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Chico: vision from a distance

Chico was injured in late October, and from being a regular feature of Carmona’s team, he came to witness the action from the sidelines. It was not an easy season for him.

It was a difficult time, as he was forced to sit out most of a season in which his club suffered to avoid relegation from the top flight. “With my colleagues’ help I more or less managed to put up with it. The hardest time was the first three months, when I was on crutches and couldn’t be with the team. From the third month, I started running a bit and was able to kick the ball about.”

Injury and the team’s poor form

Chico injured cruciate ligaments in the meniscus of his left knee in October in training. He was the top scorer at the time with four goals, two of which came in the last game he played against Celta Vigo, where his goal with three seconds left secured a valuable 4-3 win for his team.

Without Chico, Barça immediately embarked on a series of seven matches without a win. “If I had been injured and the team had continued to lose, that would have been one thing, but for the team to be losing and me unable to help... I found it really hard. I came to some of the games, I didn’t want to at first, but the players encouraged me to come, and Marc told me to come too. In the end at least they were able to stay up.”

Back for the Copa Catalunya

It was both a physical and mental struggle to get fit gain, but his team-mates supported him throughout. He missed what remained of the season, but did make a brief comeback before the holidays to play in the Copa Catalunya against Blanes and Martorell. Chico reencountered the court, and also the goal. The Brazilian scored three goals in the semi finals to herald a dramatic comeback, and had the summer ahead of him to get back to full fitness.