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There are cases where
an anterior cruciate injury can seriously affect a player's career.
Mental strength during recovery represents 70% of the work.
I said: "Who's making me do this?"
Why? Enough is enough.
I watched it on television and saw the grimace of pain.
When I didn't have everything I have now,
I was just a kid with a dream.
It's vital that we don't put too much pressure on it.
This one goes on Instagram.
Dammit, let me get back on the pitch.
The ball is worked inside for Chiesa.
We're on the edge of the area, Chiesa stretches,
again for Dybala, he plays it back to Chiesa,
Chiesa tries to kick it, but is closed down by Smalling
who takes the ball and the man.
Chiesa stays down.
It's a clumsy tackle from Smalling.
Chiesa stays down,
hopefully it's nothing serious,
for the former Fiorentina player.
He's in a lot of pain, his arm goes up.
He took a knock to the left knee.
I was about to kick the ball,
when Smalling arrives.
And I feel this tremendous twinge in my knee.
At first, I thought I had torn a tendon.
I drop to the ground and really feel that my knee had gone.
The doctor comes on.
As soon as I see him, I say: "Doc, I can't feel my knee."
We tried to keep him calm because he was a little agitated.
"Stay on the field for a while until I call for a substitute."
"No, I can carry on", he said, "I can carry on,
I don't think it's that bad."
On the sidelines I said: "I'll have a go."
But as soon as I put my foot on the pitch
I felt this 'tack' sound with every step.
I felt 'tack' repeatedly.
First change of direction.
I felt a 'tack' sound, but it was stronger this time. I felt as if...
...as if the knee was coming out of the joint.
I dropped to the ground and...
...put my head in my hands.
When Lorenzo Pellegrini came over
I said to him, "I've completely broken it."
I started crying as soon as the doctor
performed a kind of movement on me to see
whether or not the cruciate was holding.
He got shocked and did like this with his head.
I started to despair, cry, and...
There are no words in a situation like that.
Knee valgus and...
...internal rotation.
Crack.
And that's it.
We went to Innsbruck to see Professor Fink
because he had already operated on two of our players,
Chiellini and Demiral, with excellent results.
My mum came with me to Innsbruck
because I was in so much pain,
and was really afraid about what would happen.
"This is the moment,"
I said,
"When the ordeal begins."
Marlon.
Chelsea, Marlon, good boys.
Federico was a hyperactive child,
a child who slept very little.
Clearly, as a mum, I thought,
"Either he really gets into sports,
or he'll be a real handful."
Federico and I are a bit in symbiosis,
we grew up together.
I was young when I had Federico.
I took him to training every day
and took him to matches,
I took him to tournaments.
I've always been there for him, in some way.
The strange thing about the injury is that
I just didn't think about it
I watched it on the television, saw when it happened,
how he screamed and I saw the grimace of pain.
It didn't seem like something real to me,
the idea of a serious injury. I didn't believe it was possible.
Ever since this injury came along,
I must admit,
it frightens me a lot more now.
In terms of cases on worldwide records
an anterior cruciate injury can seriously affect a player's career.
They can fail to return to their former levels.
Good morning.
Federico's operation went very well.
We repaired the injured cruciate.
We sutured the meniscus to ensure greater stability of the knee.
Look, when I do this it creates a vacuum.
Then when I pull, it goes 'pop'.
Like that.
- Well, there's a positive side, because... - There's liquid, right?
Then when you hear it make that 'pop' sound,
there are still adhesions of the twisted knee there.
It's good. I'm happy.
OK.
OK! Good morning!
- How are you? - Good.
- Better? - Better.
- Any swelling, pain? - No, it's good.
Everything's great. I'm fine.
- Good morning. - Good morning.
Hey! Federico Chiesa!
Bye.
Everything OK?
- You been OK? - Yes, thank you.
- Is your family OK? - They're OK. They said hi.
Great! I'm glad to hear that.
Whenever Federico came to the centre for rehabilitation.
The first thing he asked was "When can I come off the crutches?"
This is a start. Good.
- Good job! - Thanks.
Right now we're training the brain.
OK? Then the muscles follow.
So, now we start with the crutch.
- Until I'm on the ground. - No, we start walking with the crutch.
OK.
What is our objective?
How much...?
- Don't do the tower of Pisa. - Don't do the tower of Pisa!
Parallel. Diagonal.
Try to be as symmetrical as possible.
Remember we can apply a bit more than half the weight, OK?
- Like this, it's OK. - Like that, It's OK.
It's a good start.
Try to lose that hesitation, while you're walking, OK?
- When I take the weight. - When you take the weight.
Remember you have to try to lead with the heel in your stride.
OK.
Right after the operation, Federico thought he'd taken the biggest step.
I tried to explain there are specific stages you have to go through.
The very first one is to remove the crutches.
OK, let's get started.
- Just walk, OK? - OK.
I don't want to keep saying this, but this is an important moment.
Listen carefully.
I'd like you to take off your shoes, OK? We'll walk without shoes.
