Eberechi Eze on the mental demands of long-term injury

On a football pitch, there can be no hiding: these aspects of players – those which constitute their performances – are out there, plain for all to see.

It is understandable, therefore, that in the bustle and business of a Premier League season, quieter moments for contemplation can seem harder to come by.

Yet to become an elite athlete means becoming prepared to face the very toughest challenges of all kinds, taking on any obstacle head-on - a mentality embodied by Eberechi Eze following his Achilles injury in May 2021.

This fortnight, the Premier League's 'Inside Matters' campaign is encouraging supporters to keep up the conversation on mental health by talking and listening to others. The theme for activity is anxiety, which aligns with Mental Health Awareness Week next week.

Eze has previously discussed how the events in 2021 shaped him but, two years on, recently sat down with YouTube channel and podcast Baller Talk to reflect further upon the mental demands which shaped him with stark, poignant honesty.

“It was just a sad day,” Eze recalled, speaking of his injury. “I remember picking up my phone. They send a message before they select anyone, or if you’re in the preliminary squad, and I remember getting a message for England’s first-team.

“I just put my phone down in shock. To see that happen on that day was just a madness… it was just a sad day of shock, telling my parents, telling my family…. you feel helpless to be honest – it was a sad day for sure.

“Before getting injured, I was in one of those phases where you’re feeling yourself, just feeling good…. You feel like you can do whatever you want, and that’s where I was at: any game I went into, I was positive that I was going to score, assist or have a good game.

“It was just me enjoying my football, which is why…. not that there’s a good time to get injured, but for it to happen then, it felt like such a blow because I was… becoming the type of player I want to be. It just felt like a tough time to get hit like that.”

While the injury posed physical challenges for Eze, the forward admitted that the greater strain it placed was on his mentality.

He explained: “The only thing I was thinking about was: ‘Am I going to get back to what I was doing?’ I was watching videos of myself and I know what I can do… but your doubt is: ‘Am I going to reach that [again]?’ That self-doubt, that fear, for me was only neutralised because of my faith in God.

“I think having the family that I’ve got, who are so tight and connected, I don’t take it for granted… when I needed them the most, they were there for me. I can say that about every single one of them. I know a lot of people can’t say that, so I’m hugely grateful to God that that’s the position I’m in.

“Despite being hugely disappointed with what had happened, and obviously demoralised and going through it, my mindset from before my operation was that I knew how quickly other people had got back from the injury – and I was going to do it the fastest anyone’s ever done it."

“Despite being in a sad situation, my mindset was still: 'I’m going to get back'. I had to almost force myself to believe it, and it took time for me to get there, but from the moment that it happened…

"I said all I can do is put in as much work as I can, in order to be [back] the fastest it’s ever been done – and not just be back just for the sake of it, but to be stronger, performing better, and in a better position than I was before.

“It was a tough journey. It took everything from me. Every day was working towards getting my Achilles and whole body better – how can I improve myself, and how can I use this time when I’m not playing football to maximise myself?

“For all that I went through and all that I’d seen on this journey, I know for a fact that I’m in a better place because of that experience.

“Every decision that I make, when I go home, whether I’m at football, at home or going out: ‘Is this decision going to help my Achilles and help my rehab and help me improve’? If it’s not, I’m not on it.”

Just six months after the initial injury, in November 2021, Eze made his sooner-than-expected return as a second-half substitute against Aston Villa.

“I remember being on the bench, warming up, and then the manager telling me: ‘Get ready, you’re coming on.’ That feeling was just… I can’t explain to you the feeling, because for you to understand, you’d have had to experienced everything I experienced throughout the whole journey.

“Every single day was dedicated to being better and improving myself, and putting myself in a better position than I was the day before. That was the focus and to do that every single day, for five-and-a-half months, and then to come on, it felt like it was actually a madness!

“For me to be back on the pitch in the Premier League and being able to play, this was a blessing from God. That was an amazing, amazing moment, and one that I won’t forget.”

And the reflections from Eze’s journey clearly remain with the 24-year-old, who smiled: “Going through it let me know that there’s a resilience that’s in us all, and if you’re put in a situation, you can deal with it.

“It may be tough, but whatever situation you’re in, you’ve got the tools to overcome it, it’s just about finding them. Some situations are more difficult than others, but the fact is that us as humans, we’ve got it in us – you just have to find it and pull it out.

“It may be difficult, it may be tough – but it’s there.”

You can watch the full interview with Eze on the Baller Talk YouTube channel.

The Premier League and Shout have collaborated to offer support to Premier League fans in the UK. Anyone experiencing anxiety can text the word 'TeamTalk' to 85258 to be connected with around-the-clock support from trained volunteers, supervised and supported in real time by an expert clinical team.