“I still have a long way to go to be perfect”

Enes ÜnalGetafe forward, assured this Wednesday in a press conference that he “has far from perfect” after passing a serious knee injury and highlighted that the overall process of recovery to be like before can take up to twelve months.

Getafe’s Turkish attacker was injured at the end of last season in a match Legs. After nearly seven and a half months in the infirmary because of a torn cruciate knee in his right leg, he appeared before the Vallecano Ray on the last day of LaLiga EA Sports (played 22 minutes) and repeated against Espanyol in the Cup (26 minutes). Ünal is clear: “I want to play“, said.

“I’m so happy. Tried it enjoy the moment. They were very difficult months for me, with a lot of work without my colleagues. Ultimately we all want to compete as footballers. When you don’t, it’s annoying. Finally I can compete with my friends and be happy,” he said.

“I am also in another process. I’m like a footballer. I still have a long way to go to be perfect. These types of claims take up to twelve months to process. I am very happy but every day is a new competition for me. Every day you have to overcome things and I’m getting there every day,” he added.

Also, he reported that every player in the Getafe squad helped him “a lot” in his recovery and recalled that last year he watched his team’s last games from the hospital with a special request for his teammate: “I just told them I want to play in the First Division.” and they told me not to worry about anything. I watched the games with great anxiety, but with confidence in my teammates. This season is different. I felt calm and eager to be with the team. “I am very proud to be on this team, how they compete and how they work,” he commented.

In addition, he revealed that the previous treatments he did with psychologists helped him to know how to behave now: “I haven’t worked with anyone in particular. Earlier in my career, I did this type of work. Especially in Valladolid, where I struggled because I had anxiety. When you work long hours on those things, you learn how to handle yourself,” he explained.

“The most important thing is self talk, that you know how to handle different things. I know how to do it. I try to watch a lot of videos. We are 2024 and counting. There are top athletes who have suffered these types of injuries and there are always plenty of anecdotes. For example, Kobe Bryant. “I see things that help me a lot,” he added.

He also admitted that for seven and a half months he was injured has learned to be a better father because he has more time to spend with his daughter. And, in addition, he shared that part of his recovery was completed in Serbia, where he spent seventy days with other athletes who suffered injuries equal to or more complicated than his.

“When you always play, I was never hurt and I was proud to be like this and sometimes you don’t realize these things and when they happen you realize them. I also learned that even though he took care of me, you need to take care of yourself more. At any time you may lose the opportunity to play and compete. “Right now I’m trying to enjoy myself more than ever.”

Asked about the role played by José Bordalás during his injury, he said that it was “very important” because of all the confidence he gave in how he could recover in Serbia: “He gave me confidence and in all these months he didn’t bother me. “They gave me all their support and they were very nice.”

Now, he declared, he really “wants” to play all the remaining games of the season, starting with the next one, next week against Sevilla in the Copa del Rey. “I want to win and go through the rounds in that competition. We are very happy with how well the team played. Latasa, Mayoral and all the forwards are at a very high level and I am ambitious,” he highlighted.

“My idea is to come back from the injury and be one more. It’s necessary for the team and for the coach. Now I’m in that moment. Physically and mentally I’m okay. Depends on the coach. In my position there were teammates who played for six months and were very good,” he recalled.

Asked if before his injury he had received offers from more important Getafe teams, he acknowledged that there were “things” but clarified that he had told his representative that I don’t want anyone to “know” until the end of a season in which his team was in danger of survival.

About the possibility of playing the European Cup with Turkey, he indicated that he sometimes thinks about it although he made it clear that when you recover from a serious injury every day is more important.

“I’m focused on the next game. I really want to compete and when the time comes We will see. Today in Türkiye many young and talented forwards are emerging. But I focus on the moment.”

Ünal made it clear that he didn’t have any kind of problem or fear when it came to put your leg or play hard and without hesitation in the games. “But when every game ends you think… ‘ugh, I’m not injured.’ When you’re playing you don’t think, you don’t have time. But when it’s over, you’re more grateful. And as each day passes it gives you more freedom and movement. It’s a game of repetitive movement, repeating and repeating. i’m fine. i’ve never been a player to be afraid and i hope not.

Finally, a few days after Quique Sánchez Flores took over Sevilla, he spoke about who was his coach at Getafe until last season: “The coach has been great for us. Many people forget the first year. They have no memory. We were drowning, he came here and saved us. We are very grateful for this. When he comes here, if we have time I will say hello,” he concluded.