Woodgate humbled by support
England international Jonathan Woodgate believes his fightback from a career-threatening injury is due to a combination of his own hard work and the support of his family and club Real Madrid.
Woodgate made his second Madrid appearance against Real Mallorca last weekend, playing 20 minutes as a substitute as his side cruised to a 4-0 win.
The game helped him forget his calamitous debut nine days earlier when Woodgate’s lack of match fitness showed as he scored an own goal and was sent off for two yellow cards against Athletic Bilbao.
The important thing, however, is that Woodgate is finally over the thigh injury he suffered in April 2004, an injury which looked at times as if it would end his career.
“It has been a hard year for me and also for my family,” he told www.realmadrid.com.
“They deserve all that I have. They have always supported me and given everything for me. My parents are great,” he said.
“They have been in Madrid lately, but their lives are in England, so I have been on my own at times. However, that doesn’t worry me because I am mentally strong.”
Woodgate’s problems have not all been injury related and although he made only passing reference to his well-publicised court case in 2001 in which he was found guilty of affray, it seems he has tried to take something positive from that as well.
“I have had some problems in my life, but I have learned from them. You have to try and be normal in life and not forget the problems that make you stronger,” he said.
The defender missed all of last season as he struggled to recover from his thigh problem, an injury made all the more worrying when he suffered a relapse last October.
Although he is now training with his colleagues, he still has extra massages after every session, another indication of Madrid’s commitment towards their £13.4m (€20m) signing.
“The club have behaved very well towards me, from the president (Florentino Perez) to the physios and coaches. Real Madrid are an enormous club and I feel very comfortable here,” he said.
