Former Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Jakub Moder has admitted the knee injury he suffered in 2022 ruined his time at the club.
1908 cover an interview with the Polish midfielder today made to In Hand In Hand, the magazine of FSV De Feijenoorder, in which he discusses Brighton and his move to Feyenoord.
Moder moved to the Dutch side in a €1.5m move in the January transfer window, bringing an end to a five-year stay with Brighton, who he joined for €11m in October 2020.
His time with the Seagulls proved to be a disappointing one as he managed just 71 appearances in total, largely thanks to a serious knee injury suffered in 2022.
That cruciate ligament injury saw him spend 576 days out of action and miss 93 games for club and country, by which point he found himself down the pecking order at Brighton. That was the first major injury for Moder, and he admits it was a tough process.
“Playing in the Premier League, that was the top!” he said.
“In England, every team has high-quality players, not just the big clubs. I wanted to compete at that level, it was a great opportunity.
“I had never had anything serious before this injury. Of course, I sometimes missed a game, but I had no long-term injury before. I had always been fit… and then suddenly that knee injury.
“The rehabilitation process was difficult, but I didn’t want to take any risks. My priority was always to return fully fit so I wouldn’t fall back again. Now I’m glad I made that decision, because it helped me to come back stronger in the long run.”
Moder is now getting back on track with Feyenoord, where he has proven to be a big hit since arriving in January.
He’s been a regular for them since joining and earned that status, putting in a series of impressive performances in the Netherlands and the Champions League that have some considering him as a major bargain.
The move was a brave one for Moder to make, with it something of a step back from his time at Brighton, but he insists he did his research beforehand.
“I asked my Brighton teammates Mats Wieffer and Yankuba Minteh about the club and only got positive stories,” he added.
“My good friend from the Polish team, Sebastian Szymanski, also spoke with praise. In addition, I immediately felt the trust of the club during the conversations.
“They believed in my skills and that made me feel good. The choice for Feyenoord was therefore quickly made. In the beginning it took some getting used to football in the Eredivisie and the playing style of Feyenoord. I noticed that in my first matches, but my self-confidence and fitness increase and I keep getting better in my game.”
