Former Portsmouth man Alex Robertson opens up on Cardiff City struggles amid summer transfer talk
Alex Robertson amassed 27 appearances for Pompey during a successful loan spell in the 2023-24 League One title-winning campaign.
Former Pompey loanee Alex Robertson has opened up on his early-season struggles with Cardiff City.
And the 22-year-old has lifted the lid on his relationship with head coach Brian Barry-Murphy after coming under fire during earlier in the campaign.
It’s been a tough opening four months of the campaign in South Wales for the Aussie, who has featured just 12 times for the Robins this term.
After remaining at the Cardiff City Stadium following their relegation to League One, the two-cap Socceroos international missed the first seven league matches due to injury.
Upon his return from the sidelines, however, Barry-Murphy insisted the classy operator needed to do more in training before a earning a potential recall to his side.
After registering his first outing of the campaign in October, Robertson has since featured in all of Cardiff’s following 12 league matches and netted his first goal of the season in their 1-0 Boxing Day triumph over Exeter City.
Former Pompey man opens up on Cardiff struggles
And speaking after the Bluebirds’ triumph, which kept them at the League One summit, the former Pompey man lifted the lid on his struggles in the Welsh capital this term.
He told BBC Radio Wales: ‘It's been a while. You know, being back in and amongst everything has been really nice.
‘It was a tough period being out, but I just put my head down, tried working as hard as I can, and then now everything's coming positive, which is nice.
‘And yeah, just playing as many games as I can, getting that match fitness back like I had when I was fully fit.
‘Brian's the manager, he makes the decisions. So if that was his decision at the time, which it was, then, you know, I can't do anything but respect that
‘All I had to do was just keep trying to work the hardest I could in training every day, which I did. And yeah, I was really thankful that I was able to get back in the fold of things.’
Alex Robertson on relationship with Cardiff City boss
Following Cardiff’s relegation to the third tier, Robertson was tipped with a departure amid interest from the Championship just a year after completing his £2.5m move from Manchester City.
The midfielder remained in South Wales, which saw him link up with new boss Barry-Murphy, who was appointed in June.
And the midfielder has given an insight into his relationship with the head coach, with the pair previously working together at the Etihad Stadium.
‘I have a great relationship with Brian... I still messaged him and spoke to him. Even when I was here last season and he was at Leicester.
‘I've had a good relationship with him since I was at [Manchester] City. I really enjoyed playing under him at City and I'm enjoying it now.
‘But it was just that time of everything that was happening. I just had to respect his decision and knuckle down and thankfully I'm back in it.
‘It's just take it game by game and just try and do the best I can for the team more than anything.’