The Chilean player suffered several sports misfortunes and was operated by a strong injury

Arturo Vidal is one of the best players in the history of Chile, and he is one of the most important members of the golden age of the austral team. Vidal has achieved, with the Chilean National Team, what the country has never achieved in its history, winning two consecutive America Cups and winning the second place in the 2017 Confederations Cup of Russia.

Leer en español: ¿Cómo terminó Arturo Vidal una de las peores temporadas de su carrera?

The importance of Vidal is unquestionable; for this reason, the midfielder is a benchmark of Bayern Munich in Germany. Vidal's professional career is impressively successful, but this 2017-2018 season has been perhaps the worst in Chile. Vidal has suffered several sports misfortunes difficult to overcome.

The golden generation of Chile will not participate in the World Cup

The Chilean National Team has found in the last decade the golden generation of its entire history. The national team has players such as Arturo Vidal, Alexis Sanchez, Claudio Bravo, Jean Beausejour, Gary Medel, Charles Aránguiz, and Eduardo Vargas, among many others, who managed to win the first Copa América of their history in Chile 2015 and achieved the title in Copa América Centenario United States 2016.

Chile dominated South American soccer during those years. In 2017, the southern country reached the final of the Confederations Cup, which played memorably, but failed to win, as it succumbed to the almighty Germany. From that moment on, the future of the Chilean National Team became obscure.

The South American qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup in Russia were the scene where the golden generation of Chile suffered the hecatomb: The austral team was eliminated in October 2017 with a worse goal difference than the national team of Peru, which later qualified in the repechage against New Zealand. This blow was devastating for the Chilean people and for the players, who in past times knew how to give the greatest joy of southern soccer.

After that painful elimination, Vidal published on his social networks the following message: "The road to any triumph is full of defeats … Win or lose I'm still in battle, I'm still standing and most importantly: without fear". The player did not lose the motivation, but soccer had prepared some more hits for this season.

Success after success at Bayern Munich … and suddenly outside due to injury

The current season of Arturo Vidal was quite successful, as the player was not deterred by the arrival of great midfielders to the Bavarian club. Colombian James Rodriguez, Frenchman Corentin Tolisso, and German Sebastian Rudy arrived at Bayern Munich at the start of the season. The arrival of the players presaged that the Chilean midfielder would have a smaller amount of minutes of game. However, Vidal continued to demonstrate his quality and leadership, so he reaffirmed his status as a benchmark and continued playing normally.

Vidal scored six goals and made two assists in 35 games this season, which helped the 'Bavarian Giant' to get its 28th Bundesliga title and position the club in the semifinals of the German Cup and in the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League. Everything seemed aimed at Vidal being a warrior in the competitions that still disputes the Bavarian club, as usual, until fate definitely ruined his season.

The Chilean midfielder suffered an injury in the training of Bayern Munich on April 15. A few days later, the club confirmed the worst: The player will not be able to play a single match more this season because he was operated. "Arturo Vidal was operated on his right knee on Monday in Augsburg by Dr. Ulrich Boenisch. (…) The posterior root of the external meniscus, damaged by the free joint body, was surgically removed. Arturo Vidal will be out for the rest of the season", Bayern Munich said on its official website.

Arturo Vidal was motivated to face the end of the season with his club, because somehow he could overcome the painful elimination of his team of the World Cup qualifiers. In Champions, he would face Real Madrid, the club that eliminated Bayern Munich and the Chilean last year in the quarterfinals. "Revenge is a dish that is eaten cold. Let’s go! ", Vidal published once he knew he would face the 'merengue' club, but the strong injury will deprive him of participating in such an emotional duel.

"All past time was better" says an old popular adage, accurate at the moment that Arturo Vidal is experiencing. The great Chilean midfielder went through serious sporting disasters in the current season. However, his motivation, his pride, and resilience never faltered, until fate itself away him from the soccer fields. The Chilean is going through a hard professional moment, but he promises to come back stronger than ever.

LatinAmerican Post | Javier Aldana
Translated from “¿Cómo terminó Arturo Vidal una de las peores temporadas de su carrera?”