After leaving Celtic, Musonda described the scene: “Barcelona needed me that summer time the place I’d spend six months within the B workforce after which hopefully get promoted to the primary workforce however Vitesse additionally needed me. Chelsea stated, ‘Look, go to Vitesse’.
“Throughout the September worldwide break, I used to be taking part in a pleasant in Antwerp. The ball was within the air and the man simply put his studs into my knee. I used to be instructed I’d be out for 2 months – it ended up being almost 4 years.”
Musonda injured the PCL in his knee, an virtually unheard‑of situation in soccer, when surgical procedure is normally prevented to forestall altering a participant’s explosiveness or operating type. Two months out grew to become a full season and when he examined the knee once more throughout his mortgage again at Vitesse, he broke down as soon as extra.
Searching for solutions, Musonda consulted his non-public doctorand was suggested to have surgical procedure. Chelsea initially refused, delaying him one other month, however Musonda ultimately received the argument.
Throughout his eight‑to‑10‑month restoration, the worldwide coronavirus pandemic struck, slowing his progress additional by limiting entry to membership services and workers.
At that stage, Musonda paid for elements of his personal rehabilitation, hiring a personal physiotherapist in Dubai at his personal expense – a transfer he says led to him being fined however that he in the end credit with serving to him return to coaching three and a half years after the preliminary damage.
Managers Maurizio Sarri and Lampard had come and gone, and Thomas Tuchel was now in cost at Chelsea.
“I met Tuchel within the automobile park and he instructed me he knew who I used to be from Dortmund and to be prepared for the next pre-season,” Musonda stated. “I got here again and was instructed to signal a contract at half my wage and to exit on mortgage by Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini, the mortgage coach.
“I used to be additionally instructed I’d be coaching with the under-23s however I pulled certainly one of Tuchel’s coaches apart and he stated it was a mistake – that I used to be travelling with them to Eire the subsequent day for the tour. I skilled there and I acquired Covid. A nightmare.
“Once I returned, Tuchel instructed me there was some animosity within the entrance workplace. I stated I’d have performed without spending a dime that season to show myself at Chelsea and that if I wasn’t adequate, I’d stroll away when my contract expired.
“I knew from September that I would not play and it was robust, particularly after being instructed I had solely a 20% probability of taking part in soccer once more once I had the surgical procedure to then feeling absolutely match.
“I simply wanted a possibility at Chelsea, however it was a troublesome promote after so lengthy out. Mentally, that was one of many hardest moments. It killed me. Chelsea was the place I needed to make it.”
