MOURINHO DESCRIBES TENERIFE STRIKER DE MIGUEL’S DEATH AS ‘SHOCKING’

Read Time:2 Minute, 17 Second

Agency Report

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has described the death of Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel following a collision during a football match as “shocking.”

De Miguel died on Tuesday after being admitted to intensive care on Monday following the incident.

The 30-year-old sustained a heavy collision with FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono during a Spanish second-division match, which was subsequently abandoned.

READ MORE…

OYO POLICE BROKER PEACE BETWEEN TOLUWANISINGS’ WIFE, FATHER OVER BURIAL

According to Spanish media reports, the striker suffered a cardiac arrest and was resuscitated before eventually dying in hospital the following day.

Real Madrid players and officials observed a minute of silence before training on Tuesday in honour of the deceased footballer.

Speaking to reporters, Mourinho described the incident as heartbreaking, expressing sympathy for De Miguel’s family and friends, as well as the goalkeeper involved in the collision.

“I think it’s something very shocking for the world in general, so imagine for the world of football, for people like us who are on the pitch competing every day,” Mourinho said.

“It’s hard, it’s sad. Obviously, all our words and feelings go out to the family and friends of the player who passed away, and I also think this has to be a very, very, very difficult moment for the other player (Owono) involved in the situation.

“It’s sad for everyone,” he added.

Owono, an Equatorial Guinea international, had rushed towards the middle of the pitch in an attempt to clear the ball before colliding with De Miguel. The FC Andorra goalkeeper was subsequently sent off.

Meanwhile, Mourinho’s Real Madrid are preparing to face AEK Athens in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, having recorded three victories from their opening three matches in the league phase.

The Portuguese manager also confirmed that winger Vinicius Junior would start the encounter despite serving a four-match suspension in domestic competitions.

Yan Diomande has impressed during Vinicius’ absence, while Brahim Diaz, Arda Guler and Endrick are also competing for playing time in Madrid’s star-studded attacking lineup, which includes French forward Kylian Mbappe and England midfielder Jude Bellingham.

Mourinho dismissed suggestions that having several talented attacking players could create selection problems, insisting that having more options was beneficial.

“We have a lot of quality players — having many players is never a problem for me, the problem is having few,” he said.

He added that players such as Diomande and Brahim could operate on either wing, while Endrick was more comfortable on the right but could also play on the left.

“Vini, of all of them, is the one who is best suited to play on the wing, on the left wing. We know that,” Mourinho said.

AFP