During the 2022 World Cup-induced winter break, Chelsea embarked on a warm-weather training camp in Abu Dhabi to build squad morale and maintain fitness during the impromptu off-season.

It also gave the players, such as Armando, the opportunity to continue playing football despite their national teams not featuring in the tournament in Qatar.

To conclude a productive week away, Chelsea went head-to-head with Aston Villa during the inaugural CBF Al Wahda FC Challenge Cup. Broja was handed a place in the starting XI and the 22-year-old was keen to impress.

‘Everything was going really well, training was really fun and enjoyable with the group, and then it came to the game against Aston Villa,' Broja recalls.

'I was happy, everything seemed to be flying. I’m not sure when it was – maybe around the 20th minute – I saw the ball go to Ezri Konsa and he was running back to the goalkeeper with the ball. I felt it was a chance for me to press and win the ball back.

‘I went in to nick the ball, he stepped across me and my knee went inwards. As soon as that initial contact was made, I knew instantly something didn’t feel right. I was in so much pain. My knee was throbbing, although I couldn’t really feel it to begin with because I was in so much shock.

‘I had never had such a big injury before. I was confused, not sure what was happening. I was screaming. I’m pretty sure the whole stadium heard me. When the physios ran over, they weren’t exactly sure what the specific problem was either.

‘The feeling I had was that it was bad; I could feel it wasn’t a normal bang on the knee. I knew that it was something serious. I got back into the changing room after I was stretchered off and my knee was swelling like a balloon.

‘After that, I was on crutches, went to the hotel, flew back from Abu Dhabi with the rest of the group, because we were flying back the next day, and as soon as I landed I went straight with the doctor to get a scan.

'They told me that I had ruptured my ACL meniscus. My parents were there and it was a big shock to them as well. None of us had been in that position before. It was devastating.’

Armando was well aware of the potential recovery time from such an injury. Yet he now admits he underestimated the physical and mental challenge that he was about to endure. And the road to recovery was far from plain sailing.

He continues: ‘The first few months were difficult. I didn’t know how to grasp what was going on. I didn’t realise there were so many stages of rehab that you have to go through to progress to the next step.

'I started not being able to walk and I was bed-bound for a while. And because I couldn’t walk for ages, I had to learn how to walk again almost from scratch on my bad knee.

‘I was on crutches – started with two, then eventually got down to one – and then I had to try weight-bearing on my new knee. I had to relearn the whole philosophy of walking which was crazy because I didn’t expect the process to be like that.

‘Once I started walking, I still couldn’t bend or extend my knee fully so there were so many aspects that I had to go through. Once I got through that and I could bend my knee, in my head I was thinking that surely I could start training outside, but the first day I went outside I was like, wow I’m not ready.

‘There are so many stages you have to hit before you return to training. People don’t really see that. They just think you’re injured and then you come back. There are so many things you have to go through and deal with.

'I wasn’t outside training with the group and in full contact until September this year. It was a massive period before I could even do anything. It was a rocky road.’

Fortunately, at every step of the way, Broja was given the help and support he needed to make a full recovery. And there is a special mention to one Chelsea player in particular, alongside the diligent and supportive medical team.

‘I knew other players had been through it before like Ben Chilwell,’ Broja adds. ‘I just thought about it and tried to battle through. I owe a massive credit to the physios and the medical staff at Chelsea.

‘They continuously helped me every single day to get me back to the position I’m in now. I wouldn’t have done it without them, my parents, and teammates. They were always there for me because you’re going to have down days in periods like that. I had several, but they helped me so much.

‘Chilly played a massive part because he was talking to me every day and letting me know that the grass was greener on the other side. He played a massive part alongside the physios, taking their time with me every single day, staying extra hours just to help me get back to where I needed to be.

'It’s a massive credit to them and I’m so thankful to Chelsea and them for supporting me through the journey.’

Looking back one year on, the striker acknowledges the amount of learning he has done since and believes he is in the best shape to attack the rest of the campaign.

‘The whole process was long, but it was a massive learning curve,’ Broja says. ‘It was a massive chance to engage with the group, my family, myself, learn about the game and watch every game from the outside.

'It was a big point in my life, something to deal with personally and mentally. It changed me mentally and how I think about dealing with things.

‘It was a difficult period, but I’m so happy it’s in the past. Now I want to push forward and keep on going. I feel better than ever and now my knee is almost back to how it was. I feel good and happy.

'I just can’t wait now to hopefully get more opportunities and kick on from there. I want to help the team out as much as possible and I feel ready in myself to do just that.’