Eduardo's first interview with Croatian TV

Eduardo has just given his first interview to Croatian TV since his horrific injury. Arseblog forumer Kesky has provided the bullet points:

• He'll be going to Brazil soon, probably this week, and he'll begin his rehabilitation there.


• News of The World interview was made up. He never spoke to them.


• He feels fine, and hasn't watched the pictures or the video of the injury. He is very calm, and thinks his family suffered more than he did, and that he spent the last few days reassuring his wife and kid that everything will be okay, and that they need not worry.


• Before the interview, the reporter had to agree not to ask anything about Martin Taylor. The only thing Dudu said was that Taylor did not visit him in the hospital to offer an apology, like some papers reported (note - this is what the TV anchor said despite Eduardo's wishes that no questions about Taylor be asked).


• It's too early to say when will he be back, and whether he'll be better or worse than he was before. There is a long way to go, and he stressed that it will be important to be mentally prepared to get back in to the game, and not just physically.


• Eduardo thanked all of the Croatian and Arsenal fans for the support they have given him, and reiterated how important it was for him. He also thanked his teammates, and all the people at Arsenal.

Update: Here's a transcript of the interview:

Q: First, tell us how you feel right now, eleven, twelve days after the injury?

A: Well, it is much easier now, at this moment. I feel much better, in my head, now it's time to forget what happened. I will spend the near future without football, but I will have more time for my family.

Q: Could you please describe what happened? The tackle?

A: In that moment, lying on the floor, I looked at my leg, couldn't believe what I was seeing, and turned my head the other way. I felt nervous, very scared, and spent all the way to the hospital in great pain.

Q: We have heard that the Arsenal medical staff, and especially the physio Gary Lewin reacted greatly, and that Gilberto also helped a lot.

A: Yeah, they immobilized my foot, and Gilberto came over to translalte and tell me what to do. I could barely understand even him, my head was everywhere, I was barely holding on. I think it all went the way it should have, now.

Q: The pain? Was it unbearable?

A: I can't really tell. Sure, the pain was huge, but it's the panic, fear, and nervousness that I felt the most. I can't really recall the pain itself.

Q: Some players have said that you were just too quick, and that you moved the ball too fast for the other player to catch it?

A: I touched the ball away, but didn't have the time to move my foot away, and his studs were already there. I definitely didn't expect what happened to actually happen that way. Everybody says it looked really ugly, and they tell me not to watch it — so I don't watch it. I wish I had my leg in the air, and not planted on the ground. It would have been a foul, but not an injury.

Q: The pictures have been printed in most newspapers around the world. Have you seen any of them?

A: No, I haven't really. I've seen one picture of me lying on the ground, but all you could see is my back, and my head turned the other way. Generally, I don't really watch football as much as i should. I just watch Arsenal games.

Q: Have you read what Kaka said? He asked for more protection from the referees, and claimed that the top players are constantly handled with dangerous tackles.

A: Yes, I heard that, and I think he's absolutely right. If that tackle happened to somebody else, I'd still feel very sorry for the player. We'll see what will happen in the future.

Q: Do you think that football has become such a rough sport, and how much responsibility lies with the managers, and club officials, who stress the importance of winning?

A: Well, everybody wants to win, that's normal, and things like this happen.

Q: What are you plans now? Rehabilitation? How long will you be wearing the plaster cast?

A: Four weeks, probably. The club will organize something concerning my physical rehabilitation, and it should all start in about month and ten days. I'll start the rehabilitation process in Brazil, with the doctor who worked wit Ronaldo, Ronaldinho,, and Roberto Carlos.

Q: I see you're in a rather good mood.

A: well, yes. I've been spending a lot of time with my family and friends, and that has helped me a lot. Things like this happen, this time it happened to me. I have to move on.

Q: The NoTW interview with you? Is it real?

A: I guarantee you that it's completely made up. This here is my first interview after the injury. I asked them to clarify that it was not an interview with me, and they did, so it's okay now.

Q: Here, in Croatia, your injury was the most important news. Have you been harassed by the media while you were in the hospital?

A: Well, it was difficult sometimes, because i needed peace and quiet most of all. I understand them, but it was difficult for me, because something bad had happened. You have to understand me, as well.

Q: What's the prognosis?

A: It depends. Could be six, months, could be nine, could be a whole year. There is a long way to go, and it will be important to be mentally prepared to get back in to the game, and not just physically.