Dennis Geiger (23) thought about quitting football

Hoffenheim midfielder Dennis Geiger has admitted that he thought about retiring from football after picking up a season-ending injury on week 13 of last season.

“A lot of people think it’s easier to deal with when you know exactly what’s happened, but for me it was even worse than the previous injuries,” the 23-year-old told Hoffenheim’s latest issue of club magazine Spielfeld.

“There were obviously a lot of things I was going over in my head afterwards. Why me? Why now? Why me for the third time? The first three to four weeks were extremely bad. I was just at home, doing a lot of reflection and asking myself whether there was any point in continuing to play football.”

A regular in the Germany U21 squad, Geiger would have been included in Stefan Kuntz’ side for the U21 Euro championship during the summer.

“In the first four weeks, I couldn’t watch any football at all. Not in the stadium and not on the TV. Neither Hoffenheim nor any other game. It just wasn’t possible,” added Geiger.

“It triggered something negative in me and I didn’t want to associate that feeling with football. And that’s why I just let it go. But after a month, I managed it again. That’s when the first big frustration was over.”

Recovering from his thigh injury, Geiger is back in the Hoffenheim squad and has played 230 minutes of Bundesliga football this season.

 

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