A day after Real Madrid announced Sergio Ramos would be sidelined due to a dislocated shoulder, the Spanish club received some more bad news.
Gareth Bale was forced out of Real Madrid’s powerful 4-0 performance against Shaktar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League, and Thursday the club announced he is suffering from a right calf strain.
“Following the tests carried out on Gareth Bale today in the Sanitas La Moraleja University Hospital, the player has been diagnosed with a soleus muscle injury in his left leg,” the team statement read. “His condition will be evaluated.”
The questionable nature of Bale’s return not only concerns Madrid but also the Welsh national team, which needs just one point to reach the European Championship in 2016.
“I’d like to think that we’ve got enough to actually qualify without him,” former Welsh captain Kevin Ratcliffe told BBC. “If it is a calf, my concerns were that in the last few games that I’ve seen Gareth play for Wales he has been stretching that calf. I’m not too sure if it’s a long-term problem but hopefully it’s not too serious and if it is an injury then maybe in two or three weeks he’s going to be OK.”
Wales plays its final qualifying matches for Euro 2016 on Oct. 10th and 13th.
Here are some more news and notes:
BARCA MIDFIELDER RAFINHA TO HAVE RIGHT LEG SURGERY
With his first touch against AS Roma in the UEFA Champions League, Rafinha was taken down and forced out.
It’s now likely he will be out for much longer after Barcelona announced the midfielder will need surgery on his right leg.
Radja Nainggolan brought down the 22-year-old Brazilian moments after he was subbsititted on in Wednesday’s game against AS Roma.
“Tests this morning have revealed that FC Barcelona midfielder Rafael Alcántara — also known as ‘Rafinha’ — has suffered a tear to the anterior cruciate ligament in his right leg,” a statement from Barcelona read. “He will undergo surgery in the coming days.”
DESPITE EPL PERFORMANCES, JOSE MOURINHO SAYS HE’S A FANTASTIC MANAGER
Despite a run of poor form in domestic competition, Chelsea head coach Jose Mourinho still thinks he’s pretty fantastic.
After the team’s 4-0 win against Maccabi Tel Aviv in the UEFA Champions League, Mourinho told reporters that he is still a great manager, whether he and Chelsea are winning titles with ease or going through some struggles.
“There are people who are not happy with so many successes,” Mourinho said. “Wayne Rooney was a disaster, then he beats the record with England and he’s suddenly the best player in the history of English football. Rooney is a fantastic player when he’s not scoring goals or when he is.
“I am a fantastic manager when I’m not winning matches and I’m a fantastic manager when I am.”
Five games into the 2015-16 season, Mourinho and Chelsea have not started the English Premier League campaign well. Chelsea currently sits 17th out of 20 teams with only four points to its name.
QUICK KICKS
Alessandro Florenzi said his wonder-goal against Barcelona is one he will never forget. (REPORT)
Head coach Roy Hodgson wants to have the English national team play across the country rather than only at Wembley Stadium. (REPORT)
Manchester United is “disappointed” that Mexican international Hector Moreno received a man-of-the-match award after injuring Luke Shaw. (REPORT)
Steven Gerrard and Rio Ferdinand blasted Olivier Giroud after the Arsenal forward received a red card in the team’s loss to Dinamo Zagreb. (REPORT)
What does “subsititted” mean? Also why will Bale be “sidlined” and not “sidelined”????
GET A COPY EDITOR OR TAKE THE TIME TO READ THE ARTICLES BEFORE POSTING THEM!
It’s not that difficult!
Takes away from what people consider a quality site to go to and read about Soccer news.
Wow, there are many Mexicans playing in top Europe teams, Chicharito at Leverkusen, four Mexicans in FC Porto and three play regularly, two in PSV and they also play Champions League. Wow again, if USMNT beats Mexico at the CONCACAF Cup, it will be really be a heroic miracle. Our players instead are relegated to playing MLS and second division teams in Europe. Wow, we have moved forwards by leaps and bounds with Klinsi at the helm.
One positive thing I can say about JK is he hasn’t lost to you guys in six tries and I don’t expect that to change next month. If you guys have such incredible players why don’t you get better results than the USMNT? Outside of the referee aided Gold Cup win this summer, Mexico has better below the USMNT’s level since JK’s arrival.
Nice try at sounding mainstream and gaining irrelevant support from Klinsi fanboys. I know you hate Klinsi with a passion, not personally I must state, but professionally.
As for the GC, yes Mexico got aided by CONCACAF, that’s not a secret. But, it is also not a secret that USMNT got beaten fairly and squarely on the field. So, it was THEIR fault to not get a shot at Mexico in the final. My goodness, they even lost the third place match in humiliating fashion.
El Commandante, El Tri could not even qualify for the last WC without our help. They choke in big games, particularly against the USMNT. Dos a cero again.
Mexico doesn’t choke in big games, they just don’t know how to break down teams that park the bus.