Former Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen is hoping to put a nightmare debut season at Barcelona behind him, despite being involved in an historical treble-winning campaign.
The Belgian international made the switch to Spain last summer shortly after the World Cup but a couple of long-term injuries hampered his settling in period and that caused him to miss the majority of the 2014-15 campaign.
He finally returned to full fitness in the spring and lasted for just over an hour on his long-awaited debut for Barca on the final day of last season in the 2-2 draw against Deportivo La Coruna at the Camp Nou.
With the Catalan giants claiming a fantastic treble last season, Vermaelen was able to collect a winner’s medal in La Liga, Copa Del Rey and the Champions League, however, the 29-year-old admits the team’s success was somewhat bittersweet for him:
“I got a medal, but you don’t feel like you have won the treble,” the defender said [via Mail Sport].
“I was very happy for the team, but it’s not like I contributed a lot for the cups we won.”
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Vermaelen was speaking after featuring in Barca’s pre-season friendly against Manchester United on Saturday night and says he is hoping to steer clear of injuries for the upcoming campaign:
“I am very happy and very pleased to be back, there’s nothing better than to feel fit.”
“Last year was terrible. It was a nasty injury, a very difficult one and I am very happy that the feeling in the legs is perfect again, like it should be.”
“I feel 100 per cent now. We just started pre-season so I am adapting still but I had 60 minutes against a good opponent so I am very pleased with that,” Vermaelen added.