Real Madrid reportedly lose another important defender for the season
The hits keep coming for Real Madrid. Already, Los Blancos knew they would not have Dani Carvajal or Lucas Vazquez for the rest of the 2020-2021 season, leaving them with just Alvaro Odriozola at right back for the La Liga title race. Sergio Ramos may also be done for the year.
And now, it seems as if Madridistas should not expect to see all-important left back Ferland Mendy in the XI for the remaining matches against Granada, Athletic Club, and Villarreal – all tough, must-win matches.
Real Madrid officially released a medical report on Mendy, stating that he has tibial periostitis, or, in other words, “shin splints”.
According to Goal.com’s Mario Cortegana, this injury means that Ferland Mendy joins the rest of the defenders on the list of Real Madrid players who are done for the rest of the season. Furthermore, Cortegana states that Mendy is now a doubt for the Euros, which would be heartbreaking. Mendy has worked hard to become arguably the best French left back and a potential starter for the national team in the upcoming big competition.
Ferland Mendy should be replaced by Miguel Gutierrez in the Real Madrid XI
Hopefully, Mendy can recover soon and play in the Euros, but his season for Los Merengues does appear to be over.
Who will take his place at left back? Nacho Fernandez is capable, but he is needed in central defense with Ramos injured and Raphael Varane unlikely to return until at least the weekend match at Athletic Bilbao.
So it is down to Marcelo or Miguel Gutierrez. The former won’t be 100 percent against Granada but should be available. However, many Madridistas want to see Gutierrez get a chance, as he’s outplayed Marcelo in his substitute appearances. Marcelo is a club legend, but he’s become a massive liability at left back, even against lower-half-of-the-table teams in La Liga like Getafe, Cadiz, and Valencia.
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Mendy’s injury is yet another one Real Madrid must overcome if they are to take the league title in what has been a ridiculously difficult season.