‘It had never happened to me before’: Juve goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny walks out of ground holding his chest

The atmosphere at the ground turned scary when Juventus Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was seen walking out of the game holding his chest on Friday night when in the first half of his side’s 1-0 win over Sporting Lisbon as he was ‘struggling to breathe’.
Szczesny needed medical attention in the 41st minute after clutching his chest, and a number of his teammates were visibly concerned, waving to the touchline for the shot-stopper to receive assance.
The Poland international walked off the pitch in tears while accompanied Juventus’ medical department as fans gave him a standing ovation.
Juve had to substitute Szczesny shortly before the break as he was replaced Mattia Perin.
“I am fine, I was a little anxious, but we did all the tests and everything is fine,” Szczesny said.
Juventus’ Manuel Locatelli, Bremer and referee Halil Umut Meler gesture for medical staff after Juventus’ Wojciech Szczesny after sustained an injury REUTERS/Massimo Pinca
“I was scared, it had never happened to me before, I was struggling to breathe and it really worried me.”
Substitute Dusan Vlahovic’s 73rd-minute header was blocked on the line Coates and Gatti bundled the rebound in from close range.
Juve midfielder Paul Pogba made his first appearance outside of Serie A this season when he came on as a late substitute for Angel Di Maria and Perin made a crucial save in stoppage time to deny the visitors an equaliser.
Juventus took a small step towards the last four of the Europa League as Federico Gatti’s second-half goal secured the hosts a 1-0 victory over Sporting Lisbon in the first leg of their quarter-final on Thursday.
Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri changed the formation that lost 2-1 to Lazio in Serie A on Saturday to a more attacking one with three forwards, but with limited success.
“I always say that football is not a mathematical equation. I decided to use those three upfront, we were often left unbalanced against a strong opponent like Sporting,” he told Sky Sport Italy.
The first chance fell to Federico Chiesa who fired an angled shot from inside the box that Sporting goalkeeper Antonio Adan parried away.
Sporting dominated much of the match and had chances to score in the first half. Captain Sebastian Coates had a shot saved Juve goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny before Gleison Bremer cleared a Nuno Santos effort off the line.
The result continued Sporting’s winless run in Italy. Four of their 16 games in the country have resulted in draws and 12 in defeat.
With Reuters Inputs