Maignan injury: Milan Goalkeeper suffers worrying knee injury in Europa League

Sujay DesaiPublished: 15 Mar 2024 11:55 AM

AC Milan were dealt a blow as a Mike Maignan injury saw the goalkeeper leave the field 21 minutes into Milan’s Europa League tie against Slavia Praha.

Mike Maignan injury: Pioli confident of a quick return

In AC Milan’s second leg round of 16 tie in the Europa League against Slavia Praha, Mike Maignan came off just in the 21st minute with an apparent injury to the knee. The goalkeeper didn’t seem in too much pain and it looked like a precautionary move to sub him off. His departure from goal didn’t deter Milan however as the club sealed their progression to the quarterfinals with a 7-2 win on aggregate.

Speaking to media post the Europa League match, AC Milan gaffer Stefano Pioli offered his two cents on the Maignan injury. According to Milannews, the manager said, “ Mike felt pain in his knee. but it doesn’t seem anything worrying. We’ll see, but I can say it won’t be a lengthy thing.”

The Maignan injury comes at a rather fortunate time as AC Milan are set to face 15th place Verona on the weekend before the two week international break. The international break will help the AC Milan goalkeeper heal from his injury and return to the side in good condition. While Didier Deschamps announced the France squad earlier yesterday calling up Maignan to the French squad, it remains to be seen if the keeper gets left out after the medical tests today.

Maignan injury: When will the goalkeeper return in goal for AC Milan?

Mike Maignan was taken off in the first half with a lower leg injury. Milan found "blunt trauma" to the knee, and no initial ligament damage. However, positions like this can stress the MCL.

If contusion: Less than a week
If MCL: 2+ weeks#ACMilan #Rossoneri #SLAMIL pic.twitter.com/MwUKMzzNjG
— Physio Scout | Football Injury Analysis (@physioscout) March 15, 2024

Mike has now been Pioli’s first choice goalkeeper for a long time. This season the Frenchman has appeared in Milan’s goal 36 times while managing to keep 14 clean sheets. In Serie A, the goalkeeper has averaged an impressive 2.8 saves per game. Given his importance to the AC Milan side, Pioli will be desperate for Maignan to return from injury.

Initial reports from within the club suggest that the goalkeeper suffered blunt trauma to the knee. However, the Maignan injury doesn’t seem to have damaged any internal ligament. While further medical reports are still pending, it seems that if there is no internal ligament damage then the goalkeeper should be fit in time for Milan’s first game after the international game against Fiorentina on 30th March in Serie A. Some sources have even suggested that Maignan could return as soon as next and join the French camp in the international break as France take on Germany and Chile ahead of the Euros 2024 in Germany. Ultimately, the evolution of his injury will decide when he will return.

Also Read: France Announce Squad for March International Break