PostedMay 27, 2021, 8:09 p.m.
The Swiss defender is preparing for the Euro after having lived a season in hell. Chronicle of a comeback.
- through
- Daniel Visentini
(Bad Boy)
Fabian Schaer on his arrival in Bad Ragaz for the Swiss team’s training camp.
Toto Marti / Blick / freshfocus
There are seasons like this, horrible, that we think we won’t see the end. AT Newcastle for Fabian Schär, the nightmare started with a nasty shoulder injury last summer that sidelined him until the end of September (first operation). This continued, after his return to business, with an infection with Covid-19, there too, he missed matches. And in mid-February, an even harder blow: ligaments of the affected knee, stretcher, operation. At 29, Fabian Schär must be indestructible: today he is in Bad Ragaz with the Swiss team and he is preparing for the Euro. Like nothing ever happened.
«I know my body, my abilities, even though I haven’t played much lately», he smiles. It is true that we forgot the last tile: when he miraculously found the field, only ten weeks after his knee operation, he launched into an improbable tackle against Arsenal. Foul, expulsion, three weeks suspension in early May. No, nothing was spared him.
A stupid action …
«It was a bit silly action on my part, he laughs today. But three suspension matches… Let’s say maybe that helped my knee. Because it’s true, I was almost amazed myself that I could be back with the band ten weeks after the operation. I had done everything in my power to come back and my trainer trusted me straight away. But now, there was this tackle and three more weeks of break …»
If I had been scared for my knee I probably wouldn’t have tackled Arsenal and I wouldn’t have been sent off
Is there a part of apprehension in Schär, concerning his knee so quickly healed? «If I had been afraid for my knee, I n’probably wouldn’t have tackled Arsenal and I wouldn’t have been sent off», he laughs.
As in 2016
Fabian Schär, has had only a few matches to chew on in 2021 with Newcastle. Seven times holder, and two ends of meetings to finish. It doesn’t scare him. AT the day before Euro 2016, placarded in Hoffenheim, he had already arrived at the preparation camp without benchmarks. This had not prevented him from‘bee undoubtedly one of the best Swiss in France.
«I don’t know if we can compare the situations, he says. This season, I had several things, the shoulder, the Covid, the knee. But the confidence is still there and it is an immense joy for me to think about the Euro, to be able to fight to deserve my place.»
After his Stations of the Cross and the miracle of his quick return, Fabian Schär can play extra time with this Euro. He is ready to seize the opportunity. Without doubting him or his knee.
