Ex-Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla insists that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain must continue to avoid negative thoughts as he continues his recovery from injury at Liverpool FC.
Oxlade-Chamberlain was ruled out for the entire 2018-19 season after sustaining a horrific multi-ligament injury against AS Roma in the Champions League back in April.
The 25-year old had been enjoying a stellar year with Liverpool up to that point, featuring prominently as Jurgen Klopp’s men steamrollered their way into the later rounds of the European Cup and towards a top-four Premier League finish.
Oxlade-Chamberlain had been touted for inclusion in Gareth Southgate’s final squad for the World Cup in Russia this summer, but the injury forced him out of contention in a cruel late twist.
Spanish midfielder Cazorla acknowledged that it would have been tough for Oxlade-Chamberlain to sit out so many huge games before also insisting that it is important to dispel any debilitating thoughts from your mind in order to recover quickly.
As per The Guardian, Cazorla drew on his personal injury woes to advise the English star, as he told reporters on Tuesday: “I’m following him, watching his videos, seeing his progress.
“It came at a time when he was playing very well, he missed the Champions League final, Liverpool are [looking likely to] produce a great season now, there was the World Cup. That’s very complicated.
“When there are people who have long-term injuries, I try to make them see that: that a lot is in your head. I’ve been through it, I’ve had moments when I couldn’t control my head and I wanted to throw in the towel.
“[Injured players] have to try to help each other out and be able to offer that perspective that comes of having been through it.
“He’s a strong person and I am sure he will be back. He seems to be making progress.”
