Image Credits: Imago Images
The French Cup often brings a different kind of pressure. League form offers no protection. Rotation does not lower the intensity. Matches are played at speed, especially away from home, where hosts look to disrupt rhythm early. That was the setting for Monaco’s trip to Auxerre, a tie that demanded focus from the first minute. Monaco started the game with attacking intent, but the contest quickly became physical. Midfield battles were frequent. Transitions were sharp. One moment during a Monaco attack changed the tone of the afternoon. As play turned over, one of Monaco’s forwards tracked back to regain possession. The challenge followed. The reaction was immediate.
The player went to ground and did not get up. He grabbed the back of his leg and stayed down. Teammates gathered around him. Medical staff were called on straight away. The decision was taken quickly. A stretcher was brought onto the pitch as he was carried off in the 35th minute. Concern replaced momentum.
Former Liverpool attacker Takumi Minamino injured his left knee during the French Cup match. Minamino appeared to jar the knee while going into a tackle after Monaco lost the ball. The injury looked serious enough for him to be removed immediately. There was no attempt to continue. Minamino’s injury comes at an important stage of his career. From a Liverpool perspective, his progress since leaving Anfield has been closely followed. He joined Monaco to play regularly and has become a consistent contributor. He has scored 23 goals in 119 games for the club. He remains a key international player as well, with 26 goals in 73 appearances for Japan.
At 30, Minamino was expected to be one of Japan’s leading players at the World Cup next year. That context makes the incident more concerning. There was no immediate update on the severity of the knee injury following the match. For Liverpool supporters, the moment was familiar. Minamino was part of several domestic cup runs at Anfield and was known for his work rate and professionalism. Seeing him leave the pitch on a stretcher was a reminder of how quickly games can turn, especially in knockout football.
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