The nation awaits Jose Mourinho versus Chelsea in Milan tomorrow, but for one Englishman the Champions League explodes into life on Tuesday.
Matt Derbyshire has waited through a season blighted by injury to make his debut in Europes top club competition for Olympiakos against Bordeaux in Piraeus, the Athenian port he has called home for a year and where the fans embrace him as an adopted son.
Home from home: Derbyshire has impressed despite a series of injuries
Olympiakos won 15-14 on penalties but he had been sidelined again by then with a groin injury and concussion.
;Id been clobbered and I was seeing treble, says Derbyshire.
Butit would be the groin issue which kept him out for seven months. Ahernia operation did not solve the problem, but a series of injectionsinto his pelvic area did.
;It was my first real long-terminjury. I went through four courses of 27 injections into my pubicarea, which was every bit as painful as it sounds. Im grateful to beplaying again.
;I was out for seven months, so its been difficult but Im excited, full of energy and relishing training.
;Id like to think I havent forgotten where the net is but I dont want to curse myself.
Derbyshire, 23, has scored twice in three games on his return, whichhas coincided with his teams recovery at the top of the Greek League.
Olympiakos, champions for 12 of the last 13 years, were trailing their fierce rivals Panathinaikos by eight points at one stage and had four managers, including Temuri Ketsbaia and Zico, in nine months.
No comments:
Post a Comment