'I'm fortunate to be alive' - Merino relives bus attack

Arsenal and Spain midfielder Mikel Merino reflects on the attack on Dortmund's team bus in 2017, when he was 20 years old.

On April 11, 2017, the Borussia Dortmund team bus was attacked with bombs on its way to the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Monaco. Mikel Merino, then a 20-year-old Spanish midfielder, was on the bus and experienced the terrifying ordeal firsthand. Recently, the Arsenal midfielder recalled the incident in detail for the first time, admitting, "I'm fortunate to be alive." Merino described how he was sitting at the back of the bus when he heard a massive explosion, followed by shattering glass and flying debris. "At that moment, I had no idea what was happening. I just felt the whole world shaking," he recalled. The attack injured Dortmund defender Marc Bartra, who was taken to hospital for surgery. Merino said that although he was physically unharmed, the psychological impact was immense. "I saw Bartra injured, I saw the fear on my teammates' faces. It was a terror beyond words." The match was postponed to the next day. Dortmund players, still in shock, were forced back onto the pitch and eventually lost 3-2 to Monaco. Merino believes the result was irrelevant. "We were not in the right state of mind. All we could think about was the night before. Football became insignificant at that moment." He revealed that for a long time afterwards, he could not sleep properly and was often awakened by nightmares. Merino's career did not stall because of this. He went on to play for Real Sociedad and joined Arsenal in the summer of 2024. Now 28, he has become a key player for both the Gunners and the Spanish national team. But that experience remains a shadow he cannot erase. "It made me cherish life more and understand that football is only part of life," he said. The Dortmund bus attack is one of the darkest chapters in German football history. The attacker, Sergej W., was sentenced to 14 years in prison, but the psychological trauma inflicted on players and fans has yet to fully heal. Merino's recollection serves as a reminder that security at sporting events must never be taken for granted. Merino said he hopes his experience can help others who have gone through similar incidents. "I want to tell them that you are not alone, and time will slowly heal everything," he said. "But I also hope such tragedies never happen again." Today, Merino is performing well at Arsenal, proving through his actions that fear cannot defeat a strong person. His story is not only a warning for the football world but also a testament to courage and rebirth.

'I'm fortunate to be alive' - Merino relives bus attack

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