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'Have Not Forgotten The Football That I Play': Akash Mishra Opens Up On Mental Demons During Rehab
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Akash Mishra recounts the mental battles during rehab after undergoing ACL surgery during the last year, Mumbai City FC's help and his plans for the upcoming season.
Akash Mishra was forced to the sidelines for over a year after injuring his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) during the 2023-24 Indian Super League (ISL) playoff in April.
The Mumbai City FC defender underwent ACL surgery in May and then began his long and arduous journey to recovery.
'It was not easy," Akash told News18 in an exclusive interview, stressing the gruelling mental aspect post-surgery.
'The pain of surgery is not as difficult as the journey. You have to do the same thing again and again, and again. When you are done after the surgery, after one month, all you have to do is just some little exercise on the bed. You can't move anywhere. You can't do things on your own. To lie down on a bed for one month, do nothing, actually it's more difficult mentally."
The 23-year-old was quick to thank Mumbai City FC and head coach Petr Kratky for helping him on his road to recovery.
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'I got injured in the (ISL playoff) semi-final. We played the second leg, then we played the final. I was with them then even after the season got finished. The physio team was with me in Mumbai. I was there doing my rehab, because you need some kind of strength before the surgery. I came home for a month. I operated in Bombay and the team physio was there all the time with me. It was off-season, everybody wanted to go home. But the physio team cancelled their holidays and they were there with me in Bombay during my rehab. So yeah, I think without them it would have been more difficult," he said.
'I still remember when I after my injury, I texted our director (of football) Sujay Sharma saying that only one year gone and I'm injured. I'll be out for a whole season. I know there are lot of expectations even I also want to do more for the club. But then he texted me in a very nice way saying that, see, Akash, you are more important. And for us, you take how much time it requires, how much time it takes. We are never going to push you," Akash recalled.
Akash revealed that he was with the club during his rehab over the last year, attending MCFC's home matches and seeing the team train, but coach assured him to take his time and recover well.
'After the final last year when I got injured, he told me that Akash, 'all these things happen' because he said that 'I've seen I've seen much more football than you'. So I know all these things happen and I know mentally you will be like, 'Oh no, I want to come back faster'," Akash said.
Learning From Chhetri And Chhangte
The left-back had moved to the Marina Arena just ahead of the 2023-24 season and has missed out on a season's action already. Asked what he intends to do differently, given the possibility of the injury recurring, he said, 'From my point of view, I'm doing everything. Since my ACL, I have become a more knowledgeable athlete. Before in the national team we used to listen to Sunil (Chhetri) bhai. Even in our club, of course, Lallianzuala Chhangte is an idol for everyone. We know Chhangte takes care of his body, how he what he eats, how he works out when he does all those things."
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'So since my injury, like I had a lot of time to reflect on myself, my body, my habits, which I could have changed before but I did not. Yes, I accept all those are my fault. But now I know what to eat, when to eat, when to sleep. I sleep early, I wake up early. So all those small things, I think they will improve me as a player and most important it will improve my body and I feel if my body is much better from what it was before. I hope, I don't get any injury," he added.
Mumbai did not have an 'ideal' season after winning the ISL league shield or the ISL cup in the two previous seasons, scraping through to the knockouts after finishing sixth. Akash said it was 'tough to watch' from the outside.
'I know why fans are frustrated. When we started the season, there were so many new players coming in. I think we took time to adjust. How they say in football, sometimes it's unfair. I've seen all the players throughout the season, every match day -2 and match day -1, they were trying, they were pushing, they were motivating each other. But it's just that sometimes in football, you don't get the result that you want," he said.
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As for his plans for the upcoming season, Akash said: 'For me as an individual is to come back, start the pre-season from day one fully fit. And we as a team, of course, we just want to keep the last season in the past and start afresh. Even before leaving, we had team meetings. Everybody knows what we expect from the next season."
No Monolo Quota
Missing out on football has also meant others have taken his place in the national set-up, but with his old coach Manolo Marquez at the helm now, Akash is not looking that far ahead.
'There is no quota, like – Aakash Mishra is fit, let's bring him back – because personally I know coach Manolo. There is nothing like this. If I perform well, then only I'll get a call-up," he said.
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'But of course, as a former player, I want to do well and try to be back as soon as possible. To be honest, I have not forgotten the football that I play. But yes, because of one year's injury, things have changed."
'Even the football has gone a little ahead. But I keep watching all the games. I watch Indian football, I watch Premier League, I watch Champions League, I watch all the games. I try to analyse like what are the things that I can improve. And honestly, when I was watching Mumbai City play or even any other team play. I got I got more ideas that what all things I can do because if I put myself in that position, what should I? So I think all those things also will help me to improve my game once I'm back," he added.
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tags :
ACL Akash Mishra indian football isl mcfc mumbai city fc
Location :
Kolkata, India, India
First Published:
May 28, 2025, 07:57 IST
News sports » football EXCLUSIVE | 'Have Not Forgotten The Football That I Play': Akash Mishra Opens Up On Mental Demons During Rehab
