Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has claimed it is their injury problems that are preventing him from making more changes to his squad after suffering another potential blow when Kylian Mbappe left injured against Atalanta. However, Los Blancos ran out 3-2 winners and Ancelotti was pleased with his side afterwards.
With an average of more than one injury per game this season, Diario AS say Los Blancos have suffered 27 injuries in their 23 games so far this year. An unusually poor injury record, much of the blame of which has lately gone towards fitness coach Antonio Pintus. These figures do not include the serious knee injuries suffered by David Alaba and youth players Cesar Palacios and Joan Martinez during the pre-season. Carvajal has missed 11 games so far and Militao six, while Eduardo Camavinga (nine games) is the second biggest injury victim.
Although local media reports focused on Pintus, Ancelotti does not tend to change his starters often but explained that after the match.
“Now we have to wait until Christmas, there is no other option. The schedule is demanding, the staff is small and rotation is not possible. When we get players back there will be more competition, but what won't change is that I'm going to field the best possible team to win every game,” he told MD.
One of the players returning from injuries after a 'difficult week' is Rodrygo Goes, who came on for Mbappé after half an hour. He, like many, pointed to the schedule.
“I think that's the secret: we play very difficult matches every other day and we always have to do our best on the pitch. The schedule is a bit crazy, but it is what it is: we want to show our face in every match and help Real Madrid,” Rodrygo explained to Cadena SER.
The two cases thrown in Ancelotti's face in this regard are young starlets Arda Guler and Endrick Felipe. The Brazilian has only 149 minutes this season, although there is stiff competition up front. Guler has now seen more action (549 minutes), but it was used very sparingly until November.
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