Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong feared he would by no means recuperate from the ankle harm that noticed dominated him out of motion for six months.
The 27-year-old was harm throughout Barcelona’s heavyweight conflict with Actual Madrid in April and subsequently missed the Netherlands’ run to the semi-finals of Euro 2024 – a journey that got here to a shuddering halt due to Ollie Watkins’ dramatic last-minute winner for England.
De Jong missed solely 17 video games for membership and nation as his harm coincided with the top of the home season however the nature of the issue left the Dutchman questioning whether or not he’d ever have the ability to compete once more on the highest degree.
“Did I ponder whether I might ever totally recuperate? That crossed my thoughts generally, however I at all times had the boldness that I might finally have the ability to play soccer once more,” De Jong informed reporters whereas away on worldwide obligation.
“There was uncertainty about how lengthy it might take and whether or not my ankle could be utterly the identical because it was earlier than.”
Requested about his feeling in direction of lacking Euro 2024, he added: “That was robust. I watched all of the matches of the Dutch nationwide staff however not a lot of the remainder. I didn’t wish to be confronted with it each time.”
De Jong is now again in motion for Barcelona, with a robust begin to La Liga elevating hope that the Catalan giants can reclaim the title from bitter rivals Actual Madrid.
However issues have modified by way of match preparation for De Jong, who revealed the brand new routine he goes by with a view to be prepared for video games.
“I spend a number of time on my ankle,” he mentioned. “Now, I’ve to take rather more care of it. Earlier than I did not even take into consideration my ankle earlier than matches, however now I get handled earlier than coaching and matches. I’ve to place ice on it, I’ve to make additional preparations to coach… I feel this can proceed to be the case for some time, I should take note of that ankle for an extended time period.”
