Real Madrid News
Not Mbappe or Vinicius – Injuries have been Real Madrid’s biggest problem this season
Although we still have five matches remaining, the season is done and dusted for Real Madrid, who will look to avoid any embarrassment as we approach the final phase of the campaign.
Throughout the season, Real Madrid have had to encounter multiple problems, including dressing room problems with coaches, lack of commitment and disciplinary issues, among others.
However, the single biggest problem for Real Madrid this season has been injuries.
Real Madrid’s injury woes this season
As reported by Defensa Central, Real Madrid have suffered 51 injuries this season, just one more than the 50 recorded during Carlo Ancelotti’s final campaign, which was itself considered alarming.
The latest additions to the list are Kylian Mbappe, who has suffered a muscle injury in his left leg.
Top defender Eder Militao, too, has sustained a hamstring injury serious enough to require surgery and will rule him out for at least five months, thus ending his World Cup hopes.
Mbappe is expected to miss the Espanyol fixture on May 3rd and is doubtful for El Clasico as well. He was, anyway, walking a disciplinary tightrope heading into the Espanyol game.
The club attempted to address the issue in January by bringing back Niko Mihic in the medical department and Antonio Pintus as physical trainer. Neither intervention has stopped the rot.
Only four players have escaped injury entirely this season, including Vinicius Jr., Gonzalo, Fran Garcia and Brahim. Every other member of the squad has been sidelined at least once.
This is not a good sign for Real Madrid, as the majority of these injuries have had a direct impact on their chances of winning. This includes Courtois’ absence at the crucial stage of the UCL tie against Bayern Munich.
Fixing these injury woes, therefore, should Real Madrid’s number one priority heading into the new season.
One of the biggest positives for Real Madrid from the last season was the breakthrough of young midfielder Thiago Pitarch.
The 19-year-old La Fabrica prospect had been in the first-team dynamics since pre-season under Xabi Alonso, but finally got his senior debut under Alvaro Arbeloa at the turn of the year.
From that moment on, Pitarch did not look back at all, gaining prominence in the team and even starting important matches ahead of established players like Eduardo Camavinga and Dani Ceballos.
However, things have not gone as per plans for the teenager this season as he has yet to play a single minute of first-team football.
January loan no longer ruled out
As such, Diario AS now reports that Pitarch would consider leaving Real Madrid on loan during the January transfer window if his situation does not improve.
The teenage midfielder suffered an injury in pre-season which kept him sidelined for a few weeks, denying him an opportunity to start the season under Jose Mourinho.
By the time he returned, the Portuguese tactician had already identified his preferred hierarchy in midfield, with the likes of Federico Valverde, Bernardo Silva, Aurelien Tchouameni and Camavinga firmly ahead in the pecking order.
A stark difference from his debut season
In his debut season, Pitarch ended with 16 first-team appearances for Real Madrid with two assists to his name.
In contrast, this term, the academy graduate has been called up to the matchday squad for five games by Mourinho this term, but has yet to play a single minute of football.
Given the situation, he used the international break to jump down to Castilla and play close to 250 minutes across three games, during which he also registered an assist.
The situation is far from ideal for a young talent who needs regular minutes to continue his development and build on his impressive breakthrough campaign.
As such, the possibility of a departure on loan in January could be considered, after Pitarch turned down offers in the summer to stay at Real Madrid.
A lot will depend on how things evolve in the next couple of months, but a temporary exit cannot be ruled out.
