Recovering from injury, Pet can't wait to find the ball
Serbian continues to do physical training, but in Itu, he should work normally with the group
By From the team at Flamengo's official website - in
When he received a hard tackle from Palmeiras midfielder Pierre in a Brasileirão match, which Flamengo won 1-0, midfielder Petkovic knew he had a long recovery period ahead of him. With a sprained left ankle, the Serbian has since been in Flamengo's medical department for treatment. On the eve of the squad's trip to Itu, where the second part of the Flamengo preseason will take place, he will finally be able to reconnect with the ball, his old companion.
But Petkovic's injury hasn't kept him from working. While he can't perform the same tasks and movements as his teammates, the midfielder continues to work hard to improve his fitness, even though it's not his favorite thing to do.
"I still feel a little discomfort when I hit the ball, but I'm getting better. I can't do anything with the ball, and without it, I have to work the same way, right?! I hope that in this second phase of the offseason, in Itu, I can get back to training normally, which is what I really enjoy doing. Besides, I have to get back into the swing of things to come back in good form in the Brasileirão. Just being fit isn't enough anymore," joked Pet.
Happy with the contract renewal with Flamengo and hoping to shine again in the Brazilian Championship, Pet highly praised the work done during the competition's break for the World Cup.
"The work is being done very well by everyone here. In fact, I've always said that. Here at Flamengo, we've always had great professionals. We're all doing well in the squad, and I, who came back from an injury and am older for an athlete, am a good example of how people take everything seriously," said the midfielder, praising the work of fitness coach Toninho Oliveira, who recently arrived at the club.
"Of the people who have just arrived on the coaching staff, I know the fitness coach best. I've worked with him twice, including during my first stint at Flamengo, and I have a lot of confidence in his work," revealed Petkovic, who hopes to see the Flamengo fans smiling when they see the team on the field again.
"We are dedicating ourselves a lot to the work and, now, it's time to get together, get in sync and train the technical side to come back and bring joy to this wonderful crowd," he concluded.
But Petkovic's injury hasn't kept him from working. While he can't perform the same tasks and movements as his teammates, the midfielder continues to work hard to improve his fitness, even though it's not his favorite thing to do.
"I still feel a little discomfort when I hit the ball, but I'm getting better. I can't do anything with the ball, and without it, I have to work the same way, right?! I hope that in this second phase of the offseason, in Itu, I can get back to training normally, which is what I really enjoy doing. Besides, I have to get back into the swing of things to come back in good form in the Brasileirão. Just being fit isn't enough anymore," joked Pet.
Happy with the contract renewal with Flamengo and hoping to shine again in the Brazilian Championship, Pet highly praised the work done during the competition's break for the World Cup.
"The work is being done very well by everyone here. In fact, I've always said that. Here at Flamengo, we've always had great professionals. We're all doing well in the squad, and I, who came back from an injury and am older for an athlete, am a good example of how people take everything seriously," said the midfielder, praising the work of fitness coach Toninho Oliveira, who recently arrived at the club.
"Of the people who have just arrived on the coaching staff, I know the fitness coach best. I've worked with him twice, including during my first stint at Flamengo, and I have a lot of confidence in his work," revealed Petkovic, who hopes to see the Flamengo fans smiling when they see the team on the field again.
"We are dedicating ourselves a lot to the work and, now, it's time to get together, get in sync and train the technical side to come back and bring joy to this wonderful crowd," he concluded.