“I simply missed playing football”
Lukas Klünter has made 49 appearances for the ‘Old Lady’ so far, but the 25-year-old has had to wait over 80 days for number 50 after the right-back injured his shoulder during the away victory in Bochum on matchday 4. He required an operation and then a long rehabilitation process followed. “In the first few days after the operation I felt a bit down, but soon after I was feeling really motivated. I just wanted to get fit again as soon as possible,” explained our number 13 in an interview with herthabsc.com. Almost three months later the Hertha defender has returned to some parts of team training alongside his teammates. Klünter spoke to us about his way back to fitness, life without football and the change in head coach.
herthabsc.com: Klünti, the last time our fans saw you in action was in mid-September, when you picked up your shoulder injury. You’ve been working hard on your comeback since then, how’s it going?
Klünter: Wow, that seems like a lifetime ago (smirks). What can I say? As a footballer it’s always really annoying when you’re injured and cannot help the team. But I’m doing much better now.
herthabsc.com: It’s been almost three months since you picked up a painful injury after challenging for the ball.
Klünter: That’s football. It was actually just a normal contest for the ball that I’ve done a thousand times. Unfortunately I landed awkwardly, and I knew straight away that something wasn’t right. In the first few days after the operation I felt a bit down, and I think all sportsmen and sportswomen know the feeling. Soon after I was feeling really motivated, however. I just wanted to get fit again as soon as possible. I know my body is capable of making a comeback, because I made my way back from a muscle tear in 2018, and that’s helped me throughout this process.
herthabsc.com: How far down the line are you on your comeback? Are you getting close to returning to the team?
Klünter: I’m feeling really good about it. Of course, there have been moments during my recovery which haven’t gone so well (grins). My shoulder was put in a sling which made everyday tasks a little difficult, but the progress my shoulder made from that was much greater. I spent half the time at the DaVinci recovery centre, and the other half with Hendrik Vieth or the physios at Olympiapark. I’ve now got a plan in my head, and ideally I’ll make forward steps towards my goal each week – we’ll see how I get on come the turn of the year. Maybe I’ll restart team training when the squad comes back after the winter break and prepares for the second half of the season.
herthabsc.com: Although you’re a professional footballer, you also try to improve your knowledge through your hobbies and free-time activities, such as painting. To what extent has this been a welcome distraction?
Klünter: I was waiting for this question (smirks). I was certainly able to keep myself busy during my time out. I painted a few pictures, but you don’t actually get as much time off as you think. I was working hard on my recovery, doing a lot of exercise in the water and also exercising at home. Nothing was ever an adequate replacement, though. I simply missed playing football. To have to sit and watch the lads every weekend from the stands or from the sofa was initially frustrating and still is.
herthabsc.com: During your time out, your teammates’ form was up and down, which eventually led to a change in head coach. Have you already met Tayfun Korkut?
Klünter: I was there on Tuesday when our new coach spoke to us and introduced himself. For me, it’s now about getting closer to the team step by step being able to provide an option for Tayfun Korkut. We want to make progress together as a team – preferably for Sunday’s game against Stuttgart! Nevertheless, in moments like these, you always think about the previous coaching staff with whom I enjoyed working with and who deserve a lot of thanks.
[>]I was there on Tuesday when our new coach spoke to us and introduced himself. For me, it’s now about getting closer to the team step by step to be able to provide an option for Tayfun Korkut. We want to make progress together as a team – preferably for Sunday’s game against Stuttgart![<]