América's Bruno Valdez close to returning after knee injury nightmare | OneFootball

América defender Bruno Valdez is hoping a full pre-season will bring him back to the level he was at before a horrific knee injury last August.

The Paraguay international tore his ACL and suffered MCL issues as well after Monterrey Vincent Janssen accidently landed on his leg.

Valdez admits his road to recovery has taken longer than planned.

“The guys I spoke with who suffered the same injury told me that I needed a pre-season to be able to measure up to my team-mates, at the level of demand that is required and today I feel like nothing,” he told TUDN.

“I want to return to that level to be able to be calm and give joy to my family, more than anything, and also to the fans.”

Santiago Solari has replaced Miguel Herrera as manager while Valdez has been sidelined, but he insists the expectations remain high no matter who is in charge of the Azulcrema.

“We always talk about it and say that if we don’t get a trophy it is like a failure,” the 28-year-old said.

“We know the demands of the club and every season we set our goal to win the league.”

América begin their pre-season tour of the United States on Sunday with a friendly against Santos Laguna in Utah.