‘I’m fortunate to be alive’ – Merino relives bus attack

Mikel Merino says a last-minute seat change on Borussia Dortmund’s team coach may have saved his life when it was attacked with explosives in 2017. He was 20 and travelling to a Champions League semi-final against Monaco when three bombs exploded; shrapnel struck the headrest of the seat he usually used.

Merino recalls the noise, smoke, blood and screams, and says the attack left a lasting mark on the team. Dortmund team-mate Marc Bartra suffered a broken wrist, and the match was moved to the next day; attacker Sergei Wenergold was jailed in 2018. In the same interview, Merino described returning from a foot stress fracture in time to make Spain’s World Cup squad, after playing 30 minutes for Arsenal against Crystal Palace shortly before the squad was announced.