Do you feel you can do it without a stick?
Yes, let's do it.
Think you can do it? So, the knee feels symmetrical.
It's stable? OK.
OK! You've got this!
Concentrate. Come on!
Don't think about it too much. Walk naturally.
Excellent!
Really good!
Keep going.
Fantastic!
It's been a month, right?
Yes, a month and a few days.
The first step without crutches is the highlight of any rehabilitation.
Removing the crutches.
Very important.
Walking well?
The next step.
Heel toe. Toe heel, go, go!
For me, starting to walk again,
was day one of the rehabilitation, quite literally,
because after the surgery I was on crutches for six weeks.
It's as if I never left the hospital, in a way,
because even with the smallest things
I needed someone's help.
OK, Federico! Here I come!
Getting rid of the crutches was really liberating for me.
I couldn't stand them anymore.
Also because when you're used to running at 37 km/h,
walking with crutches was torture.
MARCH 56 DAYS SINCE THE INJURY
It's been six weeks since the surgery.
We have to go back to Innsbruck to assess Federico's condition.
It's something that needs to be done,
to understand how things have evolved since the operation,
to eliminate any kind of psychological problems Federico might have.
Thank you. Bye. See you later.
OK.
Are we ready?
- Good to see you! - Good to see you too!
- I'm better. - Much better shape than last time!
Now, I can walk again!
Now, the hard times is over now!
Look! Yes, it's coming back!
It's good, huh?
Just lay down and relax!
- OK. - Relax.
OK.
Nice.
Very good, very good shape.
I think it's good to see that the first steps went well.
Of course, we always expect things to go well,
but you never know, there is never 100% in medicine for anything.
So, yes, it's good to see him and to see his progress,
see that the first steps of this long rehabilitation is going really well.
I have, seriously, no pain.
That's good.
How's the pain here?
No strength.
- No strength? - No!
- I'll see when... - It'll come.
Now, it's going to be rebuilding the muscle.
Get better control of the leg.
Get more easy functional movement.
So this is far away from, you know, from contact.
Get more functionally in his approach and then get the muscle back!
Good!
- Happy. - Happy?
This is a good knee. This is better than the good one!
- This is better than this. - This is the goal!
You see, when I put my shoe I can feel this.
Yes. You will feel this for a while. You'll think of me for a while.
- No. Today is a good day. - Today is a good day.
APRIL 80 DAYS SINCE THE INJURY
OK, perfect.
Today my knee is a little less painful than than other days.
OK, we talked about it yesterday.
No, it's true. Today...
I don't feel my knee so much.
Each person has their own way of dealing with suffering.
Let's go.
Up.
One more time.
Federico had so much support at times.
He needed a lot of support.
At other times he amazes me with his willpower.
And his ability to respond
to painful stimuli or to discomfort or suffering.
One, two. Does that hurt?
It pulls a lot.
Quite often during training
I'd feel lots of pain in my knee. I mean, really painful.
I said to myself: "Who's making me do this?"
Why? Enough, enough.
I think rehab starts right then at that moment.
When you say: "That's enough, I can't go on."
But somehow you find the strength to say no, I can do one more.
Excellent!
Breathe, get oxygen to the leg. Regain strength. Well done.
He doesn't deal well with pain,
partly because he's a man, let's say,
and partly because he's always been healthy.
He's not used to suffering either physically
or in any other way.
I have always managed those moments when Federico is feeling low,
by trying not to look at them as low moments.
Obviously, as a parent, I have always tried not to show that I'm afraid,
when maybe a mother is naturally feeling that way.
In general, during particularly difficult moments,
I manage to get a good grip on the situation,
maybe after the moment has passed I have a bit of a breakdown,
but that's the way I am.
I'm afraid it's going to take a long time,
before he can express himself,
perhaps at the level he had reached before.
Obviously it's very frightening, that's for sure.
- Hi. - Hi Fede.
Hi Fede.
Good morning!
Look at you! Walking out like that.
It's the most beautiful thing I can...
It's spectacular, right?
Are you ready?
Are we clear, regarding your doubts, from a functional point of view, etc?
Yes, although I had a little bit of a crisis.
Exactly, that's why I asked.
And then there's also the fact, for example...
Always with this thing on my mind.
The fear of starting to run again,
that I've actually lost the ability to run, at the motor level.
OK, but you don't have to learn how to run again.
It sounds a bit ugly like that,
but we need to strengthen the neurological circuits you already have.
There's a big difference.
Mental strength during recovery,
from an injury of this kind,
represents 70% of the work.
You have to keep going one day at a time,
push yourself,
and overcome that fear of the unknown,
which is there before your eyes every day.
Thank you, so much, thank you, we'll be waiting for you.
Thanks a lot.
- How's your knee? - Better, thanks.
The first time I went to the stadium with Lucia,
was for Chiellini's tribute.
It's nice, the new shirt.
I can't tell it's a new shirt from here.
Look, who's got the ball now?
- Which number? - Seven
77!
With Lucia there's been this understanding,
that felt different.
