Xavi Simons recounts his hell: “They were the worst of my life. I didn’t eat anything for a week”
Xavi Simons23 years old, took an important step in his sports career last summer. After shining with his own light at RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, he landed in the Premier League after paying 65 million euros from Tottenham. He was going to play in the Champions League and prepare in the best way for the World Cup with the Netherlands.
However, the reality ended up being different. He had a hard time adapting to English football and the team had a terrible year. They were saved from relegation on the last day when the team was made to fight for everything. To make matters worse, on one of the final days and when the FC Barcelona youth player was at his best, everything went to waste. He suffered a serious knee injury that left him without helping the team in the last 4 games and without the World Cup. Now, two and a half months later and in full recovery, on the Tottenham channel he explains what those moments were like.
The time of injury. “Okay, I’m going to run.” It was an action I had performed perhaps 10,000 times in my life. Just when I wanted to pass, he decided to interpose his body; I felt my legs stuck to the ground while my body went the other way. I said to myself: “Let me see if something has happened, let me get up.” I tried to get up and move towards… but then it felt like my knee had popped out of place and back in. That’s when I knew it was all over. The doctors called me and said: “Xavi, I’m sorry, but it’s the anterior cruciate ligament.” Hearing that, I felt like my whole body was collapsing,” explains the young player.
The support of his family, key: “I was crying, obviously, with my family. The next day, my mother came home. I remember we were sitting next to the table in the morning and I kept thinking that I was missing the most important thing: helping my club fight to avoid relegation. She told me: “Xavi, stop. It’s already done. You can’t do anything anymore. This has happened, you have to accept it and move on. Things happen for a reason in life and you have to see it that way.” He told me looking at my face. From that moment on, my mentality changed,” he explained.
However, the worst was yet to come after the operation: “The first four days were the worst of my life. I couldn’t sleep. I didn’t eat anything for a week. I was in a lot of pain, I was vomiting, I was dizzy… it was terrible. I wouldn’t wish anyone to go through that pain. I don’t know what it’s like for other players, but in my case, it was like my whole body was asking, ‘What’s happening?’ I’m 23 years old, I’ve never been on sick leave. This has never happened before, why now?” I think my body reacted like that.”
Luckily, now the reality is different and he is still far from competing again, but he is making steady progress in his recovery: “I am very happy and I am in a good moment. I am with my family and we have worked a lot; they have been through a lot with me during these ten weeks. But I would say that, from the second week, everything went very well; everything went wonderfully. Luckily, I have the support of my club and, seeing how my body responds, I think: “Okay, now we can try new things and advance in different aspects.” Each time Since I’m in the gym, I think I have to get stronger and improve. Having that motivation present every day is really rewarding for me.
A Xavi Simons who has long-term goals and ambition intact to fight for them until he achieves them: “My goal is to return the club to where it belongs and win trophies. That is my main goal and it will not disappear.”
