The 37-year-old dropped out of last Sunday's New York marathon ten miles before the finish with a knee injury and promptly announced his retirement.
But Hermens is hoping to convince the former world and Olympic 10,000m champion and current marathon world record holder to change his mind.
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"He no longer has to prove anything to anybody, he can still run in the events which give him pleasure, like the 10km road races," Hermens told German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
"In ten years he could wonder why he stopped on a defeat."
Gebrselassie had previously said he wants to run at the London Olympics in 2012 and intended breaking his own world marathon record of 2hrs 3mins 59secs before bowing out.
Hermens acknowledged he was surprised by the Ethiopian's retirement announcement in New York and wants to convince him to race again by promising 'to take away the pressure'.
"(The announcement) has meant more stupid press conferences, plus lots and lots of interviews," said the Dutchman.
"He just needs to run without pressure, for fun, but it would not then lead to talk about the Olympic gold medal," he added.
Last week, Gebrselassie admitted he was 'rethinking' his decision and said he still 'loved to run'.