We started chatting in early January,
but all pretty relaxed.
But then, of course, I also wanted to meet up,
but, unfortunately I broke my cruciate.
I had to convince her because she didn't want to come.
She thought I was faking the pain.
She said, "Come on, why don't we meet up outside?
"Let's go and get a coffee."
and I said "Look, I can't."
One.
I told you one!
Then she was finally convinced and we met up
at my house and she could see that I couldn't move from the sofa.
So, that was our first date.
I see what you mean. The style of the shirt itself.
Sometimes they are black or like that.
Those are triangles put together.
Little drawings!
It stays that way. One year it was the...
They're not using the basic anymore?
- With classic black and white stripes. - Exactly!
This is this year's basic. OK?
For example, 3 years ago, in 2020, we had a pink strip in the middle and...
...black and white.
Understand? They change it every year.
OK. What about the coloured one? Like blue?
It's the away shirt.
I realised that there could be a future between me and Lucia,
when she took the time to understand my situation.
It helped me a lot.
I mean, she saw my fragility right away.
I mean, she basically saw, I think, one of the darkest moments of my career.
She was really in tune with my emotions,
my frailties, the difficult moments,
helped me pick myself up.
And this really brought us together.
I went down onto the pitch for the first time since the injury
during Giorgio's farewell celebration.
I put on the full strip, all of it.
The socks, shorts and shirt, but with trainers on.
I couldn't wear football boots.
I was so emotional,
but she was more emotional than me.
Because when we first met, I told her: "No, this is not my life.
This is temporary. My life is different.
I play every three days, I'm always away."
So by explaining this to her,
I think she understood the emotion I feel
when I go out onto the pitch and play football.
MAY 135 DAYS SINCE THE INJURY
- Hi. - Hi.
And who doesn't work... Do you know that one?
How the hell do you do that? No, come one, it's not like that.
What were you saying about De Sciglio?
De Sciglio doesn't close the abdomen! Now I see why he has problems.
Yeah, but you're getting too big,
I've got a headache, damn it!
- No! - Yes, I have a headache, it's true.
A headache, today?
What is that elastic band cutting off blood to your arm?
There's a mark, it's at the bone.
- How's it cutting off blood to my arm? - There's a mark, it's at the bone.
OK, I get it. It's making a mark.
Because it's...
- A bracelet. - A love token.
Yes, it's a love token, I've had it for three months now.
Lucia, jokingly, said to me:
"When you go back onto the pitch, it would make me happy
if you were wearing something of mine" and I said OK, why not?
What can you give me?
She gave me this black hair band because I remember,
she had it on her head and she went like this, here you go.
It was very simple.
What's with this blood flow thing, now?
Because I saw the puffy mark.
Jokingly, she said to me,
"Why don't you do a goal celebration for me?"
I thought about it and said,
"OK, sure.
When I score my first goal,
I'll kiss the bracelet, like this."
And I haven't taken it off since that day.
I won't ever take it off.
So, this is one of the milestones of our journey together.
- Know what I mean, right? - Yes.
We're going to mark this day on the calendar. We're going for a run.
That's why you'll also need a quick session in the pool.
So, running in a straight line, honestly, doesn't worry me that much.
The only thing was this matter of putting weight on the leg.
OK, I feel like the leg is still... But that will sort itself out.
But, the thing that really worries me a little,
when I say a little, I mean a lot, is when I'll be changing direction.
- OK - Do we have to do more exercises for that?
It's the fear of the unknown, like everything.
Like everything.
You were worried about losing the crutches,
worried about doing tough, intense exercises in the gym.
Now you're worried, in quotations,
about doing changes of direction.
All in due time.
Go.
Eight. One. Arch the foot.
Like we did before. Two. Good, that's it! Three.
Good. Four.
Good.
Can you bring my shoes?
Afterwards, if you behave yourself.
Very calmly,
25.
50.
75.
100.
Try to also focus on lifting your heel up, to push with your foot.
It didn't hurt that much today.
Before I started running I was afraid I wouldn't be able to do it.
Because of the pain,
I was worried about the weight on the leg.
The way to put weight on it.
So, as soon as I'd finished running I said,
"OK, good. I can I do it again tomorrow."
OK, that's it.
I'll see you at the swimming pool.
Fede, I'll say it again.
As an observer, I put myself there on purpose,
- you're symmetrical and also... - But I don't feel it.
You don't feel it because of the proprioception of the ligament.
We're training the proprioception of the ligament.
It's natural. This is the first time and we are already at 80%.
Now for that 20.
We'll work on it slowly.
- Watching me, I don't look lopsided? - Not at all.
I swear, I feel like that.
This is the issue of proprioception.
What's this about me getting ischemia with this band?
No, he was teasing you.
OK.
Seeing Federico run,
for the first time in so many months,
it's a whirlwind of emotions.
This is the moment when the answers come.
Have we done things correctly and properly during these hard months of work?
Mum.
- What is it? - There's good news today, mum.
I've started running again.
Oh! We have to celebrate.
