Wilfred Bouma: "World Cup is my target"

Tuesday 24 March 2009

Wilfred Bouma seems to have slipped into oblivion after being out injured for eight months.

Yet he was first choice for a long time in Holland's national team and now he has recovered he wants to fight to get his place back.

- The squad for the games against Scotland and Macedonia has been named. Were you hoping to be part of it already?

Wilfred Bouma: "No, but I hope to be with the squad for the matches we play in June (against Iceland and Norway, DF). And if that's not possible than I hope to be back next season. But my first target is Aston Villa. I shall have to prove that I'm back at the right level with my club first. Then I shall aim for the World Cup 2010. I want to go there. Also because my injury came after another major disappointment: Euro 2008. I had expected to play more there."

- Are you still in touch with bondscoach Bert van Marwijk?

"Sure, he has asked me how I've been since the injury. The medical staff sent me flowers when I got injured. So the contact is a good one."

- People in England spoke of a 'horror injury'. Your tough team mate Reo Coker even admitted he almost cried when he saw your ankle. Did you have nightmares about what happened?

"The state of my ankle has been on my retina for a while, yes. When they took off the plaster I couldn't look at it. The last time I saw it was when I got injured. Then it stood at an angle of 45 degrees. In the end the doctors convinced me to have a look. It looked all right. I didn't have nightmares. But the pain was pretty severe in the first two weeks. I needed an iPod to fall asleep. I have looked at the footage once to see what actually happened. Now I'm done with it. I don't want to see it again."

- When will you be back for Aston Villa?

"Sunday's game against Liverpool came too early but it's all going well and I hope to be part of the squad in two weeks time."

- Your manager Martin O’Neill said that with your comeback it seemed as if the club had signed a new player. Do you feel it that way as well?

"No it doesn't. I have been training with the boys for while now. But I understand why he says that. I played my last game on 26 July. That is eight months ago."

- Have you ever been out for such a long time?

"No. But I suppose as a professional you need to go through such a period once in your career. Some are out for ten months with such injuries. It depends a bit on how much pain you can handle. And I can handle some. You must be strong mentally as well. Fortunately I live here with my wife and two kids. They were of tremendous support to me."

- People said you'd be back after six months though.

"That was wrong. I reckoned with eight months. Don't forget that all my ligaments had been torn off. The surgeon who helped me also worked on players like Wayne Bridge, Abou Diaby and Eduardo. Bridge had the same injury five years ago. He told me that even now he still wakes up with a stiff ankle. But I guess that's part of the life of a professional football player."

- This is your fourth season at Aston Villa During that period the team ended 16th, 11th and 6th. Now they are in 5th spot, but in recent weeks they haven't done so well. How come?

"That is because the differences between the teams in the Premier League are very small. Sometimes we have won matches we shouldn't have won. But three weeks ago we should have beaten Stoke. But we can still finish fourth and qualify for the Champions League."

- André Ooijer will return to PSV. Is that an option for you?

"PSV is a club where I would love to play again in the future. But I extended my contract with Villa in September. And that was while I was injured. It's an indication of the confidence the manager has in me. And it was a great support. I didn't have to worry about not having a club after my recovery. I am very grateful to Aston Villa for that."