Injury Concerns Challenge Pellegrini Ahead of Key Matches

omidbasir- The extensive list of injuries that Pellegrini is grappling with at the start of the year poses a considerable challenge for the Chilean coach in managing player rotations and rest for his squad, which is currently engaged in three competitions. He awaits a decision on whether to bolster his roster before the transfer market closes on Monday, February 2. Until then, his efforts are concentrated on recovering players who have recently faced physical issues and missed vital matches.

As the team prepares for the Thursday match against Feyenoord at La Cartuja, where the Verdiblancos aim for a victory to secure their position among the top eight in the UEFA Europa League standings and access the round of 16 directly, all eyes are on Aitor Ruibal. The versatile Catalan player exited the previous match in Greece with a minor injury, but as reported by ABC, he is pushing hard to return for the fixture against the Dutch side, which would help alleviate some of the depth concerns for the coach in specific positions.

Tuesday’s training session, scheduled for 10:30 AM at Ciudad Deportiva Luis del Sol following a rest day granted by the Chilean coach after the double trip to Thessaloniki and Vitoria, will help determine Aitor’s chances of playing on Thursday or if he will need to wait until Sunday. For this week’s first match, he is the only injured player with a potential return. Meanwhile, there may be a possibility for Cucho to participate on Sunday, although the Colombian has expressed a focus on returning for the upcoming cup match against Atlético de Madrid next week.

Bellerín, Junior, Amrabat, Isco, Lo Celso, and Riquelme remain sidelined for an extended period. Additionally, Natan will be unavailable for the LaLiga match against Valencia due to suspension, having received his fifth yellow card of the season during the game in Mendizorroza. Fortunately, Moroccan player Abde, who experienced discomfort after the recent match against Mendizorroza, is expected to be fit to play against Feyenoord if everything proceeds as planned by the club. The countdown begins to recover key players with three critical matches ahead at La Cartuja across all competitions.