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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="footballco-bet-betsense">{"type":"footballco-bet-betsense","data":{}}</script><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><ul><li>Euro 2022 winner damaged knee ligaments</li><li>Spent nine months stuck on the sidelines</li><li>Found 'graft' during return to fitness difficult</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_d6e1e5da-7d9a-43d5-97e1-f4350a3cd7e3"}}</script>

Arsenal & Lionesses star Leah Williamson admits she could hardly bear to spend 'months of hell' in rehab after suffering dreaded ACL injury

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<p>In April 2023, the Lionesses’ European Championship-winning captain damaged knee ligaments during an appearance for the Gunners. It was <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/england-captain-leah-williamson-ruled-out-women-s-world-cup-arsenal-confirm-acl-injury/blt8c4f6cb2a4cef3b9" target="_blank">quickly confirmed that she would play no part in the Women’s World Cup</a> later that year.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Williamson would spend nine months on the sidelines, with a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/not-good-day-leah-williamson-return-arsenal-xi-ruined-lionesses-star-defeat-first-wsl-start-10-months/blt024941347409c822" target="_blank">long road to recovery taking her through to January 2024</a>. The 27-year-old defender has revealed that she once doubted her ability to complete such a programme, with <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/no-one-cares-what-doing-arsenal-lionesses-captain-leah-williamson-lifts-lid-acl-injury-nightmare-playing-piano/blt6255312fd39aad4c" target="_blank">gruelling physio sessions not something that she ever wanted to sign up for</a>.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Williamson has told <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFf9BKDLsec" target="_blank"><em>Fearne Cotton's Happy Place podcast</em></a> when asked to cast her mind back to the moment that she crumpled to the turf during a meeting with Manchester United: “The first thing I thought of… I didn’t feel pain. Like obviously I felt the sensation, let’s say, but I didn’t feel pain. I just knew instantly that was my World Cup over.</p><p>“I’ll be honest, I always sort of said if that ever happened to me, I’m not sure I’d be able to do it. Like, I’m not sure that I’d want to do that rehab because it just goes against everything we talk about, loving the game - they’re all the parts of the game that I don’t love and I don’t want to do, because it’s the graft. You know some people thrive off it. And I have the most respect for those people, but I’m just not one of those people. I do it because I have to. Literally straight away I just thought, this is going to be months of hell.”</p>

WHAT WILLIAMSON SAID

<p>After returning to fitness, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/leah-williamson-arsenal-lionesses-captain-signs-new-multi-year-contract-wsl-giants/blt1732986b27a359f8" target="_blank">Williamson has been starring for Arsenal and England once more</a>. She has helped to secure qualification for Euro 2025 – when the Lionesses will be looking to defend a continental crown – while major silverware is back up for grabs at club level in the 2024-25 WSL season.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

Arsenal & Lionesses star Leah Williamson admits she could hardly bear to spend 'months of hell' in rehab after suffering dreaded ACL injury | Goal.com US

Arsenal and England star Leah Williamson admits that she had to force herself through “months of hell” after suffering a dreaded ACL injury.

Arsenal &amp; Lionesses star Leah Williamson admits she could hardly bear to spend &apos;months of hell&apos; in rehab after suffering dreaded ACL injury