Ella Toone revealed that she didn't properly grieve her father's death until she was sidelined by injury. Her father passed away shortly after the Lionesses' Euro 2022 victory, where she scored. While initially continuing to play, she struggled with enjoyment, which became clear when she was injured. This period prompted her to seek counseling and focus on her mental health, leading to a successful return to football, where she scored six goals in her first five matches back, rediscovering her love for the game.
"I played on after that and probably wasn't enjoying it as much as I should have been. I would never have told myself that or admitted it because all I ever wanted to do was play football for him."
"At first I didn't miss it... It was the best thing I could have done to get myself mentally right and actually grieve. I don't think I grieved, I don't think I thought that it was real."
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