In the fast-moving world of football, Real Madrid didn’t have long to digest the first of two shocking news stories. In the meantime, the royals have reacted to the cruciate ligament rupture of world-class keeper Thibaut Courtois and loaned Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea for a year.
In the league season, which began with a convincing 2-0 away win in Bilbao, Real started with Courtois’ Ukrainian substitute Andriy Lunin, who is obviously not yet expected to be number one for a whole season. So is the 24-year-old moving back into the second rank?
Lunin still has a chance – a realistic one?
Not yet, Ancelotti announced before Madrid’s guest appearance in Almeria on Saturday (7.30 p.m., LIVE! at kicker). “Kepa is still getting used to it, so we’ll continue with Andriy tomorrow,” said Italian Lunin on Friday, guaranteeing a starting eleven. For the backup, who has rarely been able to use his rare chances really convincingly, a huge chance to maybe get a foot in the door after all.
“Kepa is already at a very high level, Lunin lacks international experience in particular,” Ancelotti commented on the question of a possible interplay. The 64-year-old appears to have already made up his mind if Lunin doesn’t excel against Almeria.
This also applies to retrofitting in central defense, where Eder Militao – the second shock message – also suffered a cruciate ligament rupture shortly after Courtois. There will be no retrofitting. “We are well occupied in this position with David Alaba, Antonio Rüdiger and Nacho,” says Ancelotti, who then also listed several young Madrid players who could step in.
Whether they really rely on Marvel from the second team as the fourth central defender, who trained this week, is questionable. Recently there have been rumors instead that Ancelotti would plan with the 1.73 meter tall right-back and captain Dani Carvajal in the headquarters if necessary.
