Neal Maupay: Brighton boss Graham Potter defends 'fighter' over Bernd Leno injury
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Monday 22 June 2020 18:33, UK
Brighton manager Graham Potter has defended Neal Maupay over his role in Bernd Leno's injury and backed the striker to improve following his match-winning goal against Arsenal on Saturday.
The Frenchman pounced in the fifth minute of stoppage-time at the Amex Stadium to help the Seagulls move five points clear of the relegation zone after they came from behind to win 2-1.
Maupay apologised after Arsenal goalkeeper Leno had to be carried off on a stretcher five minutes before half-time with a serious-looking knee problem and reacted angrily towards the Brighton striker.
Tempers flared again at full-time, with Arsenal's Matteo Guendouzi appearing to put his hand on Maupay, although the midfielder has subsequently escaped an FA charge.
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Maupay stated after the match that "Arsenal players need to learn humility", but speaking ahead of Brighton's game with Leicester on Tuesday - live on Sky Sports - Potter defended the player who joined from Brentford for £20m last summer.
Potter said: "He is that type of character, he is not shy to say what he thinks, he is a fighter and fights for the team and fights for the club.
"He wants to do well for himself and for us and his team-mates, you can see that in how he plays the game.
"He sacrifices himself a lot, runs for the team a lot, and still tries to score in the Premier League - it's not easy, especially in your first season.
"He's adapted really well and we are happy with him and I think he will get better and better."
As for the injury to Leno, which saw Maupay nudge the goalkeeper, who then landed awkwardly, Potter added: "It is an incident that is unfortunate, can happen on a football pitch - an innocuous coming together.
"As much as Neal is a competitor, he doesn't want to go out there and injure people on purpose. We wish the player a speedy recovery but unfortunately these things happen on the football pitch."
