Thierry Rendall: “The injury has made me more mature” | OneFootball

After almost a year out through injury, Thierry Correia is close to his return to action for Valencia CF. The defender, who tore his ACL against Getafe in October 2024, spoke to VCF Media this week.

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“I'm feeling very good. It's come as a surprise, because two months ago, when we returned for preseason, I was still having discomfort, and I didn't think I'd be able to be back for late September.”

The injury

“It was in around the 50th minute, and I was going in strongly for a challenge. When I saw Alderete coming in for the ball as well, I tried to move my foot to avoid receiving a second yellow card, and in that movement, my knee turned inward and I heard a snap. I felt a little discomfort, but it was more the shock of the sound, because that's never a good sign. When I went into the dressing room, I was still warmed up, and I put my foot on the ground and told the doctor I was fine and that I was going to go out and finish the game. At the end of the game, I didn't have much mobility in my knee; it hurt a little. I thought it was nothing, but it turned out to be the worst case scenario.”

The initial diagnosis

“The day the doctor told me the severity of the injury, it was very difficult to talk to my family and friends and explain the torn ligament. From the beginning, I knew I was going to recover, even when I was upset and in a lot of pain. During the first month I felt very good, even though I was in pain, but then when I started working out and going to the gym, the problems started.”

The toughest moment

“It's difficult to say which was the toughest moment, because they were all bad. In the first month, being with my family in Portugal and being away from the dressing room and my teammates was tough; so much so that I told my wife I was going to return to Valencia. I wanted to be with my teammates. For me, someone whose profession is all about his body, not being able to do anything was tough. In the fourth month of my recovery, I was at home after training, doing my extra work, and I started to cry. I have mirrors in the gym, and I looked at myself and asked myself why I was crying. I knew I was going to play football again, and that moment was special -because I was alone. I looked in the mirror and saw a person who had to keep fighting despite all the adversities.

Whether I was training or seeing the physio at the club, tears filled my eyes, because the recovery process was very hard. Rai, the physio who treated me, told me that I had to be patient and that there would be ups and downs. He was right. Jordi Sorlí has been a fundamental person in my recovery. It's very difficult to work with me. because I have very little patience and I always want to come back as quickly as possible. The physios and the doctors have helped me a lot. I often tell them they're the most important people at the club, because the players spend a lot of time with them and talk to them about everything in our lives. They end up being your friends. The most important thing was to stay focused on the goal, which was to come back."

Recovery work

“I did my recovery work on holiday, in the gym, and it was going well -I had no discomfort. I was going to dinner with my wife and, when I was getting up from my chair, I couldn't move. She asked me how I could play again if that was what happened to me in a restaurant. It was a team effort, with physiotherapists, rehabilitation specialists, doctors… we talked and saw how my body responded; we didn't set a timeframe for when I would return. When I went on holiday, we set the goal as returning at the beginning of September. When I came back, my knee had got stronger. Mental work also helps with this type of recovery. When I started training with the ball on the pitch, I started to get excited, because the feeling was so good. It was much better than I thought.”

“There are no words to describe it. My wife, my mother and my friends were a huge help. When I was in Portugal, they would come to my house after work and check in on me, to see if I needed anything. They even drove from Lisbon to Valencia -some 8 hours- to be with me.”

Being part of the group

“The most important thing for me is to feel like I'm part of the group, even if I can't train or play in the games. I've been in the dressing room, in the treatment room with the physios, and around them when I go to Mestalla before games. They make me feel like I'm part of the team. Being with them is very important.”

Learning

“This injury has made me more mature. I've always been an impatient person. There are always positive things we can take away from situations, like not taking anything for granted -because your life can change in a second. It's also made me realise that I'm a very hard-working person.”

The team

“I think they are doing very well. They are competitive, and the new signings can give us a lot. We could have a special year. I might be available to be called up for the game against FC Barcelona. I'm feeling good, but it will depend on Carlos Corberán. I don't care about the position I play in: Even if I have to play as a striker. The most important thing is being able to get onto the pitch.”

Mestalla

“I miss it a lot. The last time I played at Mestalla, It was a defeat against UD Las Palmas, and I'll never forget it. In my first year here, I already felt that Mestalla was a difference-making factor. The fans help us a lot; they've shown me a lot of affection. It's important to play where you feel loved, because the feeling is different, and for me, the affection of the fans is very important.”