Robinho: Q & A

You’ve been a revelation this season, and a key component of Real’s sparkling form. How do you explain this?
I think first because of the experience I’ve acquired. I’ve matured and I’m feeling good about myself. Also, when the team is doing well, we all look better individually.

Bernd Schuster seems able to get the best out of you in a way that Fabio Capello could not. Has he asked you to play a different role?
Schuster and Capello are different. I have a better understanding with Schuster. He puts me in my best position and lets me play freely; he lets me have fun on the pitch. Capello’s style was different. He wanted me to play deeper and mark all the time, so I had less opportunities on the ball. Thanks to Schuster I can attack with confidence.

Madrid have used you both as a striker and a winger. Which do you prefer? Or is defining positions not important?
I like to play up front, closer to the goal. I see myself as a centre-forward. And this season, even by the halfway point, I’ve scored more goals than I did before.

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Gregg Davies

Gregg Davies is the Chief Sub Editor of FourFourTwo magazine, joining the team in January 2008 and spending seven years working on the website. He supports non-league behemoths Hereford and commentates on Bulls matches for Radio Hereford FC. His passions include chocolate hobnobs and attempting to shoehorn Ronnie Radford into any office conversation.