Borussia Monchengladbach
National player Hofmann talks about psychological problems: “I often sat alone in the toilet and cried”
Jonas Hofmann moved to Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2016 and became a national player there
© Frederic Scheidemann / Getty Images
Borussia Mönchengladbach’s footballer Jonas Hofmann struggled with mental problems at the beginning of his career. For this he also enlisted the help of a psychologist.
At Borussia Mönchengladbach things are currently anything but smooth, but in a disappointing first half of the Bundesliga, Jonas Hofmann was one of the few bright spots in the Borussia squad. The 29-year-old has scored seven goals this season. Hofmann has been under contract in Mönchengladbach since 2016 – but he suffered from mental problems, especially in his early days.
“It was a hard time. I often sat alone in the toilet and cried,” said the DFB national player in the Sky documentary “My Story”. Hofmann spoke openly on the show about his time of suffering and the difficulties at the beginning of his professional career. He couldn’t prevail at Borussia Dortmund, and a loan to FSV Mainz 05 didn’t help him any further.
Jonas Hofmann sought help from a psychologist
He finally made his sporting breakthrough at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Hofmann played the Champions League and became a national player. But Hofmann also needed his time at Borussia-Park to gain a foothold in the Bundesliga. He got his problems under control with professional help: “I took a psychologist. It’s often seen as a sign of weakness, I don’t see it that way.”
“If we have the flu or are injured, we go to the doctor. If one of the most important building blocks in the body, the brain, is damaged, but then it is not? That is the wrong approach,” continues Hofmann. The crisis is now over for him – and he likes to talk about what has helped him during this time. “I gladly and gratefully accepted this help. I was at the meetings for a few months, but I don’t need it today,” says the ten-time national player, who is currently having to sit out due to a knee operation.
Source: Sky