We have to celebrate.
OK, but mum, the only thing is that when I run,
it's still hard because I still feel lopsided.
I lean to the left and it's a little...
But Ale said that when I run it's perfect.
I mean, you can't tell I've had surgery.
Wait, I'm getting a stomachache.
There's still a long way, you don't need to tell me.
until I get my knee used to running, it'll be like that.
When I think about the recovery and everything, I get dizzy.
As I said, today I ran and went well.
Everybody's happy.
OK, but I already think...
Yes, but I'm thinking about the changes in direction,
because running is fine,
but my game is all about changes of direction.
So, when I have to go back
doing what I used to,
I really think I'm going to have a hard time.
Because...
Listen, Fede! You've overcome harder tests.
Think about it. Come on!
You remember your first time in Serie A?
You said, "My god, the ball goes at lightning speeds."
And so it was a difficult test.
You've always overcome difficulties.
Now you need to clear up your mind.
I think you need to try to deal with each day,
one step at a time.
Just think, I was worried about the operation. Now look.
I know. It'll take more patience than normal,
but I'm so happy that finally you're running again.
Really, I'm over the moon.
Anyway, I'll see you, I'll see you this weekend.
Celebrate with Lorenzo, we'll all get together.
- OK, all right? - OK, good.
Bye, mum. Big kiss. Bye.
Good morning, Fede.
- Giorgione. - How are you?
Good, I'm fine.
Want a coffee or already had one?
You've got a nice cut, huh?
Oh yeah, I don't say no to anything. Right?
- Not even the last game. - Of course.
Yes, thank you.
I wanted a beautiful end and got cut.
I said to myself, "Here we are, it's time to get out."
How are you?
- OK, I'm good. - Running again?
Yes, I ran again yesterday for the first time.
So, I'm very happy.
- Look there, hey! - Slow down.
Lacks a little bit of muscle
But, compared to a few weeks ago!
You see?
You know better than me.
First four months are a mess.
Then when you start running.
Yeah, come on.
You'll see, you look a little better.
Then you'll have a new low later on, but, that's it.
- That's what they told me. - Hey, it's normal.
Now you have that euphoria because you're running.
Then at some point you realise you're running slow.
Let's sit down, come on.
You're going slow and you say:
"Damn, but I was used to go so fast."
In my case, it was, "No one out-jumped me,
no one went past me.
- Now damn, everybody's faster than me!" - It's true.
The first game Federico played in Serie A,
Juventus-Fiorentina,
at the Juventus Stadium,
We swapped shirts.
So I gave him mine and he wanted to give me his, and I said,
"Fede, you keep yours, it's your debut one, you'd regret it!
You'll give me one of your shirts in the future anyway."
I would have felt bad taking it away from a boy,
who might have even been embarrassed as I was older.
So, next year not having you there will be strange.
- Strange for me too, maybe. - God dammit!
But, hey, it's only fair, I'll be watching you.
In fact, you'll have to fly alone.
I'll be watching you even happier. Really, come on!
I don't think it's really sunk in yet.
Now I'm slowly leaving.
Now that I'm emptying out the last of my things here at Continassa.
I'm starting to get this feeling I'll miss everything.
I'll miss all the boys, Juve, the daily routine.
But, on the other hand,
there's an awareness that everything was just perfect.
It's also the right time to say goodbye.
Bye, Giorgione, thank you! Good luck with everything!
- I love you. - I love you too.
Take care.
- Bye Gio'. - Bye.
- Fede, at last! - Hello, my darling!
At last!
- Did you drive slowly? - I drove slowly
Ah, you were late, so you didn't drive slowly!
No, I got stuck in an hour of traffic.
- Ah, stuck in traffic. - How are you?
Good.
So, everyone ready for the big day? Where are you?
We're ready. How are you?
Good, look at Marlon, he's already got everything dirty.
Let's go. Your grandparents are here.
- They've arrived. - Have you eaten yet?
- Not yet. - You've been waiting?
Yes.
But Mum if I get stuck in traffic.
Barberino is definitely here.
Hey, here he is!
My darling.
- How are you? - My dear boy, I'm good.
- Oh! Hi Adria. - Hi.
How are you?
We often see each other in Milan.
This is a really important weekend for me.
Not just for me, but also my family, because my brother is graduating
at the same school that I went to.
Seven years ago it was me.
Now, we're here at my brother's.
Yeah, I showed our grandparents the photo.
- The last one. - When you and I were really young.
- Seven years have gone by. - Coming down here.
I mean, I got really...
I took you to first grade.
Then we left, because after a week you couldn't read.
You didn't know any English.
We were worried and we left.
After a week, because the teacher was giving homework.
I said, "But how can he do the homework when he doesn't know anything?"
Same situation when I showed up,
I was braver, I took you back to fifth grade and...
...you didn't really know anything there, but I left you.
Does Grandma know I went running?
- Do you know? - What?
- I ran, now I'm running again. - Nobody said anything.
She didn't say anything,
- She kept it to herself. - I'm running again.
