Actual Madrid hit by key damage blow earlier than Arsenal 2nd leg
Ferland Mendy has been definitively dominated out of the second leg of Actual Madrid’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final towards Arsenal, following one more muscular setback that provides to a protracted and damaging historical past of absences.
The French left-back suffered a hamstring damage earlier than the primary leg and, in response to , is not going to be accessible for the return on the Santiago Bernabéu. For Carlo Ancelotti, it’s a blow that’s each acquainted and expensive.
The outlet of yearly: Mendy averages practically 100 days out injured per season – Marca 11 April 2025
The difficulty is just not solely the present damage. As reported by J. L. Calderón in Marca, the dimensions of Mendy’s bodily unreliability has turn into systemic. “Mendy averages 92 days out injured per season,” he writes.
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Since his arrival at Actual Madrid in 2019, he has suffered 16 separate accidents and has by no means accomplished a season with fewer than 65 days unavailable.
The most recent estimate guidelines Mendy out of not simply the Champions League second leg however probably as much as the Copa del Rey closing on April 26. Calderón writes: “The plan has shifted from attempting to have him prepared for the Emirates to now aiming to have him match for the Copa del Rey closing in La Cartuja on April 26.”
Picture by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Pictures
In accordance with the article, “His bodily situation is his Achilles’ heel, and absences have turn into a relentless.”
What makes the loss so vital is that Mendy is just not a peripheral determine. He’s described as “a key participant in Actual Madrid’s defensive setup, first below Zidane and now below Ancelotti. A nailed-on starter who simply can’t keep wholesome, and whose absences harm the crew.” His absence leaves a “gap”.
Picture by Angel Martinez/Getty Pictures
With Eduardo Camavinga suspended for the second leg towards Arsenal, Dani Ceballos virtually definitely out, and , the mounting absences are giving Ancelotti one thing of a headache.
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Aurélien Tchouaméni returns from suspension and can be accessible, whereas Andriy Lunin is again in full coaching and will return to the bench.
Regardless of the accidents and suspensions, Arsenal can be below no illusions about what awaits in Madrid. However for Actual, the timing may hardly be worse. One other season, one other setback. One other ‘gap’ left by Ferland Mendy, and hopefully one Arsenal and Mikel Arteta can exploit.