Massadio Haidara: 'I thought Callum McManaman ended my career'

By Matt Cotton, Reporter | 21 March 2013

Massadio Haidara says that he thought Callum McManaman had ended his career and ruined his life following his horror challenge.

Newcastle United defender Massadio Haidara has admitted that he feared Callum McManaman's horror challenge had ended his career.

The Frenchman was forced to be taken off on a stretcher following the two-footed challenge from the 21-year-old during Wigan Athletic's 2-1 win over the Magpies on Sunday.

A report from ESPN claims that Haidara may have escaped without a serious injury, but the player is still livid at the Latics man for the tackle.

"I don't understand. His tackle could have ended my career and ruined my life but in the end he will play football before me," Haidara told The Sun. "In that moment I was really, really angry with him. I thought he had stopped my career.

"Now I feel differently and just hope this will give him a lesson and that next time he will know how to stop himself.

"We have to protect the players. I don't want to change the physical mentality, pace and commitment of football in England but we can't tolerate tackles like this."

Haidara joined Newcastle from Nancy in January.