Injured Barcelona star opens up on difficult rehabilitation – ‘Should have listened to my body’

Barcelona defender Andreas Christensen has admitted that he cannot remember the last time he played for the club without experiencing some form of pain. However, has now taken the road to recovery.

Christensen’s season started with just 26 minutes of play against Valencia in the opening match, after which he disappeared from the squad. Despite the setback, his injury had a silver lining: it helped facilitate Dani Olmo’s registration until the end of the year.

Since then, Christensen, who has ruled out January exit, has been recovering from a long-term injury that has kept him off the field. However, there are positive signs now, and his return to action is fast approaching.

In a recent interview with TV 2 Sport (h/t AS), Christensen opened up about the struggles he faced and reflected on the suffering he endured since last season.

Should have listened to his body

The defender had been playing with a painful tendinopathy in his left Achilles, which forced him to play through discomfort in several games. He admitted that he should have listened to his body sooner and taken time off to rest.

“Maybe I should have listened to my body earlier and done it sooner, but on the other hand, you want to play all the time and help. I’ve learned that you have to take care of your body when it needs it,” he began saying.

He expressed regret over not slowing down, as his desire to always play and contribute pushed him to keep going. In hindsight, he acknowledges that taking better care of his body would have been the wiser choice.

“I should have done it already, on my own, last season. I think everyone knows I’ve been playing with pain for a while now.”

Went under the knife

Fortunately, Christensen underwent a minor operation a few weeks ago in Sweden, which has sped up his recovery. He confessed that if he had known the procedure would make such a difference, he would have opted for it earlier.

However, he chooses to stay positive and not dwell on the past. While he doesn’t want to set an exact return date, Christensen is confident that he will soon be back on the pitch.

He emphasized that he must be cautious not to push himself too hard too soon, as this could risk another setback.

“I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself, but I’ll be back on the field soon. It’s a start because you have to be careful not to start too hard because it can flare up again,” he added.

His eventual return will bring much-needed relief to coach Hansi Flick, who has had to rely heavily on defenders like Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez, who have been playing continuously.

Christensen’s comeback will offer valuable depth to the squad, allowing the coach to rest these players and manage their workload more effectively.