Paris Saint-Germain clinched a 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich. But the match’s lasting memory wasn’t the score. It was the serious injury to Bayern’s Jamal Musiala. This happened deep into the first half’s added time.
Musiala was chasing the ball near the end line. He collided with PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Musiala’s legs got tangled in the Italian keeper’s body. The collision left Musiala’s left leg in bad shape. The 22-year-old had to leave the game.
The clash seemed unavoidable to many. However, Bayern veteran Manuel Neuer saw things differently. Speaking in the mixed zone at Mercedes Benz Arena in Atlanta, Neuer was critical. He felt Donnarumma did not approach the play safely. “He didn’t need to go that way,” Neuer stated. “It’s risky. He accepted that an opponent might get hurt.”
Neuer’s criticism extended beyond the tackle itself. He also spoke about Donnarumma’s actions after the injury. “I went up to him,” Neuer explained. “I asked, ‘Why don’t you go to our player? Out of respect, that’s the right thing to do, to wish him well.’ And he did it then.”
Neuer was clearly disappointed. He had watched Musiala suffer another serious injury. “Fair play is part of the game,” Neuer insisted. “I would have acted differently.”