MILAN GOALKEEPER MAIGNAN'S STATEMENT ON CONTROVERSIAL GESTURE

AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan broke his silence on his official Instagram account after the heavy defeat against English representative Bournemouth and the highly controversial events on the pitch in the UEFA Europa League. In the critical European struggle, where the red-and-black team disappointed fans by leaving the pitch with a clear 3-0 defeat, the French goalkeeper being sent off with a direct red card in the 27th minute became the most important development of the night. Sent to the locker room by the referee after a physical intervention during a duel with an opponent, the experienced glove felt the absolute need to defend himself following the heavy criticism he faced in the sports press. Publishing a statement text through his personal social media account, the talented goalkeeper emphasized that his intention was never to harm anyone and used the following expressions: "My gesture was not intentional at all. I just wanted to make some space in my area." Strictly denying the deliberate violence allegations directed at him, the successful player expressed his profound sorrow over the reflection of the position on television screens with the words, "Unfortunately, it gave a bad image, especially to young spectators." Drawing attention to the immense trust in his position and character within the team, the French star underlined the full support given to him by the community, saying, "The club, the technical staff, and my teammates know very well what kind of a person and captain I am." Reproaching the exaggerated comments in the press quite harshly after the red card he received, the experienced goalkeeper concluded his message with the following words: "We are used to the deliberate interpretations made by some people and certain media." Italian fans are actively trying to boost morale by supporting their successful goalkeeper with countless posts on social media platforms.

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