On Thursday, Robin Le Normand made his long-awaited return for Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey match against Cacereno. The 28-year-old defender, who joined from Real Sociedad this summer, had been out of action since the Madrid derby in September – when he suffered a traumatic brain injury following an accidental collision with Aurelien Tchouameni.
Le Normand will have the chance to make his first La Liga appearance since that day when Atleti hosted Sevilla on Sunday. Ahead of that match, he spoke to the club's official media channels (via MD) about his recovery.
“The injury was very serious, it is something you don't see much in football. We had to be careful. The whole club, my teammates and the medical staff were very close, they took good care of me and I really appreciate that.
“The hardest thing is that it is your passion to play football, how you deal with emotions, your helplessness to want to do more, to want to help the team and not being able to… You can be with your teammates every day at the base and you cannot help on the field. That's the most complicated part. Luckily it's been two months and it's not much. That every football player is stopped, has doubts about whether I can play again or not, how your body will react… These are questions you have to deal with and it is complicated.
“It was a difficult moment, but among my teammates, my friends, my family, the club and the fans, the truth is that I really appreciate it and now I am available, waiting for my opportunity to return that affection. “
The return of Le Normand is very good news for Atletico Madrid, although he has not been missed in recent weeks due to the good form of Clement Lenglet. Nevertheless, his reintegration into Diego Simeone's squad is valuable.
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