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Ann-Katrin Berger: "I wanted to be back on the field quickly."
Photo:
Catherine Ivill / Getty Images for Chelsea FC
Ann-Katrin Berger is a regular goalkeeper at Chelsea FC - one of the best European football clubs.
Last December, she made her debut in the German national team at the age of 30.
Her career was unusual: Berger only played once in a DFB U-national team, and moved from Turbine Potsdam to Paris Saint-Germain at an early age.
When Berger played in Birmingham in 2017, she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
She had an operation, successfully fought her way back and has gotten better and better since then.
In the interview, Berger talks about how she deals with the disease and why the Bundesliga is lagging behind the English league.
SPIEGEL:
Ms. Berger, what did cancer do to your career?
Berger:
The illness woke me up.
I feel stronger than before.
But I've always been very determined and believe that I would otherwise be where I am now.
SPIEGEL:
How were you woken up?
Berger:
I don't take football for granted anymore.
I make everything more conscious, every training session, every game, but also every conversation about football.
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