Valencia map out plan for Diakhaby after 79 absences in last 114 league games | OneFootball

Valencia have devised a tailored workload plan for Mouctar Diakhaby, newly handed captaincy duties by a dressing-room vote, after he missed 79 of the last 114 league games through injury. He finished second in the ballot behind Guido Rodríguez, while Gayà’s armband was never in doubt. The centre-back is viewed as a key piece by Carlos Corberán, so his training and match minutes are being rationed.

According to AS, circumstances have cut against that plan. Justin De Haas faces a month out, Copete is also injured and Guido was absent in Riazor, where Pepelu covered the pivot. Diakhaby came on at half-time on opening day, then played to the final whistle in Riazor, totalling 225 minutes in a week, leaving only César Tárrega and the Frenchman fit at centre-back.

Across the past three seasons he has featured in only 35 of 114 league fixtures, missing 28 last term, 20 the year before and 22 prior to that. He returned this summer with 34 minutes against Eldense, then played three more friendlies, Castellón, Derby Country and Newcastle, never more than 44 minutes, and skipped Teruel, Hércules and Stoke City as part of the plan.

Diakhaby feels comfortable, yet his record keeps him under medical scrutiny. Valencia considered adding a centre-back until the final day of the window, but ultimately looked elsewhere.

Corberán has started the league with a back five. With Luis Rioja also in the treatment room, all signs point to Maffeo at wing-back and Arnau Martínez on the right of the back line against Barcelona, leaving little scope to rest Diakhaby and Tárrega. One alternative would be dropping Pepelu into defence with Ugrinic and Dieng in the double pivot.

Source: AS

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