Real Madrid suffer fresh blow as 23-year-old star ruled out of Girona clash due to muscle injury
Real Madrid has been handed a major setback as their winger Rodrygo has been ruled out of tonight’s LaLiga match (December 7) against Girona due to a muscle injury. The Brazil international is not part of the Los Blancos team that traveled to Estadi Montilivi along with youth squad players Gonzalo García and Chema Andrés.
Following their absences, manager Carlo Ancelotti called up Daniel Yáñez to complete the squad as per the official Real Madrid website.
Rodrygo’s campaign for Real Madrid this season hasn’t gone as planned. The 23-year-old first picked up a hamstring injury in their 5-2 victory against Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League in October and missed two games for Los Blancos.
He returned to action against AC Milan in the Champions League on November 5 but was injured again during Real Madrid’s 4-0 LaLiga victory over Osasuna on November 9.
Rodrygo returned to training on November 29 and was named in the club’s starting XI against Getafe in LaLiga on December 1. He was also included in the starting XI against Athletic Bilbao on December 4, which is their last match.
However, in what will come as a harsh note to the ears of the Real Madrid faithful, the Brazil international is a last-minute absentee from the squad that was meant to travel to Girona. As per the club, Rodrygo will undergo tests in the next few hours to determine the extent of his injury.
Vinicius Jr. is also unavailable for the clash but is expected to return to action when Los Blancos face Serie A side Atalanta in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Carlo Ancelotti says Real Madrid are ‘still in the fight in every competition’ ahead of Girona clash
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti believes his side can still compete for every trophy available to them amid their recent poor run of form.
Los Blancos fell to a 2-1 defeat in their last match against Athletic Bilbao, failing to reduce the gap between them and Barcelona on the league table. Their last match in the Champions League also ended in a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool as they are on the brink of elimination.
Ahead of the match against Girona, the Italian manager thinks his side are still in the race in every competition. He said they need to be optimistic because they have a top-quality squad, telling the club’s website.
“We're still in the fight in every competition. We have to keep that optimism you need, considering the problems we have and those we've encountered so far. We're optimistic because we've got a brave, top-quality squad. We haven't shown our best form so far but we're convinced we'll get there sooner or later. I would say I'm just mildly concerned."
The Italian also said the match against Girona will be a difficult one as their opponents are doing a good job. He added:
“Tomorrow's game will be another difficult one. Girona are doing a good job, they're having to contend with the Champions League this year too, but they always compete well. We have to treat it as a chance to get back to winning ways, and remain in the mix for LaLiga.”