AC Milan's game against Udinese turned into a bloody mess when their goalkeeper, Mike Maignan, was stretchered off after a brutal collision with his own teammate, Alex Jimenez. It's a miracle he didn't end up in a body bag, the way they both went for that ball, you'd think it was the last pint at the pub!
Maignan's Nasty Collision
The whole thing kicked off in the 52nd minute, with Milan already 2-0 up. Maignan charged out of his box like a man possessed, trying to clear a long ball from Udinese's defence. But instead of making a simple clearance, him and Jimenez went head-to-head, literally. It was like watching two rams locking horns, except one of them was a 6'3" French keeper.
Knocked Out Cold
The crack as their heads collided echoed around the stadium, and Maignan was out cold before he even hit the ground. The ref had no choice but to stop play, and the medics rushed onto the pitch. They had to stick him in the recovery position, which is never a good sign, is it? Then they carted him off on a stretcher, like a piece of meat.
Teammates Worried Sick
You could see how shaken up the Milan players were, especially that Tammy Abraham. He was on his knees, praying for Maignan. And who can blame him? When you see your keeper being taken off like that, it's enough to put the fear of God into anyone. It's a bloody dangerous game, football.
Maignan Conscious, But In Hospital
Thankfully, by the time Maignan was taken off, he was conscious and talking. But they still had to take him to the hospital for tests. That's the thing about football, it's not all glamour and big money contracts. One minute you're flying high, the next you're being rushed to hospital in an ambulance.
Milan Win, But At What Cost?
Despite all the drama, Milan went on to win 4-0. But after the match, all the players could talk about was Maignan. It just shows you how these lads are like brothers on the pitch. They might kick the crap out of each other during training, but when push comes to shove, they've got each other's backs. Even if that means taking a ball to the face at full speed!
Football, eh? It's a funny old game. One minute you're on top of the world, the next you're flat on your back, wondering what the hell just happened. But that's why we love it, isn't it? The passion, the drama, the sheer bloody unpredictability of it all. Maignan might be feeling a bit rough now, but he'll be back between the sticks before you know it, because that's what heroes do. They get back up, dust themselves off, and get back in the game. Because in football, as in life, you've got to fight for every bloody inch.
