Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka spoke about his clash with Cristiano Ronaldo during Slovakia's game against Portugal.
Slovakia goalkeeper Martin Dubravka has revealed his thought process when Cristiano Ronaldo clattered into him when they faced Portugal.
The Newcastle United goalkeeper was the victim of a Ronaldo lunge during his team's 1-0 defeat, and now he talks about how he felt during the incident.
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10:34 - 09.09.2023
FOOTBALL Ronaldo lucky not to see red after hitting ex-Man United teammate in the face during Portugal’s win over Slovakia
The former United loanee was able to smell the danger and come quickly for the ball just before Ronaldo could get on the end of it
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What Dubravka said
The 34-year-old refuses to blame Ronaldo for the incident, as he understands that football is a contact sport.
He went on to reveal that he, like other goalkeepers, close their eyes and pray the damage from such contact is not excessive in those situations.
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"In the shoulder, the neck and the chest," Dubravka revealed where Ronaldo hit him, per Goal.
“I just closed my eyes and prayed that he [Ronaldo] wouldn't hit me in the face as well. When I saw his studs coming at me, I didn't even look. These are situations when the goalkeeper closes his eyes and tries only to block the shot, and he, as a striker, has to go after such a ball.
“I don't blame him. It's sport, it's football. Situations like this belong to it. Of course, he realised he hit me. He asked me if I was OK. I take it sportingly.
"I try to keep a clear head in these situations. It is a contact sport. Today, when we have VAR at our disposal. There is no point in getting into it."
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