Unfortunately for footballers, when a serious injury comes along it’s not a chance to fly to Barbados and let the sun’s natural healing powers do their job.
If Benjamin Mendy wants to get back this season, and be ready for World Cup selection, then there’s plenty of work ahead and much of that will be managed from Barcelona.
Under the care of Dr Ramon Cugat, the Manchester City defender is going through his rehabilitation, and L’Equipe have spent some time with him.
The French newspaper travelled to Barcelona and found Mendy in a clinic. Surrounded by nine other patients, ranging in ages and ailments, Mendy is typically making the most of it: “Before, I had a circle where there were not many people, I chose another.
“Here, there are people, I see them doing exercises. Everyone is working, we are not here to feel sorry for ourselves. Yesterday, I was talking with a child who played tennis, he came to ask me questions. In the life I lived, I would never have rubbed shoulders with an eleven year old every day. It feels good to see something else.”
Mendy has been staying in an apartment off Las Ramblas, and every day visits the clinic for several hours of treatment, and in his downtime plays video games with friends who are keeping him company.
It’s not easy work, L’Equipe say the strain is evident on Mendy’s face as the Manchester City player is encouraged to push himself: “I like to ask questions, for the exercise to be explained to me. Once I have the explanations, all I am told, I will do it. I asked: what is the pain? I was answered. It’s not a pain, it’s as if it’s stretching, the ligament is new, so it’s not used to that movement. This pain, I do not fear it.”
A quick rest, a video-call to Pep Guardiola which entertains the room, and then Mendy is back on it, this time standing as he stretches his ligaments.
Long term friend Diacko Fofana, is a victim of the same injury, says of Mendy: “Maybe at first it was a little hard. Not anymore. When I see him doing that, I tell myself he’s a pit bull. What he does after three weeks is incredible. People should see it to believe it.”
The evening is time for relaxing on the terrace and looking out over Barcelona: ‘Russia is still far away, for the moment’
