Spain’s Alejandro Grimaldo insists he’s fine despite being stretchered off in Bundesliga match: “Just a cut.” | OneFootball

Despite being stretchered off the pitch prior to half-time in Saturday’s Bundesliga victory over Union Berlin, Alejandro Grimaldo was up walking and touring the mixed zone afterwards. The Bayer Leverkusen professional insisted that he was fine and should be able to represent the Spanish national team over the coming October international break.

Grimaldo collided with teammate Christiane Kofane in the 45th-minute. The 30-year-old incurred a facial laceration and clearly seemed dazed for a few minutes. Leverkusen head coach Kasper Hjulmand didn’t prepare a substitution for Grimaldo immediately. Through nine minutes of added time, no B04 player replaced Grimaldo.

Grimaldo was only officially subbed off at the restart. Leverkusen’s Malik Tillman confirmed to Sky Germany after the match that Hjulmand wanted Grimaldo inspected closer in the locker room before taking off the man he had tapped to don the captain’s armband on the afternoon.

Hjulmand has made clear that the Spaniard is set to take on a greater leadership tole than the man his predecessor Erik ten Hag named skipper, Robert Andrich.

“Grimaldo wanted to keep playing,” Tillman told Sky after the match. “But the coach decided otherwise.”

“Everything is fine,” Grimaldo himself added in the mixed zone. “It’s just a cut.“

GGFN | Peter Weis