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The goal he scored against Bayern Munich was not the only highlight on the pitch for Hoffenheim’s Nico Schulz. Observers noted an arresting scene at halftime: Schulz approached Bayern’s Kingsley Coman near the sideline and spoke with him for a moment. Bild spoke with Schulz about the scene afterward.
Hoffenheims Nico #Schulz (war schon fast in der Kabine) wartet nach Abpfiff der 1. HZ auf Kingsley #Coman, den er im Hinspiel schwer verletzte, geht zu ihm und entschuldigt sich scheinbar für das Foul damals. Starke Aktion! #TSGFCB @tsghoffenheim @FCBayern @DFB_Team pic.twitter.com/p7MEo7SjHJ
— Malte Achilles (@die_Ferse) January 18, 2019
Schulz had seriously injured Coman in the season opener against Hoffenheim in the Allianz Arena, as Coman suffered a torn syndesmosis in the same ankle that he had injured the season before, causing him to miss the crucial stage of Bayern’s season and France’s successful World Cup campaign.
Schulz had almost disappeared down the corridor to the locker room when he stopped, turned around, and walked back. He greeted Coman and put his arm around him and the two chatted for a brief moment. Schulz explained to Bild, “I wanted to know whether everything’s ok with him and how he’s feeling.”
Some observers, including Bild’s Malte Achilles (embedded above), wondered whether Schulz might have offered a late apology. But he explained he had long since done that: “I had already apologized, after all,” Schulz explained. “I don’t have to do that three times, after all. Just [wanted] to hear for a second how he’s doing.” Schulz said that Coman replied, “that everything’s fine. He’s doing well again. It’s forgotten.”