GREECE manager Gus Poyet revealed Sheffield United ace George Baldock was dealing with an “unimaginable” ankle injury when he kept France superstar Kylian Mbappe quiet.
Poyet’s Greeks faced Didier Deschamps’ 2018 world champions at Stade de France in a Euro 2024 qualifier last month.
France won 1-0 thanks to Mbappe’s penalty after two spot-kicks and former Arsenal ace Dinos Mavropanos’ red card, but the visitors still put together a defiant performance in Paris.
Sheffield United right-back Baldock stood out with exceptional marking down the wing as he limited the Paris Saint-Germain superstar’s influence for the hosts.
Poyet revealed the Buckingham-born ace, who qualifies for the Greek national team via his grandmother, powered through a “very bad” injury he suffered against Republic of Ireland just three days earlier.
The 30-year-old’s swollen ankle got so aggravated it turned “black and blue” as he flew to France just a few hours before being tasked with marking one of the world’s best players.
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The Uruguayan tactician had to make a late call and his faith paid off as Baldock played through the pain and silenced Mbappe for a full 104 minutes.
Poyet told SunSport on behalf of 888sport: “Against the Republic of Ireland – and now that it is finished I can say it – after 20 minutes he had a very bad twist in his ankle, very bad. He was very close to come out. I asked him, ‘Can you hold until half-time?’
“At half-time his ankle was very, very swollen. He asked for a strapping and he asked me for five minutes. Give me five minutes and we’ll let you know. And he had an unbelievable second half running up and down and being outstanding.
“You don’t imagine the ankle after the game. You don’t imagine the ankle the day after, after the flight to France. Black and blue – swollen. And a day-and-a-half later you need to play against Mbappe.
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“Ninety per cent of people will think, no chance. And I keep talking to him, individually. And he keeps saying to me, ‘Coach I’m gonna be there no worries’.
“And he didn’t play 20 minutes, he didn’t play 60 minutes, he played 104 minutes because the referee gave 14 minutes of injury time against Mbappe.
“That’s the people I want, that’s the person I want any club to meet. To talk to him. Because the player is there to see and how competitive he is and how strong he is. But you need to know the personality.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
