Adli on long injury layoff: “I was afraid that I would never play again”

Amine Adli reflects on his long spell on the sidelines, saying he was afraid he wouldn’t ever get to play again.

After missing several months with a broken fibula, Amine Adli made his long-awaited return to action in Bayer Leverkusen’s 0-0 draw with Bayern Munich last week.

In an interview with Bild, the 24-year-old Morocco international has reflected on his time on the sidelines.

“It wasn’t easy. I was very sad at times. I remember watching football for the first three weeks after the injury. I was worried about every tackle because I thought all the players were going to get hurt. Now I have regained my confidence in my body,” Adli said.

“At the beginning I was afraid I would never play again. Now I’m back on the pitch and I don’t have any worries. I feel free and no longer afraid.

“Last week Nordi [Mukiele] kicked my ankle in training. But I didn’t feel a thing. I knew then that I could play again, everything was fine.”

Adli could play again when Bayer Leverkusen take on Holstein Kiel away on Saturday.