Arturo Vidal admits he was in ‘dire condition’ with his knee injury, but says he played through the pain barrier out of love for Juventus.
The Chilean midfielder underwent surgery on his knee at the end of last season, before playing in the World Cup, and Bianconeri Coach Massimiliano Allegri admitted yesterday that the player struggled to regain his fitness.
“Last year, coming back so fast seriously threatened to irreparably hurt me,” Vidal revealed in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.
Arturo Vidal admits he was in ‘dire condition’ with his knee injury, but says he played through the pain barrier out of love for Juventus.
The Chilean midfielder underwent surgery on his knee at the end of last season, before playing in the World Cup, and Bianconeri Coach Massimiliano Allegri admitted yesterday that the player struggled to regain his fitness.
“Last year, coming back so fast seriously threatened to irreparably hurt me,” Vidal revealed in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I made a choice out of love for Juve, I couldn’t abandon the team before the Europa League Semi-Final with Benfica.
“Yes, it’s true that I played in the World Cup and for a good part of the year, but I decided with my heart, I love Juve.
“I must also say thanks to the Chile CT [Jorge Sampaoli], who waited for me. Others wouldn’t have done that.
“The criticism I received was often unjust, I played in a dire physical condition, the extent of which only the doctors and I know.
“But, if I’m needed, I do not shy away, not ever.
“I have nothing to reproach myself on a professional level, I always gave 1000 per cent on the field, no matter what condition I was in.”
The Old Lady face Monaco tonight in the first leg of their Champions League Quarter Final, and Vidal says he and his teammates want to go even further.
“They deserve respect. They’re very well-drilled tactically and extremely dangerous on the break. Just look at what they did to Arsenal. We’ll need patience and concentration.
“We have clear heads because we know how important this period is that we’re going through.
“We want to do as well as we can, we’ve reached a level of maturity where we can get to the end in all competitions.
“The group is hungry. [Winning] the Champions League is not easy, but now we’re in the mix. To sit at the top table with Real [Madrid], Bayern [Munich] and Barcelona you have to win the Champions League.
“I think we’re already among the top four teams in the world, and once you reach the Semi-Finals anything can happen.”
Finally, the former Bayer Leverkusen man dismissed speculation he could leave, despite interest from the likes of Manchester United.
“Serie A was my university. I’ve made the leap here, I’ve matured. I don’t feel the need to go anywhere else.
“I live in the present, and to make certain promises would make no sense. Nobody knows the future, but if I had to decide right now I’d stay for 40 years.
“I’m fine, and my family are happy in Turin.”