sport news LEWIS FERGUSON EXCLUSIVE: My happiness is playing football ... and in an ... trends now
The night after the first major operation of his career, a stricken Lewis Ferguson lay propped up by pillows and pain killers in Bologna’s Toniolo Clinic. Football on the television only fuelled mental demons tap-dancing around his mind.
AC Milan faced Roma in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final. And, as Gianluca Mancini rose to nod the only goal of the game, the Scotland international glanced at his swollen knee and tortured himself with what ifs?
The highest-scoring Scot in Serie A history, the 24-year-old had claimed six goals in Bologna’s remarkable pursuit of Champions League football. Now facing months on the sidelines, he wondered when he would ever sample the joy of scoring against Europe’s elite — and, if he did, would his shattered knee hold out?
‘I was watching that game thinking: “It’s impossible that I will be able to move like this again”,’ Ferguson tells Mail Sport in his first interview since the operation.
‘You are lying there in hospital, just out of surgery, your knee is massive and you don’t feel good. That’s what goes through your head: “How is it possible that I will ever move the same as these guys I am watching here on TV?”.’
Assurance came thick and fast. Bologna boss Thiago Motta underwent the same procedure during a decorated career and told his captain he would have more chances to fulfil his ambitions. Scotland manager Steve Clarke was one of the first on the phone with words of comfort.
Bologna's Lewis Ferguson faces months on sidelines after his agonising knee injury
Scotland manager Steve Clarke was one of the first to phone Ferguson and offer support
Former Aberdeen player Ferguson had dreams of playing a major role for Scots at Euros
Ferguson’s father, Derek, was no stranger to a surgical procedures either during 23 years with Rangers, Hearts and Sunderland. Next week, Ferguson’s parents will fly to Italy to offer help and support to a young man struggling to coming to terms with the timing of his first significant injury.
The midfielder was a £20million summer target for Juventus, both Milan clubs and Napoli, with Bologna close to securing Champions League qualification when his knee packed in during a 0-0 draw with Monza. Beyond that lay a first appearance at the Euro 2024 finals with Scotland.
‘Half of it is mental, half of it is physical,’ he continues. ‘I spoke to the doctors and the physios doing my rehab and they all said the same thing. It’s just as challenging mentally it is physically.
‘Physically, it’s hard now because you can’t move, you are on crutches, your leg is in a brace. You can’t do anything yourself. I literally can’t do anything. My partner Lauren is having to put my clothes on for me and wash me. Honestly, it’s soul destroying.
‘I’m on the couch all day using a machine to ice my leg and watching TV, waiting for the time to pass.
‘It has been really difficult. People outside of football might look at it as a footballer being injured and part of football, of course.
‘But most of my happiness comes from just playing football and, in an instant, it just gets taken away from you.’
Milan playing Roma
