Actual Madrid left-back Ferland Mendy faces a race in opposition to time to be match for his facet’s Champions League quarter-final in opposition to Arsenal subsequent month.
The enterprising full-back was pressured off with seven minutes of regular time remaining in Actual’s European bout in opposition to Atletico Madrid in midweek clutching his hamstring. Mendy required on-pitch therapy earlier than awkwardly limping off.
Carlo Ancelotti’s defending champions ultimately discovered a well past their metropolis rivals – in extremely controversial circumstances – to ebook a spot within the quarter-finals in opposition to Arsenal. Nonetheless, Mendy’s involvement within the first leg of that tie is clouded unsure.
Spanish publication MARCA revealed that Mendy will probably be sidelined for “three to 4 weeks” with a hamstring situation. If the French defender veers in the direction of the longer finish of this projected timeline, he may very properly sit out Madrid’s journey to Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium on 8 April.
The second leg of the quarter-final will probably be staged at Actual’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on 16 April, a fixture Mendy ought to nearly definitely be obtainable for. But, Ancelotti has not often been pressured to be with out his first-choice full-back in European competitors.
Mendy has began 11 of Madrid’s 12 Champions League video games this time period, a tally solely the undroppable Federico Valverde can higher. Within the one European recreation which the 29-year-old sat out, Fran Garcia crammed in.
The Spanish terrier has often been rotated with Mendy in La Liga, however Ancelotti has tended to belief the extra skilled defender on the continental stage. The Italian supervisor has by no means been gradual to reward Mendy, who has obtained his justifiable share of critics throughout his Madrid profession. On the finish of final season, Ancelotti hailed him as “the perfect left-back on this planet at a defensive degree”.
Even the enamoured head coach has conceded that Mendy may work on his attacking contributions – Actual Madrid’s backup goalkeeper Andriy Lunin can match his outfield teammate for La Liga assists this season (one). Nonetheless, the completed defender will probably be sorely missed in opposition to Arsenal if he can’t overcome this newest health setback.
