Real Madrid are having a season marked by injuries. In fact, during this international break, 16 players have been called up to their national teams, and of those injured, only Lucas Vázquez is available to Ancelotti, which is why he will draw up an individual plan to keep him in shape. Carvajal, Militao, Ceballos, Vallejo, Mendy and Fran García are all suffering from different physical problems, while the rest are facing international commitments.
The plague of injuries has prevented the implementation of a plan that Real Madrid had at the beginning of the season. At the beginning of the season, the Whites were aiming to win seven titles, now they can ‘only’ achieve six of them, and they were considering the possibility of playing 71 matches (they have already played 47).
Faced with this situation, the club considered an option that in the end could not be carried out. “It may be that one week a player does not play and goes to rest with his family. We are studying it, especially with the players who play in the national team,” explained Carlo Ancelotti during the white preseason.
A very specific example was given for this plan: “Vinicius goes to the national team, plays two games, and when he comes back, instead of playing a league game, he rests and doesn’t play. And he rests for three or four days. He goes on vacation, and after the game he comes back. It’s as simple as that, it’s the only way.” The idea was a good one, but the tight schedule took its toll and injuries changed the initial plan.
“It doesn’t make any sense. It’s impossible for us to maintain an optimum level with the Intercontinental and a Club World Cup that takes you a month away from home,” Dani Carvajal confessed before the start of the season. As if it were an omen, weeks later the full-back was ruled out with a long-term injury.
“Despite all the difficulties, we reached the March break still in contention in the three most important competitions. And this had not happened in the last three years,” confessed Carlo Ancelotti after the victory against Villarreal. And the fact is that in the face of adversity, and although without much brilliance, Real Madrid is putting in a survival performance that we will have to see how it ends at the end of the season.