I did four months of swimming.
Now I've been told that's enough.
Until a month ago, I was like you, grandma.
- With the stick. - Come on, stop that.
Please, Fede!
- He's got the video. - I have the video.
Now you can see the video.
- Do you want to see it too? - Yes.
- I'll show my mum first. - I'll watch it.
I swear to you, I've run for a lifetime, but running that day.
- I swear to you. I felt... - Don't know about you, but running...
It was the most natural thing you've ever done.
Wait, because this was the first day.
Now, it's amazing. Learning to run, that's it.
We as a family have really tried to make him feel our closeness,
our presence, strength, positive energy.
We are very much involved in his suffering and moods.
We each try to help him as much as we can.
No, sorry, tomorrow I've got...
- Have you got a track suit? - Didn't you bring a suit?
- Ah, thank god. - But, I don't have a tie.
- You're a headache! - I don't wear ties either.
OK, perfect.
Thanks guys. Shall we eat something?
Hi.
- Hi. - Welcome back, my darling.
- How are you? - Great, you?
Come in honey.
Now it's my pleasure to introduce the senior speakers.
Lorenzo Chiesa.
One, two, three.
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the class of 2022.
Why are you crying? Oh, Mum!
How beautiful, crying for Lollino!
I'm only emotional at the graduations.
I always manage to control myself, but not at the graduations.
No, because it's a big milestone for the kids.
Anyway, it's a moment when they are celebrated,
precisely for all the hard work they have put in.
- So, your brother? - Yes, my brother.
- It was me 7 years ago, now my brother! - I know man.
- How are you? - Our chemistry student.
- Are you all healed? - No.
What I mean, have you started working yet?
Yeah, it's been four months now!
I'm missing like three months and in September I'll
- But, wait, you're already moving? - Yeah, I started running three days ago.
- So I'm there, I'm getting there. - How does it feel?
Like shit.
Right.
Good! Excellent!
- Stop! Excellent! - Good!
That's great Fede!
If it stiffens during the work, tell me and I'll change it for you.
Good! Great! Just feel it... the joint.
That's it.
Let's go? Recovery.
Did you see? At first he told me to speed up like this.
Perfect.
Yes, but in a line. I don't accelerate like that.
- Accelerate but... - Sprint to the side.
- Consider that... - Exactly, that's where I felt the push.
Now, in a didactic way, you must do this.
Next step is the change of direction.
Because when we get to do this.
we're ready to add the change of direction and...
the acceleration of the player.
Look, I don't accelerate.
You see? You said: "Accelerate!"
More like this, and I'm not accelerating.
You don't have it in your motor pattern.
- In fact, in the motor pattern I have... - More rehabilitation.
It's didactic more than performing, you understand?
Come on.
Oh! Finally.
The first time with the new shirt.
What do you think?
- Beautiful. - Not bad, right?
Hopefully, soon, you'll see me wearing it on the pitch.
This is really big? You'll need to show everything you've got.
More than anything, it's an honour.
But with that other one you've scored loads.
- It's still new. - I've got to break it in!
Without goals, never scored with it.
Exactly. Let's hope.
Today is a big day for Federico.
After so many months, Federico will be doing a photo shoot for Jeep.
Also he'll be wearing the number seven shirt for the first time,
we'll use the black and white.
With number 22, how many did you score?
- The first year? - Yes.
16, 17.
Because I scored...
...six in the Champions League,
12, no, more.
20. I scored 20 goals in total.
Within a year and 5 months.
Well, you have to make up for lost time.
I played...
I played until January. No, until November.
Right.
- Nice. - Excellent.
Let me have a go.
My hands are sweaty, can't even spin it right!
At least we play with our feet.
JUNE 144 DAYS AFTER THE INJURY
Do you feel the workload on your calf?
- Yesterday we... - It's not workload. It hurts.
It hurts.
Want to have a look, Doc?
Let's have a look at the kid.
Discomfort?
Yes, here at the front.
- Only this? - Yes.
- Up here, what's the situation? - No, it's OK.
- OK, and here, on the side? - It's OK.
It's perfect.
- Yes. - This one, here...
...is from the workload. Nothing to worry about.
It's all good. Nice and dry.
Be strong, my boy!
So, my dear boy, let's warm up the area, relax it
and then we'll work on the knee.
OK?
OK, not much here, we need to take some tension off back here, go.
Let's go.
My mood goes hand in hand with the pain.
You get up in the morning with really severe knee pain,
you need to take anti-inflammatories and that's it.
You're not that happy when you get up,
but obviously that's part of the game.
Federico.
Do you know what?
Tomorrow if all goes well, we'll go do some work on the sand.
- Really? - Yes.
OK, Fede. You need to move the sand with the outside of your foot, OK?
You have to draw a circle, like this, OK?
It's just perceptual Fede.
Rest on the knees, foot.
Changing direction scares me because I got injured like that.
You should feel the outside of your foot. Perfect!
Wait a second. Go! One, two.
Changes of direction in my specific role are absolutely essential.
