In mid-July, Leon Goretzka had to undergo surgery on his knee and missed pre-season training with the team. However, the 27-year-old has battled back and is set to be included in the squad for the DFB Cup tie at Viktoria Köln on Wednesday night, with coach Julian Nagelsmann confirming in Tuesday’s pre-match press conference that he’ll “be given minutes depending on the circumstances”. We spoke to the midfielder ahead of his potential comeback.
Interview with Leon Goretzka
How good does it feel to be back in training?
Goretzka: “It’s been an intensive rehab, I’ve worked a lot. I feel really fit now, though – from day one I took the opportunity and saw it as a pre-season. Mentally it wasn’t easy to be operated on in the middle of pre-season when I wasn’t actually in pain. Now I feel free and the season can get going for me.”
Leon Goretzka was welcomed back to full training by his teammates last Friday.
How did your rehab go?
“The rehab went as you’d want and imagine it to. The operation went very well and from the beginning there was no reaction, which is always the most important thing with these knee issues. We were able to up the workload from day to day, it all went smoothly and I was able to start training intensively again relatively quickly, so I feel fit and ready.”
When will we see you back on the pitch in a match?
“I’m ready, the rest is obviously up to the coach. But as I understand it, I’ll be involved tomorrow.”
Watch Julian Nagelsmann's press conference ahead of the match at Viktoria Köln in full:
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