Dec 14th 2006...
KILMARNOCK striker
David Fernandez has accused Celtic's Gary Caldwell of trying to
"destroy" him with the tackle which left him with damaged cruciate
ligaments in his left knee. The Spanish forward was carried off on a
stretcher after the challenge from Caldwell during a league match at
Rugby Park on 29 October. Fernandez says he still suffers constant
pain following the incident , and has lost all feeling in his left
foot.
The 30-year-old
admitted he feared gangrene would set into his damaged knee, and
thought his playing career was over. And Fernandez, who played
previously for Celtic, said the agony caused by the injury left him
worrying for his career.
The Spaniard has
previously cleared Scotland international Caldwell of blame for the
clash, which happened during Killie's 2-1 home defeat. But
Fernandez, who will have a second operation on his knee tomorrow,
vented his anger and frustration in an interview with the Madrid
sports newspaper, Marca.
"I had controlled a
long ball, and played a pass to a team-mate," the striker recalled.
"Then Caldwell launched himself at me in a double feet-first
challenge. My left leg was trapped between his legs, and he
destroyed it.
"I did not realise
that he was only given a yellow card. The injury was so severe, I
had to wait a fortnight before I could have an operation. An
inflammation laid me low.
"The doctors said they
expected gangrene to set into my knee, and they told me there was a
major risk of me never playing football again. Luckily the operation
went very well, and that danger has now been ruled out.
"But I have no feeling
in my left foot, and it will only come back once they have operated
on my ligaments on Friday. However, the doctors have told me that my
rehabilitation process is going to be pretty painful."
Fernandez had
rediscovered his best form with Kilmarnock after disappointing
spells at Dundee United and Celtic and the injury could not have
come at a worst time. However, his torment has been eased in part by
Celtic fans bombarding him with "get well soon" messages.
"The Celtic fans have been writing me letters, apologising for the
incident," he said. "I have received a whole heap of them."
Update Dec 15th .. David Fernandez insists the
above interview was wrongly translated by a freelance journalist and
made its way back to Scotland.,,,,,
"I never even
mentioned Caldwell in the article and want to make it clear I have
not blamed him. The guy asked me how the injury happened and I told
him my leg got stuck between his two legs. That was it. I said I
didn't even see the yellow card he got because I was in so much
pain. I told him Caldwell
spoke to me at half-time and after the game and since then he has
tried to contact me. I don't think there was anything malicious in
the tackle - it was a 50-50. There was also something in the article
about me fearing I had gangrene - if my mum sees that she'll go mad.
What happened is that the first operation had to be delayed to let
the swelling go down because otherwise complications like gangrene
can arise. I don't think there was anything malicious in the tackle
- it was a 50-50. There was also something in the article about me
fearing I had gangrene - if my mum sees that she'll go mad. I had to
wait a week until I had the first operation which went well. Now I
have to have my second and this is an easy one. It will take six to
eight months but I will get through it with the help of my everyone
at the club."
