the support he received in Glasgow, and the coaching supplied by Rodgers, the Londoner made clear his wish to return to familiar territory.
‘This is why they brought me back, and why I wanted to come back — for these nights,’ he said of tomorrow evening’s assignment at the Allianz Arena.
‘I want to push on in European competition, which is an aim. Hopefully we can do that.
‘I’ve never played in Munich before. It will be a brilliant and different experience to go there. It is something to look forward to.’ Anyone who watched Match of
the Day highlights of Manchester City’s 7-2 obliteration of Stoke at the weekend could see why it is so difficult for young English talents to break through at that club. The depth of talent at Pep Guardiola’s disposal, particularly in attacking areas, is simply extraordinary.
While Roberts has sought first-team action in Scotland, 17-year-old English prospect Jadon Sancho exited the Etihad this summer to sign a permanent deal with Borussia Dortmund — Bayern’s Bundesliga rivals.
‘I don’t know if I will speak to him, he is in India right now with the England Under-17s,’ said Roberts.
‘But he is a top player. He made the decision to go to Dortmund this summer which a lot of people might have thought was surprising but it is a great opportunity.
‘It is a massive team, he is a top player and I am sure we’ll see his name a lot in seasons to come.’