18 August 2008

Chiellini: «I took a big weight off my chest»

The night has passed and so have Giorgio Chiellini’s fears. The day after the injury picked up at the Berlusconi Trophy, the defender underwent ultrasound scans and was also visited by his father Fabio, an orthopaedic doctor. The outcome was very reassuring. The diagnosis is of 1st or 2nd degree sprain in one of the muscles in his left knee.

His recovery time should be approximately 45-60 days. He'll need to rest completely for about ten days, and after the Champions League qualifiers' second leg he'll return to Turin to continue his therapy.

He suffered a similar injury in early 2008 (but it was his right knee that time) and it took him one month to get back on the pitch.

Giorgio's first comments were typical of someone who was relieved after fearing the worst: «Fortunately the ligament is ok – he confessed coming out of the Fornaca Clinic in Turin – so any risk of more serious damage has been exorcized, which would have meant missing most of the season. I already had less pain this morning, but I was still a bit tense until I got the results. They definitely took a big weight off my chest. Now I'll concentrate on resting for a few days and then I'll start working to get back on the pitch, but without rushing. I just want to thank all my team mates, my friends and the fans who have been expressing their sympathy to me since last night».