1-on-1 with Miles Robinson: Fear and confidence, a delicate balancing act

Very few things scare Miles Robinson.

Not spiders or snakes, or any other common fears. The steely 6-foot-2 center-back can hardly afford to cower at the sight of opposition forwards, either. No, only one thing unsettles the 19-year-old defender.

“I hate losing,” Robinson admitted to theScore, in a phone interview Wednesday. “I feel like it’s a fear of losing.”

Robinson’s cool confidence turned heads when he arrived for the 2017 MLS SuperDraft, and, in keeping with projections, he was quickly snapped up No. 2 overall by Gerardo Martino’s expansion Atlanta United side.

Robinson didn’t pay attention to rumors on the draft floor. Instead, he sat and waited, confident his name would eventually be read. It’s a luxury not every college-aged player has to boast.

Whatever nerves he did feel were quickly relieved … though Robinson says he wouldn’t have let it bother him anyway.

“You just have to push (those nerves) aside and realize that this is a great experience and great opportunity to have,” Robinson said of the draft.

Confidence and Fear

Atlanta is a new opportunity for Robinson, in more ways than one; the newly assembled squad is set to play in a newly constructed stadium, with a manager navigating his first season in MLS.

The city itself is familiar to Robinson – he has family in the area, and has visited a few times – but the challenge he faces is in how he handles a rookie season at the same time his team goes through its growing pains.

For example, the team’s core players – Designated Players Miguel Almiron and Hector Villalba – speak Spanish, as does Martino. Communication will be a touch tricky for Robinson, though he looks at the chance to learn as an opportunity, not an obstacle.

There are a few league veterans on the team, but for the most part Robinson has as fresh a slate as any. He’s not sure if that’s an advantage, though.

“You always have those little nerves, coming into a new situation,” he explained. “But once you brush those aside, it’s more of an excitement. You just need to realize, ‘I’m here for a reason’ and you play how you’ve been playing your whole life.”

Fearlessness is a trait learned from his favorite defender Vincent Kompany.

“You never really want to have self-doubt, I’d say,” Robinson explained. “It’s more a confidence and an eagerness to show myself.”

The learning curve

Confidence and eagerness proved invaluable traits at Syracuse, where Robinson quickly made a name for himself under coach Ian McIntyre. He quickly became a starter but knows the same isn’t guaranteed in Atlanta.

“It’s in the past,” Robinson said of his school days. “College is very different from MLS.”

Unlike many players coming through the draft, Robinson did not complete his full four years at Syracuse, choosing instead to leave after just two. It was a choice born of self-belief.

“I’ve been with the U-20 (U.S.) national team for the past year, and a lot of those guys are already pro, or have been for a while,” Robinson explained. “I figured, you know what? I can play with these guys”

He’s been in contact with D.C. United midfielder Julian Buescher for advice, as the two played together at Syracuse in 2015. But he’s also being helped by New England Revolution legend Shalrie Joseph – a player he looked up to in his youth, and one that he now counts as friend, too.

Homecoming

Born in Arlington, Mass., Robinson was a Revs fan in his youth and surely has one eye on a Sept. 30 visit to Gillette Stadium. But he’s also making sure to keep things in perspective. MLS seasons are long, and full of tribulations.

“You never want to over-visualize or try to over-sell yourself,” Robinson said. “I just visualize myself in preseason, working hard and showing Tata Martino and the coaching staff what I have to offer for the team.

“I’m just trying to be my own player. I want to make my own statement in this league and hopefully have other kids look up to me. But, we’re a long way from that. I definitely just have to prove myself in preseason first.”

Still, he does have some goals he wants to meet.

“First off, I definitely want to get my MLS debut. That’s a major goal.”

Second on his list is buying a car. He’s wanted one for a while. But what kind?

“I know Atlanta’s making the Mercedes-Benz Stadium,” he joked.