Samu: “It was very special to come back in this match” | OneFootball

More than seven months after the injury to his right knee, Samu returned to the pitch in FC Porto’s 3-1 win over Benfica, in a clássico that marked the end of a lengthy absence. The Spanish international striker spoke about the sacrifices of recovery, the support of the fans, and the importance of a victory he does not want to see treated as an end point. At the moment of his return, he assured: “It was very special to come back in this match.”

In the aftermath of a blue-and-white clássico, Samu made clear the personal significance of a return built away from the spotlight, through daily work and a desire to shorten a layoff that lasted more than seven months. The message was clear: recovery demanded patience, but it never diminished his ambition to come back quickly and in top condition.

Asked about his return to the pitch, the striker described a demanding journey, made up of sacrifices that are not always visible outside the daily grind.

“It was how I dreamed it would be. It was a very long journey. No one saw the sacrifices I made by training every day without a holiday,” he said. “When we want something, we have to fight for it. My idea was clear: I wanted to come back in the best way possible and as quickly as possible. I have to thank the medical staff. It was very special to come back in this match. I’m very happy.”

In his words, the return was neither a coincidence nor simply another box ticked. It was the result of determined persistence and a recovery process in which the medical staff played a decisive role.

Samu acknowledged that the priority was to recover safely, although he never hid his desire to speed up the process. The clássico against Benfica had not even been in his immediate plans.

“I made many sacrifices. I knew the priority was to recover properly, but if I could recover faster, that would be even better. It wasn’t planned for me to play in this match, but everything went well. The medical staff gave me the green light and I was able to play.”

The green light allowed him to turn the wait into an appearance in one of the most significant matches on the calendar. His return therefore took on even greater meaning because of the stage on which it happened.

The striker also made a point of highlighting the support he received from the Porto family during his recovery period, underlining the connection he feels with the fans.

“Their support was very important for my recovery. The way they welcomed me was very rewarding and it will stay in my heart forever,” he stressed. “Whenever I see them in the street, I feel their support and I’m very grateful to them for that.”

More than just the reception on matchday, Samu described support that he felt throughout the entire process. It is a bond he directly associates with the strength to get through a long spell.

On the clássico itself, the Spanish international praised the team performance, although he acknowledged that Benfica also created chances in the early stages.

“It was a very complete performance from us. At first, they also created some chances, but when we shift up a gear, there’s no team that can catch us,” he said. “I congratulate the team on this match. It was an important win, but there are still many matches ahead and we have to keep going like this.”

The excitement of the 3-1 win did not erase the caution. Samu valued the victory, but immediately pointed to the need for consistency, refusing to treat the clássico as anything more than one step on a still long road.

Finally, he spoke about faith as a central element in his life and in the way he faced the months of absence. The reference to his mother and to God framed the more intimate side of his return.

“God has always been very important in my life. My mother raised me that way. Everything I do is for God,” he said. “He knows everything I went through to be able to play on this pitch again. Without Him I couldn’t be here. He gives me strength every day to get up.”

After a recovery marked by sacrifice, Samu also placed his return to the pitch on the level of gratitude. The win in the clássico was special, but for the striker, the chance to play again carried an even deeper meaning.

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