Shock diagnosis for Bayer star Florian Wirtz!
The 18-year-old tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on Sunday against Cologne. The club officially announced this.
Wirtz shock in the 24th minute in the Rheinderby against 1. FC Köln: After a duel with Cologne’s Kilian, the Leverkusen player twisted his left knee and lay on the ground in pain. The midfield star is taken to the hospital during the game.
Sports boss Rudi Völler (61) rushed into the cabin. Völler to BILD: “Florian had a bad feeling. It’s a shock now. But we are sure – he will come back even better and stronger.”
Wirtz of all people…
His coach Gerardo Seoane (43) told BILD am Sonntag before the game that it was “definitely a gift” to train him. Wirtz had “perhaps the steepest ascent in the last six or seven months. He never ceases to amaze us with incredible performances.”
Now the bitter diagnosis, which is also a blow in terms of the World Cup. The attacking midfielder has played in four games in the DFB team coached by national coach Hansi Flick. After 30 competitive games, ten goals and 14 assists, he was a serious option for the Winter World Cup. The World Cup starts on November 21st. Wirtz is now worried about participating.
Wirtz is probably not the only Leverkusen casualty: defenders Frimpong (ankle) and Kossounou (muscular problems) also have to leave the field injured against Cologne.
Seoane at the game press conference: “A bitter afternoon overall, the three injuries and the losses. We are extremely disappointed.”
Goalkeeper and captain Lukas Hradecky (32) after the game at DAZN: “Get well soon, these were important players for us this season. That is bitter.”
So did Cologne coach Steffen Baumgart (50) even before the injury was announced: “We hope that Florian Wirtz will be fine again soon. This is very sad for all of us. Taunting the injury is not okay. That is unnecessary – there is nothing more to say about it.”
Many FC fans cheered in the stands when Wirtz was carried off the field. Even before his injury, they had insulted and whistled at Wirtz (played in the youth team at FC until January 2020).
