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Slow, out of form & lacking confidence, but not done yet - Arjen Robben can still reach his previous heights at Bayern Munich
Once the cornerstone of his team's attack, the Dutchman has struggled to excel this season. Goal.com uncovers the reasons for his decline, concluding that he is yet to expire
11-Feb-2012 1:24:34 PM
Bongarts
EXCLUSIVE
By Clark Whitney | German Football Editor
Watching Arjen Robben in recent weeks, it’s hard not to notice that the once-electric winger is not what he once was. Less than 12 months ago, he could take on any full-back in the world. Now, he struggles to dribble past average defenders with any frequency and, in Bayern Munich’s 2-0 DFB-Pokal win over Stuttgart on Wednesday, was relegated to the bench.
The more statistically inclined will point to Robben's decent, if unremarkable, goal return (three in eight appearances) since he returned from an inguinal hernia in November. But two of those strikes were penalties, and the third was converted by poking the ball over the line after Ivica Olic had done all the hard work. The fact is that the winger has not been the man to carry Bayern, nor has he even played a unique role in the team.
To some extent, Robben’s ineffectiveness can be attributed to a loss of confidence. But, more specifically, it is quite clear that the Netherlands international no longer has the lightning-quick burst of pace he could formerly use to explode past defenders.
In the past, the 28-year-old has recovered from severe injuries and been at peak physical performance almost immediately upon his return to action. But this season, following a pair of ailments at the beginning of the campaign, he is physically far below his former heights.
Robben’s loss of quickness prompts the question: after a long run of injuries, is his body finally breaking down? Or can he still recover the explosive burst that once made him nearly impossible to stop?
To understand more about Robben’s current situation and possible future, Goal.com exclusively spoke with Mike Dingley, the principal strength and condition coach at Harvard University’s Malkin Athletic Centre.
Although the inguinal hernia affects the abdominal muscles more than those in the legs, according to Dingley, such an injury can be a severe detriment to an athlete's acceleration.
"With every explosive movement, the first muscles to contract are in the core area. If the brain is the signal, the core is like a spark plug; it needs to be conditioned for an athlete to be at his quickest," he explained.
The good news for Robben is that his recent loss of pace is a reversible process: as Dingley reveals, he still have at least four years before his nervous system - and with it, his pace - begins to slow as part of the ageing process. With the right rehabilitation, Robben will be able to make a full recovery.
"Of course he can get it all back," Dingley continued. "His problem is not due to an irreversible injury or natural decrease in neural conduction velocity, which typically happens around age 32-37."
Robben's full recovery is not guaranteed, however. The Dutchman must work hard in training and, critically, must be consistently monitored to avoid a relapse or a different injury related to his current problems.
"I suspect that the hernia could be in some way linked to the hamstring injury," added Dingley. "The hamstring injury would decrease forward hip flexion which would place abnormal stresses on the opposite side hip flexor, groin and abdominal area; and in the middle of that is the inguinal internal and external ring."
In modern football, explosiveness is a critical component to an attacking player’s arsenal. The ability to accelerate from a stationary position to near-top speed in a couple of strides can make or break a player’s chances of beating his marker in a one-on-one situation.
Quite clearly, Robben is finding it hard to cope with his recent loss of quickness, and his physical condition has had a secondary effect on his confidence. His trademark left-footed bombs are wayward; he no longer demands the ball at every opportunity. He misses his swagger.
Every player has to eventually find a way to cope with his natural loss of pace, and Robben is no exception. But, for the Dutchman, that time has yet to come. He is slower now but, with diligent rehabilitation in the coming months, he can be everything physically that he once was. And from there, the confidence deficit will be easy to overcome. Don’t count him out just yet: Robben still has plenty left to show the world.
Follow Clark Whitney on
By Clark Whitney | German Football Editor
Watching Arjen Robben in recent weeks, it’s hard not to notice that the once-electric winger is not what he once was. Less than 12 months ago, he could take on any full-back in the world. Now, he struggles to dribble past average defenders with any frequency and, in Bayern Munich’s 2-0 DFB-Pokal win over Stuttgart on Wednesday, was relegated to the bench.
The more statistically inclined will point to Robben's decent, if unremarkable, goal return (three in eight appearances) since he returned from an inguinal hernia in November. But two of those strikes were penalties, and the third was converted by poking the ball over the line after Ivica Olic had done all the hard work. The fact is that the winger has not been the man to carry Bayern, nor has he even played a unique role in the team.
| ROBBEN'S RECORD IN 2011-12 |
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| SINCE RETURN (NOVEMBER 19) |
|
| GAMES PLAYED GOALS ASSISTS GOALS & ASSISTS PER GAME |
8 3 0 0.38 |
| BEFORE INGUINAL HERNIA |
|
| GAMES PLAYED GOALS ASSISTS GOALS & ASSISTS PER GAME |
6 3 2 0.83 |
In the past, the 28-year-old has recovered from severe injuries and been at peak physical performance almost immediately upon his return to action. But this season, following a pair of ailments at the beginning of the campaign, he is physically far below his former heights.
Robben’s loss of quickness prompts the question: after a long run of injuries, is his body finally breaking down? Or can he still recover the explosive burst that once made him nearly impossible to stop?
To understand more about Robben’s current situation and possible future, Goal.com exclusively spoke with Mike Dingley, the principal strength and condition coach at Harvard University’s Malkin Athletic Centre.
Although the inguinal hernia affects the abdominal muscles more than those in the legs, according to Dingley, such an injury can be a severe detriment to an athlete's acceleration.
"With every explosive movement, the first muscles to contract are in the core area. If the brain is the signal, the core is like a spark plug; it needs to be conditioned for an athlete to be at his quickest," he explained.
The good news for Robben is that his recent loss of pace is a reversible process: as Dingley reveals, he still have at least four years before his nervous system - and with it, his pace - begins to slow as part of the ageing process. With the right rehabilitation, Robben will be able to make a full recovery.
"Of course he can get it all back," Dingley continued. "His problem is not due to an irreversible injury or natural decrease in neural conduction velocity, which typically happens around age 32-37."
Robben's full recovery is not guaranteed, however. The Dutchman must work hard in training and, critically, must be consistently monitored to avoid a relapse or a different injury related to his current problems.
"I suspect that the hernia could be in some way linked to the hamstring injury," added Dingley. "The hamstring injury would decrease forward hip flexion which would place abnormal stresses on the opposite side hip flexor, groin and abdominal area; and in the middle of that is the inguinal internal and external ring."
Of course [Robben] can get it all back. His problem is not due to an irreversible injury or natural decrease in neural conduction velocity - Mike Dingley, Harvard strength & conditioning coach
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In modern football, explosiveness is a critical component to an attacking player’s arsenal. The ability to accelerate from a stationary position to near-top speed in a couple of strides can make or break a player’s chances of beating his marker in a one-on-one situation.
Quite clearly, Robben is finding it hard to cope with his recent loss of quickness, and his physical condition has had a secondary effect on his confidence. His trademark left-footed bombs are wayward; he no longer demands the ball at every opportunity. He misses his swagger.
Every player has to eventually find a way to cope with his natural loss of pace, and Robben is no exception. But, for the Dutchman, that time has yet to come. He is slower now but, with diligent rehabilitation in the coming months, he can be everything physically that he once was. And from there, the confidence deficit will be easy to overcome. Don’t count him out just yet: Robben still has plenty left to show the world.
Follow Clark Whitney on
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