I was having a think just after the Chelsea game (once I had calmed down slightly) about Djibril Cisse. How marvellous it was for him to come back from such a shattering leg break, and what he had said in interviews on the course to working his way back into training and games.
The Djibril of old was a little extreme. He seemed to throw a few tantrums on the pitch, and be somewhat of an outrageous character; a little immature, not quite got his priorities straight, and took the fact he was a footballer for granted. I remember a quote of “I am looking forward to moving to Liverpool because there is no clubs here in Auxerre”. That, I found a little discreditable. He also spoke of his lack of ability in the air, and his left foot. I didn’t mind, it’s a great attribute in a person’s personality to be able to spot their downfalls, but the fact he hadn’t added that he wanted to improve on these flaws was a downfall in itself. I was never in doubt of this young talents ability, but his attitude worried me.
However, reading what he has said these last few weeks and months, my approach has changed, simply because Cisse’s seems to have as well. He looks as though he has grown up a bit, and this can only be a positive thing. Maybe before with his attitude, he lacked hunger, but since that horrifying leg break, he appears to have opened his eyes. Suddenly it seems like he has realised how lucky he is to have been blessed with the talent he has, and to be playing for Liverpool - the biggest club on the planet. He had football taken away from 5 and a half months, and two quotes spring to mind: “Absence makes the heart grow fonder” and “You don’t realise what you have until it’s gone”.
This is why I think the leg break could be a blessing in disguise. It took away what Cisse loved more than he consciously was aware of, and the hunger inside him has grown while he has been out of action, hence he will hopefully be more passionate for LFC and football in general in the future. Of course, the break was a catastrophic blow to our and particularly Djibril’s season, but in the long run, I think it will help. Now he knows how important football is and what it’s like to be away from it, his appetite has grown and this will make him a better player. Now we see him chasing defenders to the death when they are in possession, determined to win the ball or at least do something for the team, this being a quality we never saw in him before the accident.
This is why he will improve. He now wants the ball, wants goals, and will generally appreciate the fact he can play at all. Good luck to him for the rest of the season, and maybe we will look back on our and his misfortune in the future as what made him a great player.
