- Austria drew 1-1 with Serbia in the Nations League on Thursday evening
- Marko Arnautovic admitted he went through a mental episode during the game
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Marko Arnautovic has revealed that he had a panic attack during Austria’s 1-1 draw with Serbia on Thursday night.
The two sides were looking to gain an advantage in their two-legged play-off for the right to play in Group A of the UEFA Nations League.
The hosts qualified for the play-offs as a result of finishing second in Group B3, ahead of Slovenia and Kazakhstan, and behind the group winners Norway.
Arnautovic didn’t have the best of games and admitted he went through a mental episode during the match.
He played the full 90 minutes but there were fears that he may need to be replaced at one point.
Arnautovic told BILD after the game what he went through: ‘I felt a strong bit of pressure in the upper part of my stomach, at the same time I had a panic attack and I don’t know why.
Marko Arnautovic has revealed he had a panic attack during Thursday’s Nations League game
Arnautovic played the full 90 minutes but did not manage to get himself on the scoresheet
‘The doctor game me a quick look over, gave me a remedy and then everything was back in place and I was able to continue.
‘Suddenly I had nausea and dizziness, maybe it was because of the pain in my knee, a very strong pain in the front of the kneecap. But then everything went well again and I continued to play.’
Arnautovic then repeated his claim when speaking to reporters in the mixed zone afterwards, as he said: ‘I suddenly felt afraid, I felt sick and dazed, maybe because of the really strong pain I felt in my knee before.’
Marko Arnautović was born to a Serbian father and an Austrian mother but whether or not this played a role is unknown.
