Chelsea star Willian: I lost 4kg as a result of my mother’s death but I’m back to my best now

Willian celebrates scoring Chelsea's opening goal in the FA Cup fourth round match against Brentford
Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images
Simon Johnson10 February 2017

Chelsea winger Willian has revealed he was so upset over his mother’s death earlier this season that he suffered significant weight loss.

Willian’s mother, Donna Zee, passed away at the age of 57 last October after battling a brain tumour.

The Brazil international understandably struggled as his mum’s condition deteriorated and he was granted compassionate leave by coach Antonio Conte to attend her funeral.

Willian, who was seen crying on the pitch after scoring in a 4-2 win against Stoke in December, is only now starting to recover.

He said: “I think I’m back to my best. I went through a problem, everyone knows how hard it was and it really affected me mentally, physically, with my mother’s situation.

“She was hospitalized for almost two months and then died, so that was a very difficult time. I tried not to take it on the field but there was no way.

“It ended up affecting me, I ended up losing weight. I lost 4kg after my mother’s death, so it was a bit difficult to get back.

“I lost 4kg without doing anything. It was something that made me a little worried because it shook me a lot.

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“Mentally I got very sick but I feel much better. Family and friends gave me a lot of support and it helped me a lot. Now I’ve recovered the 4kg. Today I feel better mentally and physically.”

Willian, who joined Chelsea from Anzhi Makhachkala for £30million in 2013, has made it clear that he is content at Stamford Bridge, despite being linked again with Manchester United.

However, the 28-year-old admits he might consider a move to the Chinese Super League should a big offer come in for him.

Ramires and Oscar have both left Chelsea for the Far East over the past year, with the latter receiving £400,000 a week at Shanghai SIPG.

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Willian said: “It’s a very personal decision, it belongs to every player. A lot of people judge the players that go there but only us players know how this soccer life is difficult, fleeting and very fast.

“So in making this decision, we end up thinking about our future, our children and family. I do not know if I would go or not.

“What I can say is that I’m happy at Chelsea, I feel very good there, like it’s my home.

“I have affection from everyone, I am well adapted to the city, my family loves to live in London. It’s a difficult change [China], so it would have to be a thought-out decision made with my family.”

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