Few players in the history of football have managed to lift the ball five times. Champions League. Isco Alarconkey piece of real Madrid most successful of the century, is one of them. But for the Malaga native, taking Betis Returning to the top continental competition more than 20 years later is an incomparable achievement. A feat to remember that comes in what, without a doubt, has been the hardest and most difficult season of his career.
The season started in the worst possible way for the talented midfielder from Benalmadena. An ugly kick in The Rose Garden In the last preseason game, in the middle of August, he made him relive the hard moments he had suffered a year before with a fibula fracture that, including a relapse, forced him to stop for more than half a year. Once again he had to return to the operating room. Once again starting a delicate recovery from scratch. Once again he had to work alone, in silence, without being able to help his team from the field.
In November, he could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Meeting the deadlines, this time he managed to put on his boots again and return to the playing fields at the end of November. But in his second game, first as a starter of the season, a very unfortunate action looking for a loose ball outside the area ended with his ankles. Amrabat and Isco colliding violently. Another serious injury, this time twice, return to darkness and reasonable doubts about being able to play football again.
The initial conservative treatment soon turned into arthroscopy to try to correct the damage generated. The cartilage came into play and weeks passed without any news from the man from Malaga. The doubts about his return to the competition sowed concern in the locker room, the coaching staff and the fans. But by making a great effort and taking medication against the pain, the captain was able to put the armband back on and participate where he likes most, on the grass.
Always in sections of a few minutes. Always measuring efforts, avoiding contact as much as possible and trying to recover sensations little by little. Always with doubt. But finally with his teammates, with his team, the one he leads and that has returned tonight to the highest continental competition. A Betis of Champions before whom Isco He has not been able to contain his tears, perhaps of joy, perhaps of emotion, perhaps of frustration for what he has had to live through. But at the end of the day, a relief after a terrible year with a happy ending.
“To the Champions The man is leaving for the Champions League,” he said. Bellerin hugging Isco in the middle of the green and white party in The Charterhouse. A captain who cried inconsolably because no one like him knows everything he has had to go through. Everything he has had to suffer. All the efforts, the disappointments, the disappointments and the tireless work behind it to continue feeling like a footballer. A Isco with five ‘orejonas’ in his record, but he knows what to bring to the Betis to the tournament is worth as much or more than any other trophy he has been able to win. I hope I can see him wear the bracelet when the music plays The Charterhouse… That’s what Pellegrini wants, that’s what his teammates want, that’s what Beticismo wants.