AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan after a bad collision last year during a Serie A match vs. Udinese. He did need to spend the night in a children’s hospital for observation. In the 51st minute of that match, Maignan collided heads with his own teammate, Alex Jimenez. He was just attempting to get in a shooter’s way when the awful accident occurred. The impact knocked Maignan out cold, forcing the training staff to carry him off the field on a stretcher. Whatever the scary situation was, AC Milan overcame it with an impressive 4-0 win.
The incident occurred at the same time of the pitch as Maignan came well outside his penalty area to try and win the ball. He lunged to produce an acrobatic save and accidentally ran into Jimenez. In addition to that, Jimenez received a significant head injury. Both players were treated on the field, but Maignan’s injury required him to be kept under observation at a nearby hospital.
Hospital Stay and Recovery
After the crash, Maignan was being monitored to prevent any serious complications. His teammates were understandably worried about his condition, but reports from the medical staff calmed their fears. AC Milan defender Matteo Gabbia was able to offer an optimistic update about Maignan’s condition.
“Fortunately, Mike is fine. We all asked the doctor how he was, and he reassured us by telling us that he’s in the hospital for tests, but he’s doing okay. He’s a great captain.” – Matteo Gabbia
The hospital visit was preventative, doctors needed to perform tests and watch closely for side effects from the injury. Without question the club has done what is best for Maignan’s health and recovery, taking a conservative route that most professional sports do post-head trauma.
Return to Milan
Maignan should arrive back in Milan on Saturday, after a detailed examination of his condition. The club’s medical team will keep an eye on him going forward to make sure he’s ready to go for the remainder of the matches. His fans and teammates, both in AC Milan and in national colors are hoping for Maignan’s swift regreso. He’s become an indispensable cog in the team’s defensive machine.
The 34-year-old’s leadership on and off the pitch this season has been groundbreaking for this AC Milan side. His absence while recovering will be difficult for the team, but they are hopeful that his recovery will be quick.
AC Milan’s unprecedented win over Udinese was the icing on the cake, showcasing their domination in one of the top five European leagues, Serie A. Even with their captain down with injury, the team’s resilience and depth was on full display as they fully controlled the match from the start.
Leave a Reply