The defense now concentrates all the attention of Ronald Koeman. Muscle injury Sergi Roberto adds a new problem to the squad and the coach will have to look for solutions in a very dense calendar, with LaLiga still at stake, squarely in the semifinals of the Copa del Rey and shortly with the eliminatory of the Champions against PSG.
A Neto ‘touched’ morally
The substitution of Neto in the Cup match against Granada was a hard blow for the Brazilian goalkeeper, who did not expect it, especially after not having played the Spanish Super Cup and having asked to leave in the winter market without the club heed your request. With Ter Stegen starting, the coach is clear that Neto is the substitute in all competitions.
Dest is left alone after the relapse of Sergi Roberto
Dest has just come out of an injury from which he relapsed. Against Granada he already played a few minutes at full capacity, although he lacked rhythm. It has no substitute. Sergi Roberto was out for two months and a score of KO matches and the relapse in the Cup takes him away another month and a half. The solution is Mingueza, who is central and must also give the incumbents air in his position.
With Piqué, slowly
The center-back is already doing field work but the technical staff considers that it is still early for his reappearance and even more so with PSG so close in the Champions League, although the player looks strong enough to return in record time. Sources from the player’s environment explained that for three weeks it was not planned to assess the date for his return
Araujo plays it all
Araujo and Lenglet are the headlines. The Uruguayan has entered the eleven in 14 of the last 15 games. He is the only one who has played all four extra time, the two in the Super Cup against Real Sociedad and Athletic and the two in the Cup against Cornellà and Granada. Many accumulated minutes. Mingueza will have to give him air at some point in the crucial stretch of the season.
Umtiti’s dry braking
The Frenchman seemed to return in good shape. He had followed a club and personal plan, even shedding pounds. His good game against Athletic had also given him the title against Granada but the errors that the first two Andalusian goals cost leave his continuity in the team in the air.
Alba, with Junior as a substitute but without confidence
The technical secretariat pointed out to him in a report assuring that he will leave next winter and that Koeman left him out for the Cup match against Granada has not helped him either. Not only is he a substitute for an Alba who cannot play everything but he does not have the confidence of the coaches. Koeman’s only solution is to give it air with Dest.
