COMMERCE CITY — Marco Pappa got a kiss on the cheek Thursday from Colorado Rapids teammate Sam Cronin — a gesture that showed how much his new club has embraced the midfielder who is recovering from a gruesome December stabbing.

Pappa, 28, made his first public comments Thursday since being stabbed in December, two days after the Rapids acquired him in a trade with the Seattle Sounders.

“I’m just looking forward, moving on. This made me stronger than ever,” Pappa told The Denver Post. “I’m really lucky I have my second opportunity. God gave me this chance, I can still play in the game I love.”

Pappa has yet to practice with the Rapids at full strength, but says he will be ready for the club’s opener March 6 at San Jose.

The former Sounders midfielder suffered a two- to three-inch stab wound in his left side in an early-morning attack Dec. 17, according to police reports. The wound required emergency surgery. As he was being prepped for surgery, the thought crossed his mind that he may never play soccer again.

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“For every player those thoughts come for sure, even if you have a small injury you can have those thoughts,” Pappa said. “Of course it was on my mind, but it’s in the past. It happened, I’m really healthy now, I’m stronger.”

Police found Pappa with Stormy Keffeler, 23, a former Miss Washington USA beauty queen who has since relinquished her crown. Keffeler had blood on her shirt and hands.

Investigators said they found a bloody kitchen knife, blood trails through his apartment and blood-spattered bathroom walls. Keffeler’s story shifted throughout the police investigation and she eventually stopped communicating with police. No charges have been filed.

“Social media has been a little bit hard sometimes,” Pappa said, adding that some things had been made bigger than they were. “We’re human beings, we make mistakes, but at the end of the day, (it’s about) how you respond.”

Pappa has put the incident in the past.

Pappa admitted to police that he had been drinking at the time of the stabbing, and in July he was arrested for DUI.

Despite that, Colorado coach Pablo Mastroeni said he had no character concerns.

“We all have our own skeletons in the closet. We all have a history. We all have a past,” Mastroeni said. “As professional athletes, we’re a bit more exposed.”

Mastroeni told Pappa prior to his acquisition that he would do everything to help the Guatemalan international have his best season ever. Pappa said he has been told he’ll play in a free role as a playmaking No. 10 — his best position — and he’s been really excited about the energy of the Rapids’ team this year.

Mastroeni complimented Pappa’s drive and commitment to the team and said he had no concerns about him jelling with the group, despite getting a delayed start.

“Socially, he’s great with the team,” teammate Cronin said. “It’s a new challenge, I think he feels comfortable already.”

Pappa was suspended by MLS for his DUI and was required to go through the league’s substance abuse and behavioral health program. Pappa said he came out of the program clean.

“Soccer is a business. I’m a businessman too and I have to do good on the field,” Pappa said. “My personal life is going to be my personal life. No one is going to fix my problems, only me.”

MLS declined to provide details about the program or whether Pappa’s latest alcohol-related incident could be grounds for suspension. The league said it is investigating.

Pappa was acquired on Dec. 15 from the Sounders in exchange for allocation money.

Pappa has 35 goals and 27 assists in 161 MLS games (142 starts) since 2008. He has 10 goals and three assists in 37 caps with the Guatemala national team.

Daniel Boniface: 303-954-1104, dboniface@denverpost.com or @danielboniface