Marco van Ginkel has revealed that a knee infection almost destroyed his football career.
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After two years battling a knee issue, Van Ginkel is back playing again for PSV Eindhoven.
Speaking with GOAL, Van Ginkel has revealed that his career was 50-50 at one point due to an infection in his knee.
He said, “It was not 100 per cent, for sure. I think it was 50-50 whether my career would survive.
“The danger was there that I would lose my career, of course. Especially after the first week of infection, they didn’t know what the infection was doing inside the joint.
“After three months I reacted well, but it was going to be a tough, tough time to be at the top level again, to come back and play for PSV, Chelsea or whoever. At that moment, it was more about whether I could walk again. Football didn’t matter.
“The infection that came six weeks after my operation killed my knee a bit. That’s why it took so long, it damaged my knee and cruciate and I had to be operated on all over again. It was a very hard time.
“It was explained to me that these things could happen sometimes, but only to one in 200 people after surgery. It is very unlikely you get it, but some get an infection. I was one of them and it was quite bad.
“A normal infection requires only antibiotics and you are OK, but mine was quite bad so I was on antibiotics for three months. They had to clean my knee out a further three times through surgery. Those were very tough times.
“Emotionally and mentally, it was very hard. But I am a very positive person. I think everyone who knows me would say that and it kept me alive, for sure. But I can’t deny that I had some difficult days.”
The 28-year-old was almost out for 1000 days but has now made three appearances from the bench for PSV Eindhoven recently. He is on loan from Chelsea.