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The sounds of Champions League prove too loud for Werner

The sounds of Champions League prove too loud for Werner

  • Matthew Klimberg
Of all the strange explanations for substitutions ever put forth, Timo Werner’s may be the strangest. In the 32nd minute of RB Leipzig’s Champions League clash in Turkey against Besiktas, the German asked to be subbed out due to crowd noise.

The decibel level at Vodafone Park was so great, that Werner had trouble concentrating and became ill. “I could not concentrate. I did not feel well,” said the striker. “I asked for ear plugs, but they did not improve the situation.”

Eventually Leipzig fell 0-2, but it is Werner’s ears that remain the main talking point the next day. Many consider him to be one of Germany’s top young talents, and a fixture on Joachim Low’s national team. It’s unclear how this episode will, if at all, affect his value on the transfer market, and his standing with Low.

Vodafone Park is only one year old, and seats 43,500 spectators. Fans of Besiktas are known to be extremely loud from start to finish.