Mikel Merino recalls how he escaped the Dortmund bus attack

“I think I have a guardian angel”: Mikel Merino has recalled how he narrowly escaped the attack on Borussia Dortmund’s bus in 2017. The team was travelling to face AS Monaco in the Champions League when the vehicle was hit by a bomb attack. Two people were injured, including a player, while Merino narrowly avoided a piece of shrapnel. What was meant to be a celebration turned into a nightmare for Borussia Dortmund. The football world was in shock on 11 April 2017.

At the time, Borussia Dortmund had reached the Champions League quarter-finals after eliminating Benfica in the previous round. The Ruhr club was heading to its stadium to face AS Monaco, featuring Kylian Mbappé.

Merino now reflects on how serious the danger was: “I’m really lucky to still be alive.” He says he was told the next day that a large piece of shrapnel had lodged in the headrest of the seat he usually occupied, next to Marc. That seat was empty that day. Stiff legs and reclining seats at the front had led him to move. “That may have saved my life,” he said, adding that he was convinced “things happen for a reason.”