INSULT TO INJURY
Boro star Ayala: Crocked ankle wrecked home life
DANIEL AYALA says a persistent injury turned him into a bad father.
The Middlebrough defender has given an emotional account of 18 months of hell – so fans can understand his dip in form. Ayla, 27, is on a high now, scoring three goals this month. But he was playing through the pain barrier as multiple injections led to an obsession that ruined his home life. He is now fully fit and revitalised under new boss Tony Pulis, but not long ago consulted a psychologist amid fears his career could be over. Ayala told of dark times, especially last season when he could not do himself justice in the Premier League. He said: “When my wife gave birth to my younger son, I was sitting there during labour, thinking, ‘Hurry up, I have to put my foot in ice!’ “It makes me feel ashamed now. Whenever my wife suggested we go for a walk, I’d say no because my ankle was so sore. I just had to put my foot up or in ice whenever I could. “My foot was always swollen. And that was eight months after I first picked up the injury.
“I remember telling the club doctor, ‘This is not very healthy’ because I could not even think about my kids.
“My wife told me I was always angry and frustrated. I would go home and wouldn’t even play with my kids.
“The first year of my second kid’s life – I couldn’t really enjoy it. That year passed and you do not get it back. But that is part of the life of a footballer.”
The Spaniard suffered the ankle injury two years ago.
He added: “I should have been out six to eight weeks. We were fighting for promotion and instead, two or three days later, I was training. I played through so much pain.
“The manager wanted me to play. I was limping dreadfully. To training, to games. I wanted to get promoted. So I played with pain.
“So many injections, at least one per game. I’d check my ankle 60-70 times a day. It became an obsession.
“Eventually I saw a psychologist. I knew if my ankle was fine I’d become the same person again. I have been lucky – the last two months, 100 per cent.
“Now I enjoy my family. Fans don’t realise how carrying an injury torments you.”
I was sitting there during my wife’s labour thinking, ‘Hurry up, I have to put my foot into some ice’