After going through an injury hell in the last 24 months, Barcelona defender Thomas Vermaelen says that he is very much looking forward to be part of major competitions.
Immediately after joining for £ 16 million from Arsenal, the Belgian international found himself consistently on the sidelines due to recurrences of various injury problems. It has been only in the last few months that he has been featuring regularly for club and country. The defender has easily lost two years of his productive footballing career and he intends to make the best out of the extended absence from the pitch.
Due to the continued absence, manager Luis Enrique has gone for other options on the pitch. It will be up to Vermaelen to convince the manager that he is the right man to partner with Gerard Pique. The injury record of the defender has to improve a lot as well as his form. The impressive form of the Catalan club will make it doubly hard forVermaelen to return to the first-team, but he remains confident of doing so. At the moment, the 30-year-old is just happy to be part of the squad for the Club World Cup. Barcelona are overwhelming favourites to lift yet another title but it will beVermaelen’s first proper success with the Spanish club.
“Of course, last year was a bit disappointing with the injury I had but I had a good pre-season. So I feel good at the moment and I have no problems.I’m very honored to be part of this team of course. We’re playing well at the moment I think and to go to the Club World Cup for me will be something new. I know some of the players have the experience but for me it’s something new, so something I look forward to and I’m very excited of course,” saidVermaelen.