Real Madrid News
Ancelotti offers support to Real Madrid stalwart after crushing season-ending injury
Real Madrid are facing a tough situation after Dani Carvajal suffered a serious knee injury during the match against Villarreal.
The right-back’s injury occurred in the final moments of the game, and it has left the entire team and fanbase concerned.
Carvajal underwent medical examinations on Sunday, which confirmed the severity of the damage. He has torn his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), along with a tear in the external collateral ligament and another tear in the popliteal tendon.
This injury will require Carvajal to undergo surgery and begin a long recovery process. It is expected to keep him off the field for approximately a year. Despite this setback, Real Madrid have shown tremendous support for the player.
Support for Carvajal
The outpouring of support for Carvajal has been immense. Messages of encouragement have flooded social media from teammates, former colleagues, fans, and even rival players.
Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti has also made it clear how much Carvajal means to the team. Ancelotti expressed his confidence that Carvajal will overcome this challenge with the same determination he has shown throughout his career.
Tu energía y compromiso son esenciales para este equipo. Sabemos que superarás este reto como lo has hecho siempre y que contaremos con tu apoyo y ayuda desde donde estés. Te esperamos, Dani. Mucho ánimo! pic.twitter.com/qZgKCJmxZO
— Carlo Ancelotti (@MrAncelotti) October 6, 2024
He emphasised that Carvajal’s energy and commitment are vital to the squad, and the team eagerly awaits his return, even if it will take time.
“Your energy and commitment are essential for this team. We know that you will overcome this challenge as you have always done and that we will count on your support and help wherever you are.
“We are waiting for you, Dani. Keep up the good work,” the manager wrote on his social media.
Ancelotti had earlier acknowledged the severity of the injury during a press conference after the match.
He described the mood in the dressing room as sombre, stating that losing a player of Carvajal’s calibre, known for his attitude, professionalism, and hard work, is a significant blow to the team.
Real Madrid prospect Alexis Ciria will have to wait for his Champions League opportunity despite making a strong impression on Jose Mourinho during pre-season.
The Castilla winger has been left out of Real Madrid’s European squad, but the decision is the consequence of UEFA registration rules rather than a sporting judgment.
According to journalist Arancha Rodriguez (h/t Defensa Central), Ciria was not eligible for Madrid’s List B because he has not been with the club long enough to satisfy UEFA’s requirements.
Registering him would therefore have required Mourinho to include him on the more restrictive List A.
UEFA rules work against Ciria
List B provides clubs with additional flexibility to register young academy players, but being young enough is not sufficient on its own.
Players must also meet requirements concerning how long they have been eligible to represent the club.
Ciria does not meet those conditions because of his limited time at Valdebebas. Real Madrid would therefore have needed to sacrifice a List A position to register him.
With those places required for members of Mourinho’s senior squad, Ciria was ultimately left out.
Real Madrid’s List B instead includes youngsters such as Joan Martinez, Mario Rivas, Thiago Pitarch, Jorge Cestero and Daniel Yanez.
Many of these youngsters made a name for themselves under Mourinho during pre-season and could be used to make up the numbers in the Champions League squad.
They could also get some minutes off the bench, especially against relatively easier opposition, as Jose Mourinho looks to manage first-team minutes.
Mourinho still plans first-team opportunity
Importantly for Ciria, missing the Champions League squad does not appear to reflect a change in Mourinho’s opinion of him.
The youngster impressed during pre-season and is expected to continue spending time around the senior team.
Mourinho intends to give Ciria his official first-team debut during the season. That opportunity will now have to arrive in La Liga or the Copa del Rey.
The Portuguese tactician placed a lot of emphasis on trusting Castilla players during pre-season in the absence of first-team stars.
Ciria was one of the many names who made a name for themselves at Real Madrid during pre-season. He deserves a chance in the first team, and it remains to be seen how Jose plans his development.
