Holger Badstuber's return from injury received more attention than FC Bayern München's 4-0 home victory against VfB Stuttgart on matchday 12. The Germany international had been sidelined for 200 days before he made his comeback during the comfortable victory for the table toppers.
The 26-year-old centre back was brought on for Thomas Müller in the 59th minute, receiving a standing ovation from the 75,000 spectators in the Allianz Arena. Badstuber's last appearance had been on 21st April in the 6-1 victory over FC Porto in the Champions League, where he suffered the serious thigh injury which eventually required surgery. Badstuber's career has been riddled with severe injuries, as he first tore his cruciate ligament in 2012. During his recovery he suffered the same injury once again. Badstuber was out of action until August 2014 and then sidelined once more between September 2014 and January 2015. In this time he missed almost 150 competitive games for FC Bayern. He made his national team comeback on 25th March earlier this year in the 2-2 draw with Australia.
Badstuber faced the media after the game with Stuttgart and talked about his comeback, his emotions, his lengthy injury absence and self-doubts.
Question: Mr. Badstuber, it's been exactly 200 days since your last appearance. Your substitution in the 59th minute was the emotional highlight of an otherwise one-sided game.
Holger Badstuber: Coming on for the final 30 minutes was perfect for me and it was a great Saturday for me altogether. I'm very thankful that I was allowed to come on today and get some match practice. It's definitely a different level of exercise compared with training.
Question: How fit are you currently? You went through a long rehabilitation process after tearing a muscle in your thigh during a 6-1 quarterfinal victory over FC Porto in the Champions League.
Badstuber: I've been back in training for just two weeks and there is a difference between being just fit and being match fit. I'm able to take the full strain of training again and have a good feeling when on the pitch. But I obviously know that I'm still behind in some areas after just two weeks of training. I've been in this situation before and I know that I need to stay patient.
Question: What's next for you on your way back to your previous form?
Badstuber: Every training session brings me a little bit closer. We have a very, very high level of quality in our training sessions, which is an advantage for me as I work on returning to my old form. Our coach has a way of knowing how much time a player can handle on the pitch after just returning from injury. I just want to make myself an option for the team again and be ready when I'm needed.
Question: The fans welcomed you with a standing ovation when you were brought on.
Badstuber: The reception was very overwhelming and a great gesture from our fans. I can count myself among the lucky ones to have the fans stand behind me like that. It's a feeling that goes all through your body. This is the reason why I play football and hopefully I can give them something in return with my performances.
Question: Did you go through any really difficult times during your recovery?
Badstuber: I'm thankful for being able to work as a football professional. Obviously there are also tough times and you have to go through them with patience and hard work. Everyone has their moods and we are all just human after all. In these times I just tell myself that I have to work hard in order to come back and give it my best.
Question: Did you ever have any doubts after trying to recover from so many severe injuries?
Badstuber: I had to wait a long time before I was able to return doing what I love and live for. At the start of a recovery process, I know that I will have to put up with a lot of hard work – I'm used to that. You do change as a person and I learnt a lot about myself during this time. That's life. I hope that I can learn many more things in the future, not through further injury setbacks, but through positive experiences.
Question: Did your teammates congratulate you on your comeback after the game?
Badstuber: Of course, it was great. I'm glad I was able to make my first appearance and now look to keep going. Football is a daily business and now I just have to carry on working hard.
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Holger Badstuber's return from injury received more attention than FC Bayern München's 4-0 home victory against VfB Stuttgart on matchday 12. The Germany international had been sidelined for 200 days before he made his comeback during the comfortable victory for the table toppers.
The 26-year-old centre back was brought on for Thomas Müller in the 59th minute, receiving a standing ovation from the 75,000 spectators in the Allianz Arena. Badstuber's last appearance had been on 21st April in the 6-1 victory over FC Porto in the Champions League, where he suffered the serious thigh injury which eventually required surgery. Badstuber's career has been riddled with severe injuries, as he first tore his cruciate ligament in 2012. During his recovery he suffered the same injury once again. Badstuber was out of action until August 2014 and then sidelined once more between September 2014 and January 2015. In this time he missed almost 150 competitive games for FC Bayern. He made his national team comeback on 25th March earlier this year in the 2-2 draw with Australia.
Badstuber faced the media after the game with Stuttgart and talked about his comeback, his emotions, his lengthy injury absence and self-doubts.
Question: Mr. Badstuber, it's been exactly 200 days since your last appearance. Your substitution in the 59th minute was the emotional highlight of an otherwise one-sided game.
Holger Badstuber: Coming on for the final 30 minutes was perfect for me and it was a great Saturday for me altogether. I'm very thankful that I was allowed to come on today and get some match practice. It's definitely a different level of exercise compared with training.
Question: How fit are you currently? You went through a long rehabilitation process after tearing a muscle in your thigh during a 6-1 quarterfinal victory over FC Porto in the Champions League.
Badstuber: I've been back in training for just two weeks and there is a difference between being just fit and being match fit. I'm able to take the full strain of training again and have a good feeling when on the pitch. But I obviously know that I'm still behind in some areas after just two weeks of training. I've been in this situation before and I know that I need to stay patient.
Question: What's next for you on your way back to your previous form?
Badstuber: Every training session brings me a little bit closer. We have a very, very high level of quality in our training sessions, which is an advantage for me as I work on returning to my old form. Our coach has a way of knowing how much time a player can handle on the pitch after just returning from injury. I just want to make myself an option for the team again and be ready when I'm needed.
Question: The fans welcomed you with a standing ovation when you were brought on.
Badstuber: The reception was very overwhelming and a great gesture from our fans. I can count myself among the lucky ones to have the fans stand behind me like that. It's a feeling that goes all through your body. This is the reason why I play football and hopefully I can give them something in return with my performances.
Question: Did you go through any really difficult times during your recovery?
Badstuber: I'm thankful for being able to work as a football professional. Obviously there are also tough times and you have to go through them with patience and hard work. Everyone has their moods and we are all just human after all. In these times I just tell myself that I have to work hard in order to come back and give it my best.
Question: Did you ever have any doubts after trying to recover from so many severe injuries?
Badstuber: I had to wait a long time before I was able to return doing what I love and live for. At the start of a recovery process, I know that I will have to put up with a lot of hard work – I'm used to that. You do change as a person and I learnt a lot about myself during this time. That's life. I hope that I can learn many more things in the future, not through further injury setbacks, but through positive experiences.
Question: Did your teammates congratulate you on your comeback after the game?
Badstuber: Of course, it was great. I'm glad I was able to make my first appearance and now look to keep going. Football is a daily business and now I just have to carry on working hard.
