Zinedine Zidane has a double injury concern ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League match against Bayern Munich and is considering bringing in Nacho Hernandez who has been out injured since the end of March.
Zidane is considering his options as he looks for a replacement for the injured Dani Carvajal and awaits news on Isco who is racing to recover from a shoulder injury suffered in the first leg.
Nacho only recently joined the first team squad in training but the Real coach insists he’s ‘ready’ if needed. Speaking in Monday’s pre-match press conference, Zidane said: “Nacho has been out for a month but has trained a lot, maybe less so with the team, but he’s ready.”
Isco surprised pundits with his swift return to training after spraining a shoulder last week and Zidane is keen for him to play his part in the second leg.
“The important thing is the nature of the injury. Physically, both are good,” he said.
“Tomorrow you will see. A player has to be 100 percent, if they are on the bench it is because they are [fit].
“I don’t have to say anything to Isco, he knows what he has to do, we all want him to play.
“If he has discomfort, we will do everything possible for him, but without risking anything. His health is the most important, as well as what he can do later on.”
“Both have trained with us and now we have a bit of time until tomorrow’s game to think about what we are going to do. We will see. The important thing is that the players are 100 percent.”
Central defender Nacho will not be able to provide cover for Carvajal and the coach may ask Lucas Vasquez to fill the role at right back.
“I will not say if I have it planned out or not,” he replied when asked.
“You are going to analyse what I say, but what I tell you is that whatever happens we are a team, we are many and we can do anything.
“The important thing is the motivation of the players, everyone wants to play and that includes all of them who can play right-back.
Real Madrid can go a step closer to winning a third consecutive Champions League title with victory over Bayern Munich in the semi final. Los Blancos take a 2-1 lead into Tuesday’s second leg at the Bernabeu and are favourite’s to progress to the final where they will meet either Liverpool or Roma.