I mean, I make them quick and strong with trickery.
It's part of the way I dribble.
Go!
OK, perfect! Push! Great!
OK, towards me, good. OK, come on.
OK, come on and let's go.
And one, two, three! Good!
The sand work is very propaedeutic for Federico with changes of direction,
because he is able to impart force
thanks to the sand's dissipating function,
decisively and confidently.
You can push but remember that the braking is long,
So, during the long braking you need control.
Always four, OK?
Three, two, one, and let's go.
Yes!
Yes, let's go.
And one and two.
and three and four, great, that's good.
JULY 168 DAYS SINCE THE INJURY
- Good morning. - Hello.
What are you going to have?
Spaghetti.
Spaghetti? Are you feeling cold?
No, I fancy the Caprese.
This morning which number did you sign with?
- Seven. - Seven?
- Yes, I signed with seven. - Were you first?
Lucia was quick to realise the shirt number was very important to me.
She understood that I needed something new.
Basically, to go back, but go back in a different way.
Hopefully stronger than before.
Dusan gets the nine, I get the seven.
The ten goes to whoever comes in.
What characteristics does the number ten have?
Who gets the ten?
Not mine.
- Like, technically good? - Strong, the strongest technically.
The one who dictates the play, the creator.
He usually plays with his back to goal as well.
Back to goal would be...
I don't know. The defender?
Back to goal, what's that?
What do you mean? Back to goal, which goal?
Sorry, the opposition's goal.
OK, let's not talk about this anymore.
I know very little about football.
I've started now, very slowly, with Fede.
and I'm starting to get into this world.
We often joke about it, he teases me because I know less than zero.
My first time at the stadium was with Federico.
- Shall we play... - Depends on the the game.
The role game.
- We did it the other day, don't remember? - No.
- Darling... - Let's keep it simple, OK?
Where does Dusan play?
- In attack. - Good.
Next to you. You pass the ball, he scores a goal.
- Very good. - Correct?
Correct.
Correct. For him, perfect!
But, it's OK if he passes to me, as well, and I score the goal.
It's a strange world.
Before I met Fede,
I had a lot of prejudices, too.
Also because we often tend to see only one side of their lifestyle.
With Fede I'm really discovering a lot about this sport.
The sacrifices it requires.
How much effort they put in that we don't see.
Come on, make an effort.
Mind your manners whilst eating.
You shouldn't put your hand down.
- My hand down? Which one? - That one.
- Because I need it to do this. - No, but you shouldn't do that either.
Fede does this sport and he's in this environment.
But he's not part of this environment,
in that it's a completely separate part of his life.
That's the beautiful thing and what made me fall in love with him.
When we got here to Forte and we got to the beach
instead of heading straight to the sand to boil in the sun,
he started playing cards.
A really fun way to start.
Yes! I've dealt myself some crap cards.
Do you know what? These cards aren't so bad
- Your turn. You have to pick up. - Here you go.
Don't like hearts, right? Yes, you do like them.
Come on, your turn.
It's also a way to get to know each other better.
Like with any hobby.
You see different sides of the person.
So, I've got 200 points, you 100.
When you make it a big thing, you always lose Federico.
I'm not doing that. I'm counting the cards.
- Finish? - Yes.
Come on, no! You can't do that.
You didn't score 2000 points.
90.
100.
- Oh my God! Come on! - How many have you got?
2,225. OK, all right! It's two two.
I'm really loving this! My god!
All right, very good, well done.
- Hi, I'm Lucia. - Yeah, yeah.
Did I put on this big show?
- This is going on Instagram. - You're a funny guy.
You make me laugh.
Forte dei Marmi's a special place for me.
It's always been my summer holiday home.
In Forte dei Marmi I made my first real friends.
First time going out with friends.
So many first times in Forte dei Marmi.
Come on! Why?
We're on our first holiday together.
And we're having fun, laughing, talking a lot.
This allows me to find out more about being together every day.
Collect precious moments.
When Fede will be playing again, it will be difficult to do this.
When you become part of Fede's life,
it turns your life upside down. It's very nice.
- Did yesterday go well? - Yes, it did.
- Did you drive? - Yes, I drove.
I wouldn't let Lucia near the Ferrari.
But for love, you might.
No?
How are you?
No, I'm fine. The only thing is, I feel really messed up.
I mean...
...really messed up.
OK. So, the idea is to put the bed in the shade,
we do a whole activation of core, gluteus, all the quadrants.
Then do some water work and also some short suspension work.
OK.
Compared to the other day, it's definitely gone down?
If you feel messed up.
Remember it's been 10 days since you last moved as much as you're used to.
so it's getting back to speed.
I'm in Forte dei Marmi, because all the players are entitled to a holiday.
So Federico also had his holiday.
But as an injured player the holidays are not as long.
Therefore this time is used to recover.
Also take advantage of my time with him
to better approach a gradual return to work.
Above all, in a more controlled way.
Come back to here and then sideways.
Back to one.
Go right out.
I'm really fond of this pitch, I came here to play when...
