Huijsen opens up on struggles: 'My level wasn't what I'm capable of'
Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen reveals injury woes behind recent performances, expresses relief after feeling 'physically good' in Monaco thrashing
Madrid’s young defender finally feeling himself again after months of playing through the pain barrier, admitting his performances suffered as a result.
Injury nightmare
Dean Huijsen has been having a proper mare with injuries lately, but the Real Madrid defender is finally starting to feel like his old self again. Following Los Blancos’ emphatic 6-1 demolition of Monaco, the youngster opened up about the physical struggles that have been hampering his performances.
For the past few months, Huijsen has been soldiering on despite not being fully fit - something that clearly took its toll on his game. The defender revealed he’d been playing through injuries that prevented him from even sprinting properly.
“I’m coming back from quite a few injuries and finally feeling physically good,” Huijsen explained, clearly relieved to be turning a corner.
A new experience
What made the situation particularly challenging for the Madrid man was the unfamiliarity of it all. Prior to this rough patch, Huijsen had been fortunate enough to avoid serious injury problems throughout his career.
“When you’re injured, nobody likes it and it’s tough. I’d never been injured before, it was something new for me,” he admitted.
This baptism of fire with fitness issues clearly knocked his confidence, but the Monaco thrashing might just represent a turning point both for him personally and the team as a whole.
Positive signs
The comprehensive victory over Monaco came at just the right time for Madrid, who had been going through a bit of a dodgy spell with some disappointing results. Huijsen was buzzing about the team’s performance:
- Highlighted the importance of the team’s pressing high up the pitch
- Pointed to recovered balls leading to counter-attacking goals
- Emphasized the collective performance rather than individual displays
With Huijsen back to full fitness and Madrid finding their rhythm again, Carlo Ancelotti will be hoping this performance signals a return to their best form as they continue fighting on multiple fronts.