Antony battling through pain barrier for Betis: "Don't like missing matches despite discomfort"
Brazilian winger Antony opens up about playing through pubis pain, his first year at Betis, and why joining the Verdiblancos was "the best decision of my life"
The Brazilian winger who scored the decisive goal against Atlético Madrid at the Metropolitano has been soldiering on despite significant discomfort.
”Best decision of my life”
Antony recently marked his one-year anniversary since joining Real Betis, and the Brazilian couldn’t be happier with his choice. Speaking to Canal Sur, he’s adamant that signing for the Andalusian outfit represented a career-defining move.
“I’ve lived an incredible year, not just me, my entire family is very happy here,” Antony explained, reflecting on his time in Seville since making his move permanent following an initial loan spell from Manchester United.
The transfer saga dragged on throughout last summer, with Antony arriving without a proper pre-season. Nevertheless, he insists he arrived in good shape: “I take care of myself a lot. I arrived very prepared even without pre-season training.”
Playing through the pain
What many supporters don’t see is the physical toll the game is taking on Antony right now. The Brazilian revealed he’s been playing with significant discomfort since the Getafe match.
“It’s not easy, it’s a pain that makes me very uncomfortable,” he admitted about his pubis injury. “I’m undergoing treatments. I don’t like being out of matches even if I have discomfort.”
His commitment to the cause is evident in his daily routine: “I’ll give you an example: I had treatment this morning and when I get home I’ll treat it again. These are things people don’t know.”
Bouncing back from Copa disappointment
The Copa del Rey elimination hit the squad hard, but Antony credits manager Manuel Pellegrini’s team talk as crucial to their response:
“The manager’s talk was key, about self-criticism, that we all had to improve a lot. We showed that with our attitude and team spirit in Madrid.”
Antony also spoke warmly about his teammate Isco, calling him “a crack” and saying “when Isco is playing, things are better for me.” He’s hoping for a quick recovery for the Spanish midfielder who’s suffered multiple injury setbacks.
World Cup dreams
Looking ahead, Antony harbours ambitions of representing Brazil at another World Cup, but knows his performances for Betis must come first.
“It’s a dream to play in a World Cup. Wearing the national team shirt is very special, but first I have to do my part here. I need to be focused here, scoring, assisting and winning matches.”
For now, though, his bread and butter is at the Benito Villamarín, where despite the physical challenges, he’s determined to give his all for the Verdiblancos faithful.