Arbeloa holds panic meeting with key Real Madrid stars amid injury crisis | OneFootball

Real Madrid were dealt a fresh injury blow as defender Raul Asencio was ruled out of the game against Elche.

The La Fabrica graduate, who was not part of the starting XI against Manchester City earlier this week, was left out of the squad list for the La Liga clash due to muscular discomfort.

It raised the total number of absences for Los Blancos for tonight’s match to ten – nine because of injury and one due to suspension.

Panic meeting at Valdebebas

Given the extreme situation, MARCA reports that concern has spread within the Real Madrid coaching staff just before decisions that could prove decisive for the team’s immediate future.

Faced with this situation, Arbeloa quickly decided to take action. During yesterday’s training session, the coach organised an urgent meeting with several of the available leaders of the dressing room: Aurelien Tchouameni, Antonio Rudiger, Federico Valverde and Vinicius Jr.

All four are fundamental pillars of the team and, at the same time, players whose physical workload must be managed with extreme precision during such a demanding phase of the season.

The objective of the meeting was straightforward: to learn first-hand about each player’s physical condition before making any decision regarding tonight’s match.

The injury list keeps growing. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Arbeloa needed to determine how much risk they could realistically take or whether it would be wiser to protect them with a crucial week ahead that could define the direction of the team’s season.

The margin for error has now been reduced to the absolute minimum. After all, the return leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 against Manchester City is just around the corner, followed shortly after by the derby against Atletico Madrid.

“Right now I only have players who have raised their hands and are willing to make another effort. They are very committed people and we know how important this match is,” Arbeloa said before the game.

That is precisely the message the coach has received from a dressing room fully aware of the critical moment the team is facing.

Nevertheless, despite the commitment and willingness of the players, a sense of fear remains unavoidable: fear that the injury list might continue to grow.