Injury Updates

[Manchester_lalala]

That’s a big blow for us. I thought Kyle was on the mend and meant to be back in training. Not confident going into Wednesday without him.

 

[KingKDB]

It's just a huge disadvantage that we need to play our best XI every game, meanwhile Liverpool can rotate against teams like Benfica/Villareal and still reach a CL final.

 

[Mancity1980]

Hmmm, Cancelo at RB and Zinchenko at LB?

 

[Chak19]

That’s a big blow for us. I thought Kyle was on the mend and meant to be back in training. Not confident going into Wednesday without him.

Cancelo has to have the game of his life.

 

[kaz7]

Hmmm, Cancelo at RB and Zinchenko at LB?

That works fine , pity nathan cant play right back as he has pace

 

[domalino]

Certainly better than Fernandinho and Zinchenko, but we need Walker's pace to counter Viniscus Jnr.

We don’t really though.

How many times in that game was Vinicius’ pace decisive?

Ferna obviously got way too tight once because he knew he couldn’t give him space, and that lead to the goal, but there were probably 3 more errors in that goal that weren’t caused by his pace.

And that was it for the entire game.

Put anyone reasonably quick at RB- including Stones or Cancelo - and we’ll be fine.

People are talking about it like he skinned the defender and nearly scored or created a goal every time he got the ball.

 

[VOOMER]

Pep says he doesn’t know if Walker will play again this season which is a bit concerning

Well if it is the case then we should be looking at getting two left backs in over the summer. Not having a quality left back, has meant we have played are two best right backs as a starting FB, in way to many games.

 

[Manchester_lalala]

Well if it is the case then we should be looking at getting two left backs in over the summer. Not having a quality left back, has meant we have played are two best right backs as a starting FB, in way to many games.

Cancelo is better at left back, so I think we may need to look at getting a new right back.

 

[Cobwebcat]

It's just a huge disadvantage that we need to play our best XI every game, meanwhile Liverpool can rotate against teams like Benfica/Villareal and still reach a CL final.

That’s because we drew Atletico and Real Madrid though

 

[Cobwebcat]

Thank god Cancelo is back. Perhaps Zin plays left and Cancelo right vs RM.

Ruling either Stones or Waker out for the season would be a big call given that potentially there is a month left but they both seem worse than I expected.

 

[Keepingthefaithsince1976]

We don’t really though.

How many times in that game was Vinicius’ pace decisive?

Ferna obviously got way too tight once because he knew he couldn’t give him space, and that lead to the goal, but there were probably 3 more errors in that goal that weren’t caused by his pace.

And that was it for the entire game.

Put anyone reasonably quick at RB- including Stones or Cancelo - and we’ll be fine.

People are talking about it like he skinned the defender and nearly scored or created a goal every time he got the ball.

I agree with this. Just watched the extended highlights and Fernandhino's assist after his charge down the right wing was absolutely brilliant. Real top drawer quality. Plus Cancelo is available now so Pep is correct to say he is not worried with who we have available. Losing Walker & Stones is a blow, as is any loss of stregnth in depth but i have been pleasantly surprised by Fernandhino's flexibility in playing right back. Up the blues.

 

[Chappie]

Thank god Cancelo is back. Perhaps Zin plays left and Cancelo right vs RM.

Ruling either Stones or Waker out for the season would be a big call given that potentially there is a month left but they both seem worse than I expected.

Or you would believe.
Pep does tell porkies and rightly so, you don't tell the enemy your strategy before you have too

 

[Cobwebcat]

Or you would believe.
Pep does tell porkies and rightly so, you don't tell the enemy your strategy before you have too

Lets see if Walker plays again before the end of the season. I certainly don’t know.

 

[Churchlawtonblue]

Gutted about walker.

 

[bumbleblue]

Wouldn’t be so bad if one of them even made it. Ah well. We still have a fantastic team.

 

[LangleyBlue1970]

Hopefully he’s playing mind games with Ancelotti. We can handle the league games, but Walker is who we need for the second leg.

I think he’ll start on Wednesday.

 

[Claytop]

Sounds like Walker could be out for the season after all, although Pep made it sound like he had a chance for the Madrid game just gone...

 

[ninjamonkey]

It's undeniable walker would be a massive plus for us against Madrid, him on the pitch completely shuts down one of their 2 main threats but with cancelo back its not a complete disaster. Its still a tough ask without him but it's more than doable. I know it felt dissapointing because of the situations we found ourselves in but we did still win thr last game without either of them.

In the league, again, we are better with him but there's no games we should be thinking we can't win without walker.

The only game I'm looking at and seeing us drop from favourites without Walker is a potential final against Liverpool. That's still nearly a month away if we even get there so way too early to be thinking about that.

 

[FantasyIreland]

Pep says he doesn’t know if Walker will play again this season which is a bit concerning

Is this definitely about an injury,or is being caught pissing up a wall also a factor?

 

[BLUE THUNDER]

He was then asked if he might be back before the end of the season or miss the remaining games.
Pep replied: "I don't know right now. Right now it’s no worry at all - I count on the guys who are fit"

There's no clarity in that answer, we don't know if he's back relatively soon or longer, just guessing. He's simply playing his cards close to his chest and giving nothing away.