The “yellow wall” froze for Karetsas. Dortmund won, but no one celebrated
Konstantinos Karetsas was at the center of the action. The 18-year-old Greek super-talented midfielder, one of the biggest bets of the new Dortmund, suddenly felt intensely unwell around the 25th minute.
The “Signal Iduna Park” has learned to roar. To push Borussia Dortmund, to create that unique atmosphere that has transformed the Westphalian home into one of the great football theaters of Europe. This time, however, it took a few seconds for a heavy silence to fall on the stands.
Konstantinos Karetsas was at the center of the action. The 18-year-old Greek super-talented midfielder, one of the biggest bets of the new Dortmund, suddenly felt intensely unwell around the 25th minute. He slowed down, stopped and finally sat down on the field.
The image immediately caused concern. The medical staff rushed to him, the stands fell silent and a little later the Greek international was leaving on a stretcher, amidst prolonged, warm applause.
Dortmund then announced that Karetsas had suffered a circulatory problem, adding that his condition was good, given the circumstances. The young man was taken to hospital for further tests. From that moment on, what happened on the pitch seemed almost secondary.
And yet, an exciting game was played. Dortmund took the lead in the 53rd minute with an own goal by Renato Veiga, before Villarreal responded with Mourinho in the 66th minute. That's when Girassy took action. In the 80th minute he gave the Germans the lead again and five minutes later, from the penalty spot, he made it 3-1. His own goal in injury time brought the final score to 3-2 and a stressful finale.
Dortmund took the three points, but everyone's thoughts remained on Karetsas.
And the concern is even greater because the Westphalians have already lost Giannis Konstantelias to a serious injury. The two Greeks were acquired as the faces of a new era, creating great expectations in Westphalia.
For Karetsas, in particular, the expectations are enormous. His technical quality, quick thinking, audacity in one-on-ones and his footballing maturity have created the feeling that Greece has a midfielder capable of reaching very high heights.
That is why at the end of the evening the 3-2 was of less importance. Everyone was waiting for the most important result to come from the hospital.
Because sometimes even in the
UEFA Champions League, the health of an 18-year-old kid makes football seem really small.
Highlights via DasFootball
Manos Staramopoulos
Journalist and Analyst of International Football and Affairs
Chief Editor English Zone of Discoveryfootball.com
Athens (Greece).
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