Dani Alves' journey back to fitness

On 8^th May 2018, Dani Alves left the field against Les Herbiers in the final of the Coupe de France with an anterior cruciate ligament injury that would keep him out of action for the rest of the season and Brazil’s World Cup campaign in Russia. It was a huge setback for the defender after such a successful season. Alves however remained upbeat however; "I don't want anybody to cry for me. I don't want anybody to feel sorry for me. I have lived my dreams.". In typical Dani Alves style, he took the setback in his stride and remained irrepressibly positive.

Fast forward just over six months and the 35 year old was on the bench at the Parc des Princes as his side faced Toulouse, he would get his first 20 minutes of action in half a year, a run out ESPN praised as “a surprisingly good return to action.”. The following week he would add to this with a cameo appearance in Paris Saint-Germain’s clinical defeat of Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League. The comeback was crowned with a starting place in Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Bordeaux, Alves contributing an assist and putting in a solid display in which he managed nearly nearly 70 minutes. The three appearances capped a heroic return from what was a serious injury for a player of 35 years of age.

Alves’ injury could have been even more impacting on his career, but speaking of his injury blow soon after it happened, the Brazilian was typically upbeat, telling The Players’ Tribune “…maybe when the 2022 World Cup comes around, I will still be competing for a place on the team”. It was with this positive attitude that Alves resolved to return to fitness last month.

It says much about the right-back’s preparation and fitness that even at this stage of his recuperation he is able to contribute to his side’s unbeaten run whilst he continues his return to full condition. Against Bordeaux, Alves was instrumental in his side’s rapid counter attacks, ably filling in for Thomas Meunier.

Speaking about his battle to return from injury, Thomas Tuchel described his player’s positive can-do attitude; “Dani is very self confident because of his career, when I met him first before his surgery, he was telling me when he would be back on the pitch like there was no doubt at all, and you can feel his energy in every little exercise, demanding the very best of himself but also of everyone else who plays with him which is very good for us.”

The combination of his playing ability and mental toughness is a hugely valuable asset for Thomas Tuchel's side as they look to finish 2018 on a high note.