FLORENZI: "I'M EAGER TO GET BACK OUT THERE"
Alessandro Florenzi admits he cannot wait to get back out on the pitch, as he prepares to make his return to action against Chapecoense in a friendly at the Stadio Olimpico on Friday. The Italy international is back in action after 10 months on the sidelines, having suffered two serious knee injuries in the space of a four months. Having now completed his rehabilitation, the time has come for Florenzi to get back to what he loves doing most.
“On Friday I will return to the pitch after a fair bit of time, and obvious it will be great to be back out there: I have a real desire to be playing again," Florenzi told Roma Radio. "It’s been a while now that I’ve been training well with the first-team, and I feel good: these are the most important details. It will be a huge honour to take part in this game against Chapecoense, and I hope there are a lot of fans at the Olimpico to support them.”
The 26-year-old was asked how such a difficult period in his career had affected him as a person, and whether he allowed himself to feel angry after suffering a second injury when he was so close to a first-team return: “The first injury we didn’t rush," he said. "I was following the same protocol as my three teammates [Nura, Antonio Rudiger and Mario Rui] who had the same injury before me. But, of course, what happened is what happened, you know? Apart from the first month and a bit, when I was a bit down, I have kept my focus and my spirit, and worked on the recovery really well. Now six months have passed, six and a bit. I wouldn’t wish on anyone what I have had to go through, but you learn something about yourself. I feel stronger and in the hard moments you have to focus on the people that give you the most stability, that don’t mess you around. I had that with my daughter, my wife and my family – they were absolutely crucial.”
Florenzi was asked about the defeat to Inter at the weekend - hinting that the manner of the loss would only provide the squad with further motivation to work hard over the coming weeks: “After Perotti hit the post I did think we risked losing the game," he acknowledged. "We played a great game, and for a large part of it we were on the front foot. If one, two, three times you hit the post when you can make it 2-0 it is painful, and they took advantage. It would have been an important win, but now we must reflect on how well we actually played against them. The more we work hard and play as the coach wants, we’ll add those final touches.”
One of those final touches could be the arrival of Patrik Schick - the forward completing a club record move from Sampdoria on Tuesday: “We have signed a great player – truly a top-class talent," Florenzi said. "Last year we saw that he had great talent, when he played against us. The quality he has is obvious.”
(Photo LaPresse)
