How will you get to the call? A traumatologist and two sports psychologists analyze the moment of Lapadula and his nose injury

Not all superhero stories have a happy ending. However, after two months of uncertainty, that of one of the main protagonists of the Peruvian team, Gianluca Lapadula begins to clarify and could end with an end to the season worthy of a scorer, and with a qualification for the Qatar 2022 World Cup. This Wednesday, February 23, he played again with Benevento having Ricardo Gareca present in the front row. And this Thursday, the meeting of the coach and the attacker took place, as announced by the FPF.

After returning to play for his club after almost two months, Lapadula received a visit from Ricardo Gareca and Néstor Bonillo this Thursday. The technical command of the Peruvian national team traveled especially to learn from the words of the attacker himself the current state of him, both at the football level and his injury to the septum, a fracture whose operation has decided to postpone.

your moment

Lapadula reappeared in Benevento after more than two months. He did it this Wednesday with 35 minutes against Como, whom his team thrashed 5-0 in the Italian Serie B. The reassuring sigh from the coaching staff was evident: Lapadula had minutes again and showed that he can play despite his nasal injury. Absolute relief for the national team thinking about the double qualifying date that is coming at the end of March against Uruguay (Montevideo) and Paraguay (Lima) for a place in the Qatar 2022 World Cup

But let’s remember. In the last double date, in the match against Colombia in Barranquilla, on January 28, the nose injury that the ‘Bambino’ dragged worsened. What happened? In the box, when he had to defend the goal Pedro Gallese, Lapadula He went to support his teammates and got hurt. The bicolor doctors were forced to enter the field to treat him, but he was left lying on the grass. Finally, he came out in the 84th minute.

The medical approach

And although the National Team did not publish an official statement about his diagnosis, Dr. July Degrees was able to explain to El Comercio that “Despite the fact that it is difficult to speak from the outside, I believe that it is the same injury that he suffered months ago and that it has worsened. The ideal would be to have surgery. It won’t take long for her to recover,” he said.

With respect, the orthopedist and traumatologist, July Armstold us that “Lapadula’s injury is of greater consideration because he was undergoing a recovery process after similar damage, so the total recovery time could be 4 to 6 weeks,” said. ”added the specialist.

As for the best treatment option, he recommended an operation. “It is important to mention that a person who breaks their nose and is displaced should be put in place within the first 7 days ideally. Your recovery? In the case of Lapadula, he is more delicate due to the previous fracture, however he received timely treatment and subsequent care (sports rest) that will allow him to carry out his activities almost normally in a maximum of 6 weeks”he explained.

The truth is that, finally, the ‘Bambino’ decided not to undergo surgery until after the Qualifiers were over. Well, beyond the fact that his recovery process is relatively short, this would prevent him from continuing to train and get ready for the double date in March, against Uruguay and Paraguay, where he knows that it will be decisive. And although it is not the most recommended, he has already communicated it to his colleagues and the technical command. There is no turning back.

‘Lapagol’: the masked hero

Since his first game with the bicolor, in November 2020, Lapadula has scored five goals with the Peruvian National Team. Although, his tears, blows and scratches from him, but above all his effort to be present with the National Team, is what the Peruvian fans recognize most, who have found in him a new idol, in the absence of Paolo Guerrero.

This, according to the sports psychologist, Julius Caesar Pecheis something that Gianluca understands perfectly, this being one of the reasons why he has decided not to undergo surgery and continue playing to reach the double date in March, where the bicolor will define his qualification for Qatar against Uruguay and Paraguay. “Gianluca suffered to be accepted, by the fans and sports journalism. He earned everyone’s affection for his attitudes. So, coming back while still masked is his token of appreciation. He wants to continue making merits”he claimed.

“He is the new hero and in psychology it is the people who show themselves in a way to please a large group. He does not care. He wants to keep running and make a goal or give an assist”added the psychologist.

Meanwhile, regarding the use of the mask, he said: “People who have a defined personality, some type of injury, be it to ligaments, injury, to the face, are not going to feel it as a decrease, because they have tools that allow them to handle the situation in which they find themselves. Having a totally damaged septum, he continues to play with a mask, even though he does not use it in his social life. That shows that he doesn’t feel embarrassed, ridiculed or less compared to other people. He may even regard it with value, as a decoration for being an excellent player ”.

The key trait: willingness to risk

On the other hand, Piero Portonovaalso a sports psychologist, assured that the conditions in which ‘Lapa’ arrives are not the best, but even so, due to his personality, they would not play against him. “It is not the ideal situation. There is always an impact, no matter how minimal, on the psyche. It is not the same to arrive in excellent sports form. Let us also remember that he accumulates different themes, because he has no continuity, he is beaten. What he is going to have to do is make a mental overexertion to accommodate himself to this situation.”said.

“However, I think what may be helping him is a personality factor, how a player with these traits is. There we talk about psychological variables such as the willingness to risk, which is typical in forwards. With him, the mere fact of accepting to come like this, I already think he is showing that he is someone mentally strong and that he is motivated “he added.

As for his mask, like Peche, he considers it to be the symbol of Gianluca that motivates him. “It is a symbol that he is not 100%, but that he is still giving everything for the country. There are players who with 80-85% can define, and stand out on the pitch” he explained.

Lapadula, due to its characteristics, according to specialists, will not give up. In a month he will return to Peru to fight for the World Cup qualification. And although he is not physically at his best, he will seek to show the best version of him on the field. He knows that Peru is at stake for much more than qualifying for Qatar, the joy of millions of Peruvians is at stake.

‘Lapa’ and his great effort for the bicolor

The lesions on the nose Gianluca Lapadula They have not been his only problem in recent months. The lack of continuity at Benevento is also a problem for the ‘Tigre’ who has decided to start his tour of Europe to see how he rejoins Benevento. Last week, the bicolor forward reached a consensus with benevento and was able to play again.

As is known, the club decided to sue the Peruvian for breach of contract. After he showed his desire to be transferred in the winter market. ‘Gianluca’, after the end of the year parties, did not return to the institution and asked not to be taken into account while looking for another club, causing discomfort in the ‘Giallorossi’ institution.

Now, with this decision, ‘Lapa’ will have to do his best to make up for lost time, considering that his last game in Serie B was last December 15 in a 2-2 loss against Fiorentina in the Italian Cup. 1. In this way, the attacker accumulated a total of six absences with the team of the B-series: in view of Calcium Monzza, SPAL, Alessandria, Parma, Lecce and Ascoli. Encounters, where the cast has added two defeats, three draws and a single victory, leaving the direct promotion zone towards the playoffs, complicating its return to the A series.