Pascal Struijk has responded via Instagram to Harvey Elliott’s serious injury. The nineteen-year-old talent from Liverpool was taken off the field by stretcher on Sunday evening in the away game against Leeds United (0-3), after a tackle by the Dutch defender. Struijk indicates that he would never have wanted this to happen and he wishes Elliott a speedy recovery.
Around the halfway line Struijk started his tackle on Elliott after an hour of play, who seemed to twist his ankle and went to the ground. Teammate Mohamed Salah immediately realized that there was a serious injury and summoned the medical staff to come inside the lines immediately. “Something happened in the game that I would not wish on anyone,” said Struijk on his Instagram Story on Sunday evening. “Harvey Elliott, my thoughts are with you,” Struijk continues. “I am devastated and this was never meant to happen. I wish you a speedy recovery and hope to see you back on the field soon.”
“From the moment it happened, you could already see Mohamed Salah yelling to the side that it was really serious,” Virgil van Dijk looked visibly upset. Sky Sports back at the moment. “Then I looked at Harvey’s reaction and I already knew it was really serious. Then there is the whole treatment period and you are waiting, after which you have to find the focus again. It’s hard, but it’s hard for them too. We handled it well and luckily were even able to make the 0-3. I know from my own experience that the whole staff, all the players and the fans are behind you.”
Oi oi, red for Pascal Struijk ?? The Dutchman commits an attack on Harvey Elliott’s ankles and is allowed to leave?#ZiggoSport #PremierLeague #LEELIV pic.twitter.com/KvVasdDwRn
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) September 12, 2021
Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp also appeared visibly moved in front of the camera by the event. The coach spoke of a ‘serious’ injury, but seemed to indicate that there is no question of an ankle fracture. “It’s the ankle. I’ve heard it’s dislocated and can be put back in. He’s in the hospital now. We have to wait. He’s played an incredible game and he’s an incredible player, but now he’s out. Do I want such a young boy to have such an injury so early in his career? No. Unfortunately it is and we will be there for him. We will wait for him because he is a top player,” Klopp concluded.
Shortly after the game, Elliott posted a photo on his Instagram Story with a word of thanks for the statements of support. From the ambulance and with the competition shirt still on, he published a photo of himself with a raised thumb. “Thanks for the messages. On the road to recovery. YNWA,” writes Elliott, much to Klopp’s relief. “Obviously I haven’t seen any Instagram posts but if there is one, that’s a good thing. That shows that he isn’t in so much pain anymore. That’s great news.”
Once at the hospital, Elliott decided to give away his competition shirt to a boy who had just broken his arm during a competition. The father of the youthful victim took a photo of the beautiful moment, which was often shared on Twitter. “My son broke his arm during his match this afternoon and is in hospital. Who suddenly gets into the bed next to him? Harvey Elliott and his family. He gave him his competition shirt and his shoe. My son is over the moon,” it reads.