Real Salt Lake: Robbie Russell confident and playing his best these days

With one kick, Robbie Russell's confidence shot through the roof, and he hasn't looked back since.

The hero of last year's MLS Cup shootout victory, Russell has started all six games for Real Salt Lake in 2010 and is playing perhaps his best soccer since his arrival in MLS two years ago.

"He's certainly a guy that thrives on confidence, and playing well, and getting good messages from the coaching staff. Right now he feels good about himself, which typically means he's going to play very well," said RSL coach Jason Kreis.

With the injury bug taking its toll on the team early this season, Kreis said Russell's play has been a steadying influence at the back.

Russell said he's happy with how he's playing, but admits you should never feel too confident when the team isn't winning. Last week's win over Toronto FC might be the first step toward changing that mindset.

It's all about staying healthy for Russell.

After missing the first three games of the 2009 season recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, Russell returned to the lineup in Week 4 and started 14 of RSL's next 15 matches.

Russell's fortunes changed dramatically, however, on July 24 against FC Dallas, when he injured his hip on a sliding challenge. Between that injury and several coaching decisions, Russell only started four of Real Salt Lake's final 11 games.

Heading into the playoffs, it was Tony Beltran who had locked down the starting position at outside back, not Russell.

"That's a big part of being a team — you know there are guys behind you who can step in and do well, and I think that contributed a lot to us making the playoffs and going as far as we did," said Russell.

Russell's fortunes changed again when Beltran tweaked his calf in the second half of RSL's Game 1 playoff victory over Columbus. Suddenly, Russell was thrust into the starting lineup for the second playoff game in Columbus.

Following a disastrous start, Russell settled down and helped RSL beat Columbus. And then the following weekend, he played 119 minutes in the club's eventual shootout victory over Chicago in the Eastern Conference championship.