"I burst into tears" – Alphonso Davies opens up on tough time on the sidelines | OneFootball

More than eight months after suffering a cruciate ligament injury in a game for Canada, Alphonso Davies returned to action for Bayern Munich in a Champions League match against Sporting CP in December.

In an interview with FC Bayern’s club magazine ‘51’, the left-back has opened up about how he felt when he first received the diagnosis and following his surgery.

"When I heard the diagnosis, all the energy went out of my body," said Davies.

"After the op, I woke up, looked at my leg and couldn’t believe what happened. Then the questions came: will I be the same again? Will I play again? What, when…?

“When I showered for the first time after the op, all the emotions came out. I burst into tears," continued the Canadian international.

A long period of rehabilitation followed, and Davies tried his best to stay mentally strong.

"I was in pain, couldn’t bend my leg, couldn’t walk for six or seven weeks. I hardly slept at night, woke up in pools of sweat," he recalled.

"The mental healing was harder than the physical. Not knowing exactly how long you’re out for. Not being able to play. Having to do the same thing every day… Eventually your mind gets tired and says: I don’t want this anymore.

"I said to myself: I can sit here and feel sorry for myself, or I can stay positive and fight. And that’s what I did. I knew there was no point complaining."

For the FC Bayern star, the injury put life and football into perspective

"Only being able to watch, not being involved, week after week – that opened my eyes. Maybe I needed to take a step back to see the bigger picture," he reflected.

"I know now that I can’t take anything for granted. When I’m on the pitch now, I give even more than before my injury. I enjoy playing the sport I love. With people who I love. Being outside, fighting, winning."