Miles Robinson has a contract offer from Atlanta United ready to be signed, but he said Tuesday that he is willing to risk entering the last year of his deal without a guarantee of getting paid in 2024 because he believes in himself.
“I’ve done that my whole career, and I don’t really ever kind of play with fear or, you know, wake up scared or anything like that,” he said. “I kind of go out and try to take what I think I deserve.”
Robinson saying this before the 2023 season might not be surprising. He arguably was the best centerback in MLS last season and had become a locked-in starter for the U.S. men’s national team. But he sustained a ruptured Achilles tendon in his left leg May 7 in a game against Chicago. The injury sidelined him for the rest of the season. Vice President Carlos Bocanegra said the team soon after made the contract offer to Robinson because they didn’t want him to worry about his future.
Robinson didn’t seem worried Tuesday.
“I’m just going day by day right now, just trying to get back out there, play my first game, hopefully (in the season opener Feb. 25 against) San Jose, and try to get better every day,” he said. “And I think that stuff will all kind of sort itself out.”
Robinson said he told the trainers when he started his rehab that if he didn’t come back stronger and faster then he would consider the rehab a failure. Robinson said he’s on course to achieve those goals. That would be saying something. Robinson was one of the better one-on-one defenders that former Atlanta United captain Michael Parkhurst said he has ever seen. Robinson often was a one-man counterattack stopper, a skill that often allowed his teammates to pour forward in the attack. The team averaged 1.5 goals per game in the eight matches he started. It averaged 1.38 in the 26 matches he didn’t start. Such a difference adds up over the length of a season.
Teammate Andrew Gutman on Tuesday said that seeing Robinson back on the training pitch working with a ball is a “massive confidence boost.”
Robinson said his goal is to be available for selection to start the opening game against San Jose at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. He said he feels no discomfort. Tuesday was his first time participating in an 11-versus-11 scrimmage.
“It puts a smile on my face getting in to play again,” he said.
If Robinson is good to go, he likely would be paired with JuanJo Purata, who was brought in on loan last season to help make up for Robinson’s absence. Robinson said he thinks they will form a good partnership as they continue to get reps.
Robinson also doesn’t have to worry about his court case following his arrest for theft by taking at The Battery Atlanta in September. He said the case recently was dismissed. He declined to say anything else about it.
The injury prevented Robinson from being eligible for selection for the U.S. team that competed in the World Cup in Qatar. He said it was tough to watch but that he hopes to one day compete in the tournament.
“I think it gave me some type of motivation and fire burning in this season,” he said.
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Atlanta United’s 2023 MLS schedule
Feb. 25 vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 7:30 p.m.
March 4 vs. Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m.
March 11 at Charlotte FC, noon, Fox
March 18 vs. Portland Timbers, 7:30 p.m.
March 25 at Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
April 1 vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
April 8 at New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.
April 15 at Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m.
April 23 vs. Chicago Fire FC, 4:30 p.m., FS1
April 29 at Nashville SC, 1:30 p.m., Fox
May 6 at Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
May 13 vs. Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m.
May 17 vs. Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m.
May 20 at Chicago Fire FC, 8:30 p.m.
May 27 at Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m.
May 31 vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m., FS1
June 3 at Los Angeles FC, 10:30 p.m.
June 10 vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
June 21 vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.
June 24 at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
July 2 vs. Philadelphia Union, 4 p.m., Fox
July 8 at CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
July 12 at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m.
July 15 vs. Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m., FS1
Aug. 20 at Seattle Sounders, 10:30 p.m.
Aug. 26 vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 30 vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 2 at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 vs. Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 20 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4 at Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 at FC Cincinnati, TBA
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