Douglas Costa has had a rough football career marred by injuries. The 29-year-old is aware that he has spent more time dealing with calf and hamstring injuries. He admits that dealing with these unfortunate injuries have led him to consider retirement at times. However, things change when he watches videos of actual games, reminding him that this is a game that he loves and can excel in.
However, constantly reminding him of it cannot be done each time he considers quitting. He has made fun of the fact that he has had more scans than spending time on the field. But once he does get serious, frustration sinks in. It has reached a point where he asks himself if he can still play football at the level without getting injured. Costa posted this at the Player's Tribune.
For Costa, playing football for him is not about fame and fortune. It is something he enjoys doing but staying healthy has become a problem. To keep his mind on his career, the Brazilian winger has hired a mental coach to keep him in check. It appears he needs all the help he can get - particularly in the area of loving the game of football.
"Therefore, I asked for help. I don’t know if you’ve heard of a mental coach. They’re not a psychologist, but they show you how childhood facts can still affect you," he said.
One thing about Costa is that he is still young. This means that his body can heal faster. As for injuries, he may need to consider adjusting his style of play. That includes knowing when to push himself and probably setting a limit. Also, he may want to take the necessary rest and wait for his injury to heal before returning to action. These are the simple ways he can keep on playing ball but something that needs getting used to.
Costa is preparing for the potential reopening of Serie A action this June. Costa seems to be ready to help out Juventus once the season resumes - hopefully healthy. Injuries are part of the game and the best Costa can do is play at a certain level that his body permits him to. He cannot force the issue and needs to be aware of that. If he has trouble figuring that out, perhaps his new mental coach can help remind him about it. He will be turning 30 in September, an age where some players are in their twilight years. If Costa wants to play more years, he needs to make wise decisions as early as now.
