Lunin, from hero to villain in 30 days to oblivion: “I apologize”

As the protagonist of real Madrid for most of the season, until the return of Thibaut Courtois, Andryi Lunin has gone from applause to disappointment after a terrible debut in the European Cup with Ukraine: in less than a month the consistency under the goal of the white team changed for an unwanted refuge under the shadow of Courtois and repenting of the mistakes he made Romania.

After ninety minutes of what should have been the party started Ukraine, set to be the revelation team of the Euro Cup, the team led by Sergey Rebrov It went from containing euphoria to the greatest disappointment. With players like Mudryk, Dovbyk, Tsygankov or Zinchenkothey will be hoping to start the tournament on the right foot against a team that has won just one Euro Cup match in its entire history (2-3 against England in 2000).

Lunin also joined the list of numbers before the clash began. However, after his bad game, instead of receiving congratulations, as is customary this season in real Madridhad to receive a lot of criticism to which he responded with an immediate apology that he sent to his fans as soon as the match was over.

Lunin apologized

“My first mistake changed the game. I have apologized. We have to take a step forward in the next game. If a goalkeeper makes a mistake it is practically a goal, because a mistake is more noticeable . I accept it and understand it. That has happened before, I feel sorry for my teammates, who made an effort and made my game complicated,” he said.

The error you are referring to Luna It is a move that goes back to a rival, who after receiving the ball gives it to Nicolae Stanciu. The player of Damac The Saudi connected an unstoppable whip where the other already Romania He opened the scoring at half time. Already in the second half, in the second goal, the task of Razvan Marin, Lunin make an ineffective stretch on a seemingly affordable shot from outside the area and Ukraine The second fit, a certain slab.

His mistakes then Romania in contrast to his massive and decisive display at real Madrid this season in the Champions League. In the round of 16 he stopped Leipzig with nine key interventions in situations of maximum risk. Later, against Manchester City, he made eight saves in the English team’s siege of the Madrid goal and also saved two penalties from the shootout that gave real Madrid a painful bruise in the semifinals. He closed his carousel of decisive performances with another excellent save from Harry Kane at the Bernabéu. He took a wonderful hand on a volley from the Bayern striker and avoided major problems for his team.

The successful season at Real Madrid, overshadowed by Courtois

However, Lunin’s luck ended there. Recovery of Courtois He put him on the bench so that the Belgian could get back into the rhythm of the competition. Nobody said it at the white club, but it seems that everything is ready for the Belgian to start in the final of Champions League. The Ukrainian goalkeeper is a substitute against Granada and Alavés, the two games after Bayern. Then, he played again against Villarreal and Courtoi closed the Liga against Betis.

And, in case there was any doubt about the name that will cover the goal in the final against Dortmundalleviated the unexpected influenza B Carlo Ancelotti, that he does not have to decide: Courtois I will be your goalkeeper. And with those substitutions and a pain in his back, Lunin appeared for Ukraine’s concentration. He missed the first friendly against Poland and reappeared in the second match Moldova.

Then came the appointment to Romania and its failures are well known. And, in less than thirty days, the time that passed from his stop against Bayern to his debut in the Euro Cup, Lunin went from being the hero of Real Madrid to being the villain for Ukraine.