Paris (AFP)
"It's another challenge, a personal challenge to get back in shape and be able to help my team", reacted Monday Nikola Karabatic (36), victim of a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the right knee and who will be away from the land long months.
This first big injury in a huge career will make him miss crucial deadlines with PSG and the France team.
"I'm not worried about the recovery and coming back," he tried to reassure.
Q: We saw you wince on that reception on Saturday.
Did you feel it was serious?
A: "On the reception, it hurt me a lot. After that, it calmed down immediately, it was paradoxical. I thought it was not that bad, given that I could walking again and that I had hardly any pain. On the tests, we had a little doubt. But I felt that there had been something a little weird about this reception. "
Q: You are on a countdown to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in nine months.
A: "The most important thing is the operation. For the moment, I am not planning any further. Two weeks ago, I was doing an interview where I said that I felt good, we were talking about it. 'future. In sport, things are going very, very quickly. I now avoid projecting myself more than that. It will be long, but it is part of life as an athlete. "
Q: How do you approach this first big injury at 36?
A: "I was proud enough not to have had this type of injury throughout my career and to have been able to keep up with the matches in the French team or in clubs. I no longer have this invincibility now. is another challenge, a personal challenge to get back in shape and be able to help my team. "
Q: You stayed in 21 consecutive major tournaments with the Blues.
Is there a pang in my heart when thinking of the end of this incredible series?
A: "It's more the fact of missing an adventure and a great competition with the France team. These are moments that remain engraved, whether or not we bring back medals. I will live this adventure by proxy by watching my friends on TV, and vibrating with them. But for sure, it's going to be hard not to be there and not to be with them. "
Q: You are 36 years old.
Could this injury be related to body fatigue?
A: "This type of injury can happen at any time, due to the contact sport you play, the number of matches you play, the very minimal recovery times between matches. have happened to me in the past. There is a game or two where you are a little more tired and the risk of injury is greater. In this game, it was necessarily the case. With my hygiene of life and my mentality in training, I know that I will do a good rehab, and whether I'm 36-37 or 33, 30 or 25, I don't think age changes anything thing."
Q: In the past, you have recovered from injuries quite quickly.
Is it reassuring?
A: "I'm sad and disappointed about the injury. And what saddens me the most is disappointing the people who rely on me, my club and my teammates. After that, I'm not too worried about recovery and coming back. I am used to recovering faster from my injuries, but this is not an injury like the others. I know that I will be well followed and that I will not take any risks . I don't want to project too much into recovery, but I will do my best to recover as quickly as possible. "
Words gathered during a telephone interview.
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