Werder Bremen veteran Mitchell Weiser admitted he developed “almost a psychosis” over his knee condition during a grueling 14-month recovery from a cruciate ligament tear and meniscus damage, Transfermarkt reported.
The Long Road Back to the Pitch
The 32-year-old player missed more than a year of competitive action after suffering the severe knee injury during pre-season preparations for the previous campaign. Speaking to RTL and Sky, Weiser described the psychological toll of waking up every day hyper-aware of his physical state. “If you wake up every morning, consciously perceive every staircase and at some point develop almost a psychosis out of how your knee or your body is feeling right then, that is not easy,” he said.
Despite numerous setbacks during rehabilitation, Weiser made his emotional comeback on the third matchday of the season against his former youth club, 1. FC Köln, where tears followed the final whistle. He then crowned his return in the subsequent home match against FC Augsburg by scoring the decisive 3:2 winning goal, ending a drought of 518 days without finding the back of the net.
“I believe every energy, every percentage that I tried to get out of myself in the past few months, every tear and every drop of sweat—all of that came out in that moment,” Weiser said of the goal. “Added to that was other people’s belief in me and of course my own belief. It was like an explosion.”
Reflections on a Career-Defining Injury
Rather than wishing away the time on the sidelines, Weiser maintained that the ordeal provided valuable personal growth. He stated that he is glad to have experienced the grueling rehabilitation process because it has ultimately strengthened him for life and his career as a professional footballer. “I believe that I have made big personal steps. I am very proud of that,” he added.
Contract Status at the Weser
With his current agreement with the Green-Whites expiring at the end of the season, speculation regarding his future has grown. Reports indicate that his contract contains an option to be extended by an additional year. However, Weiser insisted he is not currently focused on negotiations or his long-term tenure in Bremen. “I haven’t thought about that 0.0 percent,” he said.
Since arriving at Werder Bremen initially on loan from Bayer Leverkusen in 2021 before joining on a permanent, free transfer a year later, Weiser has established himself as a core squad member. He has made 125 appearances for the Hanseatic club—more than for any other team—contributing 15 goals and 29 assists.
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