Huge boost for Real Madrid as key defender announces comeback after nine months – ‘I am ready’ | OneFootball

Real Madrid veteran and captain Dani Carvajal is counting down the days until he can step out onto the field again after spending almost nine months out of action due to an ACL injury.

The right-back has been training at the same pace as his teammates for several days now during the team’s FIFA Club World Cup campaign, and he has expressed his hope to get back in action soon.

‘I am ready to compete’: Carvajal

Ahead of tomorrow’s Round of 16 encounter against Juventus, Carvajal confirmed that he feels good and ready to be available at manager Xabi Alonso’s disposal.

“I feel very good, already in the group dynamic. I don’t know if I’ll be in the squad tomorrow and on the bench at the manager’s disposal. I’m very happy,” he said, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

“I faced it from day one, knowing I had a long-term injury and that I have to go through phases little by little and not rush, which is the most important thing. It’s been almost nine months and I’m ready to compete,” he added.

Continuing, Carvajal insisted that he feels prepared to go all-out once he receives the clean-chit from the medical department, saying:

“I know myself and I know that when they let me go, I’m going to give 100%. I’m not afraid or lacking confidence, no way. Full throttle.

“What I do notice is the competitive rhythm. I’ve been training with the team for two weeks and whether you like it or not, you can see that spark, but I’m not afraid to put my foot in it; I’ve overcome that.”

Talking about the injury ordeal and the recovery process he had to go through to make it back, Carvajal added:

“Until these things happen to you, you don’t really know the extent, but it has also caught me at a mature moment in my career, in which thanks to the environment I have, my family, my children, a more structured life, and that has relieved me.

“If it had happened to me a few years earlier, without my wife, I would have given it a lot more thought.”

Ready to return. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Further continuing, the veteran star remarked: “It’s a pain to be injured, but that’s the way it is. I woke up every day with a lot of energy, grateful to do gym or go with a crutch, and facing it with happiness, which is the basis of this process.”

On the upcoming game, his teammates

Talking about tomorrow’s face-off against Juventus, with a spot in the quarter-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup on the line, Carvajal said:

“The team is looking forward to tomorrow’s game. The knockout phase begins and if you lose you go home, so we have to be at our best. The team is already mentally focused on Juventus and hopefully we can be in the quarters.”

Reflecting on how the team has performed so far in the competition, the Spaniard added:

“We struggled against Al Hilal and Pachuca, when we went a man down early on. The team is gaining confidence and it’s true that Juve is a stronger opponent.

“It comes together that the opponent is stronger and that it’s a knockout stage. We are looking forward to it.”

Commenting on new manager Xabi Alonso and his methods, Carvajal noted: “The coach is giving a lot of versatility to the team, with Tchouameni’s position of playing between the two central defenders.”

On his own role, considering Trent Alexander-Arnold has started at right-back so far at the tournament, Carvajal added:

“Personally, I don’t mind if they put me in goal. I’ve played centre-back, left-back, winger. I don’t go into that and I’m always available to whatever the coach demands.”

Source: Mundo Deportivo