Over the summer, it was reported that Borussia Dortmund were willing to allow Niklas Süle to depart the club due to concerns surrounding his fitness.
Having fought his way back into the starting XI under Edin Terzić, there was a period of time last season when the former Bayern Munich defender appeared to be in the form of his career.
Excelling at right back for BvB, there were suggestions that the 28-year-old could be the answer to Dortmund’s and Germany’s full-back issues.
Nevertheless, towards the end of the campaign, Süle rapidly fell out of favour with Terzić as his game time depleted.
This resulted in the defender failing to feature in the Champions League final against Real Madrid, as well as missing out on selection for the European Championships with Germany.
Regardless, since returning from his summer break, Süle has returned to fitness and has, therefore, been removed from Dortmund’s transfer list.
Niklas Süle reveals his mental battles
In an interview with Sport1, Süle opened up about his battle with mental health last season and how he was able to get back into shape for the upcoming Bundesliga season:
“That was probably the most intense summer of my life. But it was also urgently needed after a year that I personally couldn’t be satisfied with at all, in which I fell far short of my expectations.”
“Mentally, I just couldn’t manage to do the right things. I couldn’t motivate myself anymore. I wanted to, but I couldn’t. Luckily, I was doing really well in my private life. Everything was and is fine. I had lots of important conversations and got help.”
As well as this, the 28-year-old commented on his omission from the national team set up for Euro 2024:
“All things for which I take the blame entirely on myself. I didn’t deserve to be nominated for the European Championship by Julian Nagelsmann. The decision is completely understandable, and there is nothing wrong with it.”
“I suffered with the boys, was excited for them while I was in the weight room, and was tormenting myself. Of course, you then think, ‘Sh*t, man, you were always part of the team for the last few years. And now they can play football, and you practically live in the weight room.”
Süle then revealed how he was able to fight back and the process he underwent:
“A very important and good conversation. Very appreciative and confidential. None of the content was leaked out. Everyone gave their view of things and was as honest as possible. There couldn’t have been a much better conversation: always with respect, no one minced their words, but at the same time we listened very carefully to each other. That’s why I took it all to heart and worked on it. In the end, it was up to me what I did with it. It took me a long time to understand that I wasn’t doing this for anyone else, but just for myself.”
“I put together a team with my advisor and my family with people who are absolutely top in their field. We checked exactly who I needed around me. Without these three or four people, my inner circle, I probably wouldn’t have made it. I’ve been working with a mental coach for a long time who is fantastic. His input was worth its weight in gold. But the chefs who have accompanied me over the last few weeks are also top-class. I went into this summer break with the aim of creating something like a Niklas Süle 2.0. Now I’m in a mental state that I haven’t been in for a long time. I’m in a mental and physical state where I can really attack again. It was very hard. Not a single day felt like a holiday, but when I see how I’m doing now, it makes me happy and proud. Football is so much in your head, you need enormous mental strength. It may have taken me a while to realise this, but now I’m glad I took this path. I’m very happy with the way things are right now.”
With Dortmund set to kickstart their campaign in the first round of the DFB-Pokal this weekend, Süle will undoubtedly want to force his way back into the starting XI at the Westfalenstadion.
With Waldemar Anton ahead of him in the team, it will be a battle, but one that the defender is keen to take on.
“Competition is good for business, and without competition, you won’t get any motivation… I would like to win the championship. To do that, we have to internalise that we are good enough. We proved that two years ago. And even then, we didn’t have our best season. We simply need a certain mentality.”
GGFN | Will Shopland