I was 8, 9, 10, 11 years old. So with my friends,
we were there from dawn to dusk.
Quite literally.
God dammit!
I remember football for me was everything.
I was at that pitch in the morning and then I went to train.
So, either the right is poor or we're going well with the left.
In my opinion, the rehabilitation path,
it was also a reminder of where I started.
Remembering what I was doing when I wasn't Federico Chiesa.
When I didn't have everything I have now,
When I was just a kid with a dream.
I think Lucia will hammer it. Give it a go.
Come on, try it!
If you score I'll rip up the card. I'll go to Juventus, tear up my card.
Underneath, underneath, underneath!
AUGUST 202 DAYS SINCE THE INJURY
Oh, my God.
Look at you! You're almost cool.
Check it out. Tanned.
Wow! I didn't recognise you.
How are you? I'm excited, you know.
Don't over do it Alex.
- I'm excited. - I'm more beautiful, right?
What a tan.
I'm OK.
I was saying, if I don't work out on Friday,
- I'll have to work out on Sunday. - Oh!
Right? No matter what.
Anyway, we're on the merry-go-round now, it's started.
What does that mean?
What I mean is, today...
...until we get back on the pitch, the merry-go-round has begun.
It goes round and round, non-stop.
It's a metaphor! You never use metaphors?
No, you have to be serious about these things, no.
A metaphor in the sense that now is a succession of events, training.
Now begins the best phase for you.
When you start wearing your football boots.
- I've missed you, you know? - Me too.
Say it again.
The football boot represents the last step of rehabilitation strictly speaking.
You have to be careful, you have to be cautious
because a football boot puts stress on the leg and knee
which is completely different from trainers.
Football boots! I can't believe it!
Now, I'll introduce you to the ball.
- I don't know if... - I won't use this.
Good. I'll introduce you to the ball,
- This world cup. - This is a football.
What are you talking about? I like one, he likes the other.
- We're talking about exercises. - Yes.
Listen. If you hit the post, I'll buy you a cappuccino.
I have to score goals, never hit the post.
No, I want you to hit the post.
You won a cappuccino.
Seeing Federico kick a ball again
using the ball to do all the things he knows how to do,
it makes us tremendously happy.
It's our reward after all these months that we've been with him.
So funny.
Anyway, I swear when I was there with the crutches.
- Fabio, the driver, was "his" me. - He was what?
- With me! - Why, what did I say?
- His me. - No, I said, "with me".
Anyway, when he was with me, the time seemed like going on forever.
I mean how is it even possible?
It's like, I'd just started seeing Lucia.
However, you see?
But here I am putting my boots on.
Everyone has worked towards this.
It was one of the moments
when I understood that there was great understanding between us.
After I came back from the world cup
I came here and you said: "Listen to me, go home."
"It's better."
I could see you were really...
...really bad both physically and mentally at that moment.
Those are moments where maybe I'm training that day,
I injure something because I'm not using my head,
and, I end up with my knee like this.
I remember...
...the day of the injury, unfortunately.
I'll carry that...
I'm not just saying this because you're here.
...with me for life.
When I ran over to you... Do you remember?
Because I was on the bench assisting.
I came over and you put your hand on my shoulder.
Then, we did those 300 meters together.
Under the Juventini curve.
I'll never forget that moment.
SEPTEMBER 260 DAYS AFTER THE INJURY
Come in.
Come in Fede. Good morning.
Hi, how are you?
- Great to see you again. - For me too.
Here you are.
I'm glad to see you.
Also, because soon, I hope you'll be able to return to the team.
So, I wanted to see how you're doing emotionally, psychologically.
You know, it's a special moment.
- Right. - How are you physically Federico?
Physically I feel good.
But obviously, until I get back to the team again I won't feel 100%.
I started playing in Serie A at 18.
I started playing football at six.
So, I've always played football and I've never had an injury this long.
So, now it's really...
...dammit... let me get back on the pitch.
Now, I'm going to ask you to go back a moment.
Think about the injury.
What's the worst image that comes to mind?
Going back onto the pitch.
I wanted to see if I really couldn't run anymore.
Then realising that I actually couldn't do it anymore.
That was a real slap to the face.
I felt a bit angry.
But, anger directed at someone?
No, at myself and the event itself.
I'm not even going to blame the person who tackled me.
- These things happen in football. - Absolutely.
Now, maybe I can suggest using this technique.
You're familiar with it, we call it tapping.
It helps wash away any negative emotions that might still be there.
Then you have the chance to use it 100%, positively.
OK.
And now in your mind, just focus on the air circulating in your body and my voice.
Right, while you're breathing
through your nose, every cell in your body breathes.
Very good.
Now, in this state that you're in,
I'm going to ask you to activate the image in your mind...
...of that tackle from behind.
At that moment.
All right, now you're just going to see what happens.
Without doing anything at all.
Now, you can take a deep breath.
And open your eyes.
- All good? - All good.
OK.
Now, briefly tell me, what you experienced.
