Pedro Emanuel has same injury as Nehuén Pérez: "First days toughest" | OneFootball

Because it involves a long recovery period, a complete rupture of the Achilles tendon is among the most feared injuries for footballers. Pedro Emanuel, currently the coach of Al Fayha in the top league of Saudi Arabia, knows this all too well. On August 11, 2006, during a pre-season match between FC Porto and Manchester City, the then central defender was injured during the warm-up and underwent surgery the following day. “A complete rupture of the Achilles tendon is, as we know, one of the most serious injuries a football player can have,” said the former defender, agreeing to discuss what Nehuén Pérez, also a central defender for FC Porto, is currently going through. “The advantage for Nehuén is that he is still young, and his recovery will be faster,” added the 50-year-old coach. This optimism has a simple explanation: “His body will allow for a different recovery than mine, because I was already 31 years old and, for that reason, was at a different stage of my career,” he explained.

In fact, after not playing any matches in the 2006/07 season, Pedro Emanuel returned to the pitch the following season, appearing in 27 games for FC Porto. Before that, he underwent a second surgery on his left Achilles tendon to treat a partial necrosis that delayed his recovery. In 2008/09, he played in another 15 matches for the Dragons before retiring. “The first impact is always hard to bear,” said Pedro Emanuel, explaining what he expects Nehuén will face in the coming weeks. “These first days are always the hardest to get through, especially psychologically, knowing that we’re going to have a long break and that we’re starting a process where we’re fighting against ourselves. Recovery depends on that,” he added.

The former defender, now coach, highlighted the need to combine patience and courage. “Each day is a new day, the process is slow, and for that reason, you have to stay very focused and well supported so that, in moments of weakness, on days when you feel down, you always have support, whether it’s from family or professionals, as I did at the time,” he emphasized. “I had two surgeries, because the first didn’t go well and we had to go for a second, and I was out for quite a long time. I know it’s a delicate moment in our career, it’s always that moment that no player wants to face, but when it happens, we have to find a solution,” Pedro Emanuel recalled, before referring to the Argentine defender, who was discharged from the hospital yesterday, a day after surgery, 48 hours after suffering the serious injury in the second half of FC Porto-Nacional. “It seems to me that Nehuén is a player who has always shown that grit, that determination, and naturally, that is a great help in the recovery process.”

Finally, Pedro Emanuel emphasized that recovery will be slow: “We know it’s a lengthy process, but at the same time, it’s something that forces us to surpass ourselves. As I said before, it’s us fighting against ourselves, and that daily effort has to be the focus of all Nehuén’s attention,” he concluded.

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