Former Manchester United man Daley Blind COLLAPSES in friendly as Ajax defender’s heart problems return… but he does walk off the pitch on his own two feet
- Daley Blind previously suffered a heart scare during a match in December
- He made his return in February after being fitted with a defibrillator
- But the 30-year-old encountered problems again during a friendly on Tuesday
- The ex-Manchester United defender fell to the ground with nobody around him
Daley Blind caused concern on Tuesday night as he collapsed during Ajax’s friendly victory over Hertha Berlin.
The former Manchester United defender has had heart problems in the past, and was diagnosed with heart muscle inflammation in December after suffering from dizziness in a Champions League clash with Valencia.
He then returned to first-team action in February but has seemingly suffered another scare, as surrounded by nobody, he slumped to the ground in the latter stages of the game in Amsterdam.
Daley Blind (centre) collapsed to the pitch for Ajax on Tuesday, surrounded by nobody
The Ajax defender was clearly in pain as he laid on the ground during the 79th minute
Blind was responsive as his worried team-mates surrounded him on the pitch, and medics were quick to attend the scene.
He was however clutching his chest in the 79th minute, but refreshingly was able to leave the field of his own accord.
Ajax boss Erik ten Hag said afterwards: ‘Daley Blind’s ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator) went off.
Despite the scare the 30-year-old was able to leave the pitch on his own two feet not long after
‘He got subbed off straight away and he is feeling okay now, he is feeling fine. We will do research about this now.’
After being fitted with an electronic device for his return in February, Blind spoke of how much he enjoyed returning in a Dutch Cup fixture – and was not scared at all.
‘I am really happy to be back on the pitch,’ Blind told Fox Sports Netherlands.
Blind was surrounded by his team-mates as he received treatment on Tuesday evening
‘I had a little bit of tension beforehand because you don’t know how it will go.
‘The doctor really needed to hold me back and step on the brakes because I wanted to get back ASAP. I wasn’t scared at all, I wanted to get back on the pitch as fast as possible.’
Ajax ended up winning Tuesday’s friendly 1-0, courtesy of Zakaria Labyad’s first-half goal.
