Pablo Fornals is getting back to work on the pitch with the rest of the team, and if all goes according to plan, he should be a welcome addition to Pellegrini’s lineup for the upcoming League match against Real Madrid at the Benito Villamarín stadium. After a tough muscle injury in November and a setback in January, the Castellón player has regained his confidence and could be a game-changer for the team.
The Verdiblancos have a packed schedule ahead of them before the mid-March international break. In addition to the highly anticipated match against Ancelotti’s team, they’ll be hosting Vitoria de Guimaraes in the first leg of the Conference League final, then traveling to Portugal for the return leg, and finally facing off against Leganés in Butarque. That’s five games in 16 days, which means the coaching staff will have to make some strategic rotations.
In the band by Antony or in the double pivot
Fornals could be a versatile solution in these rotations, possibly filling in on the right wing if Antony is suspended following his expulsion last Sunday, or in the double pivot, where Johnny Cardoso and Altimira are currently the only available options due to Marc Roca’s injury and William Carvalho’s ongoing recovery. The team’s coaching staff will have to get creative with their lineup, and Fornals’ return to form couldn’t have come at a better time.
In Wednesday’s training session, held behind closed doors at the Benito Villamarín, several players were absent, including Bellerín, who is gradually rejoining the group, William Carvalho, who is nearing the end of his recovery, the injured Ortiz, Celso, and Marc Roca, as well as Abde, who missed the team’s recent visit to Getafe. The Verdiblancos will be back at it tomorrow for their penultimate training session before the big match against Real Madrid.