Lucas: ‘Worst injury’ hit São Paulo, eyes new goals before exit | OneFootball

The attacking midfielder Lucas Moura made a huge effort and, just four weeks after a minor surgical procedure to remove fibrosis that was causing pain in his knee, was already back on the field helping São Paulo in the big Libertadores quarterfinals match against LDU this Thursday (25).

He played just over 20 minutes wearing the number 7 shirt for São Paulo, but was unable to create major plays, still obviously feeling the lack of match rhythm, as the player himself explained in an interview in the mixed zone at Morumbi after the elimination.

“Physically, it’s obvious that I’m not at my best yet. I still need a bit more match rhythm, it hasn’t even been four weeks since the surgery, the arthroscopy, but it’s good to gain that by playing, game by game. But the most important thing is being available today to help, to come on, to feel good, totally different from other times,” he said.

“The pain I used to feel, I don’t feel anymore. Now it’s about regaining that match rhythm, regaining the strength that’s still a little lacking in my knee, but thank God, without that nightmare I went through,” Lucas added.

BIGGEST INJURY OF HIS CAREER

But it wasn’t easy. The club idol described this latest knee injury, suffered back in the semifinals of the Paulistão in March, as the ‘biggest challenge of his career’.

“This injury I had was the biggest challenge of my career in terms of injuries. The knee kept me out practically the whole season, Oscar, unfortunately, also had bad luck, he went up and fell, hurt his back, Calleri tore his ligament, a very serious injury for any player,” lamented Lucas.

“So unfortunately we suffered a lot with injuries, and I think all teams suffer with injuries, but it ended up that several starting players got injured at the same time. And São Paulo managed to reinvent itself with academy players, with the players who arrived, with players who were already in the first team like Rodriguinho, who has been standing out. I think we had every chance to turn things around today, we just couldn’t convert the chances we created into goals. They did, and deservedly, let’s say, went through,” the player explained.

COMING TO THE END OF HIS SPELL?

Finally, the experienced São Paulo player was asked about his future goals at the club, and Lucas mentioned that his contract ends at the end of next season when talking about the goals ahead.

“The first step is to finish in the best possible position in the Brasileirão, get back to the Libertadores next year, my contract ends at the end of next year, and then it’s about fighting for titles. I’ve always said that. My goal when I’m on the field is to give my best, whatever the competition, whatever the game.”

“I want to win more titles with the São Paulo shirt, I want to put more pictures on the wall at the training center. That’s my goal. Now, my short-term goal is to regain my best form, get my match rhythm back, help São Paulo in this final stretch and qualify again for the Libertadores, and next year we’ll go after it,” concluded Lucas Moura.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.