“I feel good here at the club” – Axel Witsel on Borussia Dortmund future

Axel Witsel has said that he is happy at Borussia Dortmund, but is not thinking about his future as he continues his rehab from his achilles tendon injury. The midfielder’s contact with Borussia Dortmund expires at the end of next season, and it remains to be seen if he will sign an extension with the club. In an interview with Ruhr Nachrichten, Witsel spoke about his injury, his Borussia Dortmund future and more.

"“The situation is not easy, because I’ll be going into pre-season after a long injury break. What the future will bring, I cannot say yet. If I can stay in Dortmund, that would be good, I feel good here at the club and in the city. There’s still some time left on my contract. Getting fit is much more important right now.”"

The Belgian international is currently on the road to recovery after suffering a torn achilles tendon in the game against RB Leipzig in January. He never thought that the injury would mean the end of his career, and is working hard to ensure that he returns to his top level.

"“I was always positive, my thoughts were and are always focused on getting back to my top-level. Believe me: I never thought about quitting. I certainly don’t have ten more years in professional football ahead of me, but I still want to play for 2-3 years. And I know I can achieve that.”"

Witsel has an outside chance of returning to full fitness in time for this summer’s European championships. But his only focus right now is on his rehab.

“I felt so weak” – Axel Witsel on contracting COVID-19 shortly after surgery

Axel Witsel also revealed that he contracted COVID-19 shortly after undergoing surgery on his torn achilles tendon in January. He said that he felt so exhausted as if he had just played three games in a row. He also said that a number of his family members also tested positive for the virus, and his mother had to be ventilated. But thankfully she is now doing better.

"“I contracted the coronavirus at home in Belgium after my surgery. My mother was the first in our family to get sick, then me, then my pregnant wife and my children. Fortunately, my wife and children had no symptoms. But I had a fever and felt so weak as if I had just played three games in a row.”"

Witsel also said that he took COVID-19 seriously before, but now he has become even more cautious.

Witsel joined Borussia Dortmund from Tianjin Quanjian in 2018 and immediately became one of the team’s most important players. He has made a total of 104 appearances for the Black and Yellows over the last two and a half years, scoring 11 goals and providing six assists.