Real Madrid Thibaut Courtois has expressed his support for PSG Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma faced backlash following critiques of his involvement in Jamal Musiala’s severe injury incident.
PSG beat Bayern Munich 2-0 in the last eight of the Club World Cup On Saturday, though the game was marred by a severe injury suffered by the Bayern superstar.
An uncomfortable clash occurred between Donnarumma and Musiala. ...with the German international player going down, his leg momentarily caught between the ground and the goalkeeper's body.
The event concluded with an obvious fracture, as the German player's leg was grotesquely twisted, leaving teammates visibly stunned.
Bayern announced on Sunday: "Jamal Musiala sustained a broken fibula and dislocated his ankle, ruling him out for an extended period."
Donnarumma dove to take the ball from Musiala’s feet, and although he obviously did not mean to hurt him, Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer was unimpressed with the challenge.
It wasn't necessary for him to charge in like that," said the German goalkeeper. "He took an unnecessary chance. He was willing to take the gamble with his rival getting hurt.
The sports director of the Bundesliga powerhouse, Max Eberl, also voiced criticism towards the Italian player, saying to Sky: "There's a significant chance for an injury when someone like him jumps into my man Musiala from behind during a sprint with all his weight—around 100kg."
I don't believe he meant to do it on purpose, but he wasn't showing much thought for others either.
However, Courtois disagrees, stating that Donnarumma had every right to challenge for the ball, and sees the injury as simply a terrible but accidental occurrence.
Accusing Donnarumma for Musiala's injury feels like an overreaction," the Belgian responded to Neuer's remarks. "Keepers chase after the ball, just as forwards won’t hesitate when they're blocking your path.
It's unfortunate. It might affect him more since they're teammates, but Donnarumma shouldn't be held responsible.
Donnarumma was visibly upset over the incident, shedding tears on the pitch as Musiala was carried off the field at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
After the game, he shared a post on Instagram saying, "My thoughts and best wishes go out to you @jamalmusiala10 🙏🏽."
The Italian is set to return to play on Wednesday when PSG face off against Real Madrid in the Club World Cup semi-finals, following the Spanish team’s narrow 3-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund.
In the opposite half of the bracket, Chelsea face Brazilian team Fluminense on Tuesday at 8 PM British time.
Looking for personalized updates about your favorite football squad? Subscribe to Axofa's Football Newsletter and let us know which club you cheer for!