Germany: Bundesliga
Red Bull Arena3-2
By Peter Vice
Leipzig head-coach Julian Nagelsmann couldn’t have been more pleased with his team’s amazing second-half on Saturday evening.
When it came to one his player’s actions off the pitch, however, a minor censure was in order.
| Angelino. | Photo: GEPA Pictures/Sven Sonntag |
The most obvious absence from the Leipzig starting lineup during Saturday’s late kick-off in the Bundesliga had to be star attacking wingback Angelino. The club’s official twitter account noted that the the Spanish superstar had to withdraw with a muscular injury.
Angelino himself, not shy about about lashing out at former trainer Pep Guardiola earlier in the week, surprisingly took to twitter himself to dispute the club’s post. The 24-year-old denied that he had any sort of muscular injury and proclaimed “I’m fit”.
Speaking to the Sky microphones after the match, RB head-coach Julian Nagelsmann clarified that his player did, in fact, sustain a muscle injury and may have to sit out another match. Angelino’s actions apparently stemmed from his frustrations at being held out by the medical staff.
“We’ll discuss it with him as is obviously wasn’t the most clever move,” Nagelsmann said in his post-match interview, “but I also must say that I like him for precisely such reasons. It’s something that distinguishes him. He’s emotional and driven to play all the time.”
Nagelsmann explained further that an MRI image divulged a small muscle haemorrhage. While Angelino might have been feeling well enough to play, it was for his own safety that he was kept off the pitch. The risk of a more serious injury was deemed too great.
The tweet was deleted, but some were able to snapshot it before it was taken down.
Eher unglücklich. #RBLBMG pic.twitter.com/34gjJCmTCb
— Marc Schwitzky (@junger_herr_) February 27, 2023
