Collapse in England: “We are all with you, Frida!”

WITHIn a shocking moment with a happy ending for Arsenal players, Norway international Frida Maanum is in a “stable condition” after collapsing in the League Cup final against Chelsea (1-0 after extra time), the Gunners announced to her team-mates the team welcomed its seventh cup triumph “for Frida”.

The 24-year-old was “conscious, talking and in a stable condition”, Arsenal said during the meeting. Maanum collapsed in stoppage time in the second half without any opposition intervention and was immediately treated. “Our medical team continues to monitor her closely. We are all with you, Frida,” the club continued.

“This is always very difficult”

Maanum required medical attention for approximately seven minutes and had a respirator mask placed over her face. She was eventually taken off the field on a stretcher. Both teams remained on the field during the treatment, with Stina Blacksenius (116th minute) soon giving Arsenal victory.

But after the coup against Chelsea, which included Olympic champion Melanie Leupolz and Germany international Sjoke Nysken, the Swede also spoke primarily of her “teammate and friend” Maanum. “Something like this is always very difficult,” she told the BBC. “She is very important to us. You worry when something like this happens. We wanted to give her this victory because she couldn’t be with us.”

Coach Jonas Eidewall also emphasized: “The first thing that interests us after the game is not the victory, but how Frida is doing. And we are very glad that she is doing well. It’s much more important than that.”

England player Alessia Russo, who replaced Manuum, told the BBC: “It’s sad to see one of your team-mates go down. We all wish and pray that she will be ok. “I think it was written in the stars that her best friend (Stina Blacksenius/ed.) scored the winning goal,” Russo said.