Dani Ceballos is finalizing his return to the plans of Ancelotti and Real Madrid in this final sprint of the season. The Andalusian was an important part of the Madrid squad just when he was injured in February during the match against Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey, keeping him away from the pitch ever since.
Dani Ceballos is close to returning: his recovery time is down from two months to six weeks
In this sense, the recovery time for Dani Ceballos’ injury was estimated to be a minimum period of two months, until the end of next April. However, according to information published by the newspaper AS, the footballer has managed to reduce the number of days and in the last week of March he has obtained the green light from the Madrid medical team.
This means that the Seville midfielder could bring forward his return, which was scheduled for two months after his injury. However, this comeback could be shortened to just under six weeks. Just last Wednesday, March 26, it was four weeks since Dani Ceballos was injured in a collision with Kubo in the match against Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey semi-final.
Dani Ceballos’ injury took its toll on Ancelotti’s scheme of play
The truth is that, even among the various tough losses that Real Madrid has suffered since the start of the season, especially with the losses of Dani Carvajal and Militao, Dani Ceballos’ injury came at a crucial moment for Real Madrid’s interests, hence the player did everything possible to make his comeback.
What’s more, his fall at the Reale Arena (a blow to the semimembranosus muscle affecting the tendon in his left leg) caused Ancelotti’s scheme to suffer for the umpteenth time this season. Because the midfielder had given Real Madrid a lifeline in recent weeks. Established in the center of the pitch, his vision of the game was fundamental for a team lacking in ideas, apart from the spark they were hoping for with Mbappé, Vinicus and Bellingham. They needed a footballer with the ability to thread the ball through the defense, as Dan Ceballos did.
This absence was particularly noticeable in matches such as the one against Real Betis, on matchday 26 of LALIGA EA Sports, where they lost 2-1, and in the first leg of the Champions League tie against Atlético Madrid, where they lost 2-1, although they ended up winning but with the feeling that the advantage could have been greater.
Dani Ceballos’s objective is a comeback against Arsenal in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals
In both matches, Real Madrid’s play suffered in the area that Ancelotti had tied down with Dani Ceballos. Both against Betis and against Simeone’s side, the Madrid players were unable to make the changes that occur in the game, unable to move from defense to attack, something they had become accustomed to with the Andalusian’s feet.
For this reason, and with the long-awaited return of Dani Ceballos, it is hoped that he will be ready to play in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals against Arsenal on 8 April. Or at least that is the goal the player is now setting himself, as he believes he is fit enough to make it to a key match of the season, which will be played in London at the Emirates Stadium.
According to the aforementioned source, the Real Madrid doctors believe that it is possible that he will be able to play against Arsenal, so this will be a very important factor to take into account, knowing that initially he was expected to be out of Ancelotti’s squad for several more weeks.
In the meantime, and doing so in the safest and most controlled way possible, Dani Ceballos will begin to exercise by playing with the ball and jumping on the pitch. With this, and making the most of this improvement, he has left physiotherapy to intensify his gym work, with special attention to his muscles. However, both the club and the player know that they will proceed with caution so as not to risk too much. The objective is Arsenal, but there are more matches to come.