Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that Éder Militão is now available for selection after completing his recovery from his ACL injury. The Brazilian defender, who is 26 years old, suffered an ACL tear on the opening day of the season against Athletic Club in LaLiga. However, he is set to return to the matchday squad for Sunday’s league game against the same opponents at the Bernabéu. This comeback comes just in time for the Champions League clash on April 9. Ancelotti mentioned that Militão has a “30%” chance of facing Manchester City in their upcoming quarterfinal first leg match.
After dealing with a series of long-term injuries this season, including injuries to Thibaut Courtois and David Alaba, the return of Militão is seen as a significant boost for Real Madrid. Ancelotti expressed his joy at Militão’s availability, stating, “He’s available, and he’s trained. Obviously he isn’t 100%, because he needs to play football, but he’s OK after the injury. That’s very good news for us.”
Defensive Options and Lineup Decisions
With the absence of key defensive players due to injuries, Real Madrid has had to make adjustments to the lineup. Antonio Rüdiger has been partnered with Nacho Fernandez or midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni at centre-back in recent matches. Despite these changes, Madrid has maintained an impressive defensive record, currently topping LaLiga with the fewest goals conceded in the division.
Ancelotti mentioned that they will monitor Militão’s progress game by game. He hinted at the possibility of giving the Brazilian defender minutes in the upcoming match against Athletic Club to help improve his condition before the clash with Manchester City. Ancelotti emphasized that Militão’s physical condition is good, but he needs to get back into the rhythm of playing football and adapting to the size of the pitch and his teammates.
Upcoming Champions League Clash and Team Dynamics
Real Madrid is set to face Manchester City in the Champions League quarterfinals on April 9, with the return leg scheduled eight days later. Ancelotti remains cautious about Militão’s involvement in the City match, stating, “It could be him with Rüdiger against City, it could not. I wouldn’t say it’s 50%, it could be 70% no and 30% yes.” He acknowledged Militão’s importance to the team, especially in aspects like aerial duels and defensive play. Ancelotti also highlighted that if Militão is unable to play, the team’s options are limited, with Nacho or Tchouaméni likely to step in.
In addition to Militão’s return, Real Madrid will be without Vinícius Júnior for the upcoming match against Athletic Club due to suspension. The young forward recently played for Brazil in a friendly against Spain and opened up about the racist abuse he has faced from opposition fans. Despite this, Ancelotti is not overly concerned about the issue affecting Vinícius’ LaLiga performances. “There’s one thing that worries me a lot about Vinícius, and it’s that he can’t play tomorrow,” Ancelotti commented.
Leave a Reply