Robin Gosens met with pupils from Istituto Scuole Pie Fiorentine for a Q&A session this week – one of the highlights of the cresciAMO inVIOLA initiative for the young participants.

The children thus had the chance to develop some of the topics they are working on in class as part of the Fiorentina school project by asking the German star for his own take.

Since the start of the 2024-2025 academic year, cresciAMO inVIOLA meetings have been run by professionals from the University of Florence, focusing on accepting one's uniqueness, appreciating diversity and dealing with others online and offline using a positive approach. 

The aim is to support the youngsters in what is a delicate stage of their development by managing their relationship both with themselves and with others in a healthy and constructive way.

To find out more, visit the cresciAMO inVIOLA page.

Here is a selection of the questions put to Robin Gosens by the children:

How much time does your job take up? Do you have time for hobbies?

“That's a great question. Of course I do have hobbies of my own but unfortunately all the traveling we do for away games has quite an impact on that. In my free time I try to do the things I love besides football – like playing tennis or padel, or meeting with friends. I like studying too. I try not to think only about work all the time. I think that would be a mistake because there's life beyond your job. You have your personal life, your family and friends, and they're very important.”

Which Fiorentina game did you enjoy the most?

“I'd say there are two. The first is the home game against Lazio because that changed our season in a way. We switched formation in the second half and the game changed. After that, we went on that amazing run of eight consecutive wins.

“The other one was when we played Milan at home and David [de Gea] saved two penalties. That game had a bit of everything we like about football. I'd say those two.”

If you weren't a footballer, what would you be?

“A psychologist. I studied psychology in Germany for four years, so if I wasn't doing this job, I'd be a psychologist.”

What's your typical day like?

“I get up early. Very early. Then I take my kid to school. Well, first we have breakfast together as a family, then I take him to school, and then I come here. I have some physiotherapy then go to the gym for activation work before we head out onto the pitch. Afterwards, if there's any more work to do, I do it here at Viola Park, otherwise I go straight home. We have lunch. Then I spend time with my family. I do things with the kids. I try to find a bit of time for my hobbies too. In the evening, I take the kids up to bed – hoping they sleep a bit! And often I end up falling asleep at the same time, around 7 pm.”

What time do you get up?

“At 5:15.”