Barcelona gem sees the silver-lining after lengthy injury absence – ‘I’ve come out of this a better person’ | OneFootball

The Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys burst to life and chants of Gavi’s name echoed around the stadium emphatically last weekend in the second half of Barcelona’s game against Sevilla.

As the player warmed up with the stadium ringing chants of his name, he soaked the emotion in and the night only got better when Hansi Flick called on him to step onto the field for the first time in close to a year.

Standing on the sidelines ready to come on, Pedri walked over with the captain’s armband and slipped it onto Gavi’s arm, gifting him an honour for all that he had been through over the past year.

Gavi talks about his injury

Speaking to the media ahead of El Clasico, Gavi opened up on the mental aspect of facing such a long setback early in his career and what has come of it, albeit with serious positivity.

“I have learned a lot because you value things much more now. It’s a learning that I take for life.”

“This injury is one of the hardest and I have come out of this injury as a better person and a better teammate as well,” he added.

Gavi made his comeback last weekend vs Sevilla. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Speaking on the importance of his support system and close circle over the past year, the La Masia starlet shared the serious gratitude he had towards them.

“My family above all, which is with whom I share day to day and my friends. He has supported me in them all this time and also in my colleagues, who in the end I am with them on a daily basis.”

Gavi made his return from injury during Barcelona’s win over Sevilla and came on as a substitute once again against Bayern Munich. When asked if he has any deadline over a complete return as a starter, he said,

“I have not set myself any deadline, it is to get rhythm each game, to recover the form I had before the injury. Little by little, it’s hard because in the end there have been many months away, but I’m sure I’ll catch up with all my teammates.”

“After almost 11 months I’m very happy to be back with the whole team and have my minutes,” he added, valuing every minute he gets.

Finally, the youngster was asked if he had any fear of a relapse lingering at the back of his mind after such a serious setback.

“In the end, one of the best things I have on the pitch is that I don’t think about things. What I am finding more difficult is the pace of the competition. In the end, so many months away is what is most difficult to get into,” he added, highlighting it as the primary challenge.

Source: Mundo Deportivo