Alaba After Comeback: "I Can't Even Express How Much I Missed This Feeling"

A little over 13 months after suffering a cruciate ligament rupture, Austria's team captain David Alaba made his return on Sunday. The 32-year-old was substituted in the 76th minute during Real Madrid's 4-1 home win against Las Palmas, greeted by raucous applause from the crowd. Alaba sustained the injury to his left knee on December 17, 2023, in a La Liga match against Villarreal.

"I’m very happy. It’s a special day for me. I’ve been waiting a long time for this moment because the past year was incredibly tough and long," Alaba said. "It felt great to be back home. I can’t even express how much I missed this feeling – stepping onto the pitch, especially at home, helping my teammates, and celebrating with our fans afterward. I thank the fans."

The supporters had already cheered loudly as Alaba walked out to warm up and gave him a standing ovation when he was subbed in. After the match, Alaba also expressed gratitude to his teammates, coaching staff, and medical personnel for supporting him during a difficult period.

Mbappé Praises Alaba: "Happy He's Back"

For Real Madrid, Alaba's return can be considered a winter "signing," especially in a period where the club has faced defensive challenges. "Unbelievable. I knew him as a rival, and it was always tough to play against him. I know how hard it’s been for him. He’s a great guy and an outstanding player who will be very important for us. We’re all very happy that he’s back," said Kylian Mbappé, who scored twice during the match.

A Long Road to Recovery

After his injury, Alaba had hoped to participate in the Euros, but the rehabilitation process proved to be challenging and prolonged. Participating in the summer 2024 tournament became unrealistic. Alaba still traveled to Germany as a "non-playing captain," attended coaching meetings, and remained close to the team. Improvement in his injured knee was slow, and neither Real Madrid nor Alaba set a specific return date during his recovery.

Speculation During His Absence

On September 30, Alaba resumed running drills, and by late October, he had started training with the ball again. During this time, there were wild speculations about a possible premature end to his season or even his career. Alaba, however, consistently stated that he was making progress. Shortly after New Year’s, Real coach Carlo Ancelotti hinted that Alaba might return in January.

Comeback After 399 Days

Alaba's official comeback came after 399 days of forced absence. Although he was included in the squad for the Spanish Super Cup matches earlier in January, he didn’t see any action. Before the match against Las Palmas, Ancelotti had already signaled that Alaba would feature in the game.

The match didn’t start promisingly for Madrid, as Fabio Silva put Las Palmas ahead after just 26 seconds. However, the visitors offered little offensively beyond that, and Madrid quickly recovered, securing a comfortable victory.

Alaba: "We Played Very Well"

Kylian Mbappé converted a penalty after a foul on Rodrygo (18') and added another with a stunning volley (36'). These marked Mbappé’s 11th and 12th league goals in 18 matches, bringing his tally to 17 across 29 competitive games this season. Brahim Diaz (33') and Rodrygo (57') also scored for Real Madrid, with three additional goals ruled out for offside after VAR review.

Alaba's brief appearance didn’t require him to display his defensive qualities, as the visitors—down to 10 men from the 64th minute—posed no real threat.

"We played very well," Alaba commented. With their third consecutive league win, Real Madrid (46 points) reclaimed the top spot in the standings, overtaking city rivals Atletico Madrid (44), who lost 0-1 to Leganes on Saturday. Barcelona sits third, seven points behind.

Alaba’s comeback coincided with Real Madrid’s preparations to face an Austrian team, Red Bull Salzburg, in the Champions League group stage at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.