The first thing that came to my mind.
I was on the pitch, alone.
But quiet, at night, with the floodlights on.
In the vision, it was me and the empty stands.
But I was like, chest out.
Almost more secure.
That's the image.
OK. What matters is the sensation it gave you.
Good, it was good,
Because there was almost that feeling of being a little free, calm.
On the pitch without thinking about anyone or anything.
Your mind has given you a beautiful message.
- OK. - Yes.
- You OK? - Yes.
Exactly, that's right, thank you.
Good morning.
Hey, buddy.
Good morning Mister. Good morning.
Morning gentlemen.
- Good morning. - How are you?
I'm fine.
Morning guys.
We're at a moment where we have to decide
If Federico is ready to join up with the team.
So we have to look very carefully at everything our tests are showing us.
Let's look at the isokinetics guys.
- We said speed 180 and 90? - Yes.
But at 180 we have a 7% gap on the extensor.
On the flexor a 3% gap with a curve that is still very good.
The same strength assessments were also made on various exercises.
In terms of power.
Again, the injured leg's stronger than the healthy one.
So, we now have the conditions for a gradual return with the group.
What interests me guys, since Federico has a weakness in his glutes,
we must avoid overloading the flexors, especially the left flexors.
Yes, but also in the gym during the activation with Ale and Mario.
Anyway, we're adding the mini-band work.
Also hip-thrusts with a fairly significant load.
OK. Now we have to take him by the hand.
Next meeting with the coaching staff.
- OK, thanks everyone. See you later. - Thank you.
Thanks everyone. Good job.
Fede! Fede!
Let's do some jumping and heading.
Hello guys. Good morning.
We've even got Chiesa this morning.
Keep your chest parallel.
Deciding to send Federico back to the team is hugely emotional.
A huge emotion for him, but also for us.
Last one and then we split up.
It also makes an impression to see him together with a group.
It's like watching a footballer at his best again.
You can see it in his eyes.
He looks much happier on the field than off it.
A headed goal is worth double and in the air, three.
At the same time there's also concern.
If the time chosen to let Federico go back to the team was the right time,
and that there won't be any kind of complication.
It's one thing to work one to one.
It's another to be in a game situation with 23 other people.
Therefore this increases their exposure to risk in any situation.
Just because the interaction has increased.
Definitely, there's more passing strength that's for sure.
I have passing strength.
- Also shooting. - Yes, shooting too.
Federico is very close to his brothers.
He's very close to his family.
We're a unified team when it comes to Federico.
We support him.
We've always supported him.
Also because the other two brothers may have had to give up some things,
to allow Federico to follow his path.
In Federico's case, it was essential that everyone participated.
That no one felt excluded.
In some way, everyone has made a contribution.
Contributed to the building of Federico's career.
Clearly, the main contribution was made by him.
But his brothers were really involved.
His first fans, we could say.
Experienced all the joy with him.
The enthusiasm of being able to express this passion of his.
It was fun, the first keep-away.
The whole team is there, plus it's a really fun exercise.
Because it's fun not letting the one in the middle get the ball.
Well done Fede! Well done!
Welcome back!
I felt part of the game.
So, I didn't even think about the fact that I was coming back from injury.
I was so caught up in the game and enjoying myself.
My teammates helped me there.
I remember when I went in.
Ah, look who's back.
- The man reborn! - Thanks! Thanks again guys!
Quick, away!
I have two thoughts regarding my return on the pitch.
The first is...
...will it be OK?
Question mark. The second is...
...have I done everything I could to get back to my level?
These are the two questions I ask myself, my two thoughts.
297 DAYS SINCE THE INJURY
As soon as Fede told me he'd be selected,
I couldn't believe it.
It didn't seem real, I was at loss for words.
I didn't know what to say. How to react, I was so nervous.
We have a family chat, he wrote:
"I've been selected."
It was one o'clock and we quickly rushed to book the train tickets.
We left at 5 o'clock and arrived in Turin.
All very nervous.
Go, go, go, go, go.
Chiesa was good in training.
I saw him at full stretch for the first time with the hard work.
So, I had a good feeling about him.
The time has come.
I hope he feels this moment.
I hope he enjoys this moment.
We're all excited.
100% involved in this process.
For all the work we've done.
The sweat and tears we've put in.
When he crosses that line that divides
the before and after.
I'll be there and excited with him.
The fear is there.
I think it's inevitable.
But we'll be able to get through this together, even the fear.
Seeing Fede in the stadium with all the fans,
it is a unique and indescribable emotion.
Where is he? I don't see him!
- Is he not going to wave? - Yes, he's looking this way.
Here he comes and sees us.
Relax.
I'm so nervous,
even if he comes in for five minutes.
When are they going to bring him on?
At the end of the game.
When it's all over.
Federico, do what you've always known,
what you've always done and it will all be alright.
Right, look at this.
After 297 days of waiting.
After 297 days of suffering.
After 297 days away from the field.
Federico Chiesa is back on the pitch.
Subtitles : DUBBING BROTHERS