Carlo Ancelotti declares Real Madrid emergency ahead of Man City clash after fresh injury blow
Real Madrid's squad has been hit with a fresh injury ahead of their Champions League clash with Manchester City next week.
As Pep Guardiola's side only managed to finish 22nd in the Champions League group phase standings, they crept through the group with a two-legged play-off now awaiting them under the competition's new format. But, as a consequence of the new rules of the competition, that play-off is against title holders Real Madrid.
The 15-time competition winners lifted the trophy most recently at Wembley Stadium last year, knocking Man City out en route during the quarter-finals when they themselves were the holders. In fact, the Spaniards have knocked them out in two of the past three seasons.
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Los Blancos most recently experienced the loss of central defender Antonio Rudiger to a thigh issue which is set to rule him out of both legs of the Man City tie. Now, via Marca, their coach has revealed that fellow defender David Alaba has joined him on the sidelines.
Speaking ahead of Madrid's Copa del Rey clash with Leganes on Wednesday, Ancelotti said: "Unfortunately we have lost two important players and it is something we have not considered. Alaba was going to play tomorrow [vs Leganes] but something happened that we have not considered. It is a moment of emergency that we have to endure. We will endure with what we have."
A reporter queried whether midfielder Federico Valverde could help plug the gap at the back, to which Ancelotti replied: "No, as a centre-back, no. Jacobo [Ramon], Raul [Asencio], [Aurelien] Tchouamani. Valverde can play as a full-back."
Tchouameni is a natural midfielder himself whilst Ramon and Asencio have only made 20 senior appearances between them - the latter 19 of those. Guardiola himself continues to play without Rodri, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, Jeremy Doku and Oscar Bobb due to injuries, though, with City struggling for form so far this season.
