At Prince Moulay Abdallah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, Real Madrid will play against Al-Ahly of Egypt tonight in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup. Karim Benzema and Thibaut Courtois remain in Madrid, but their coach has been put on guard.
“They are on the list of players because we think they can be here on Saturday,” said Carlo Ancelotti. “If all goes well, they could be here on Thursday.” The champion Italian coach skillfully opened the valve.
Benzema and Courtois are feeling the pressure. This is the case in soccer, where some players decide to win or lose. More so when a crisis is about to happen. With barely two victories in five matches, Real was forced to withdraw from its great rival Barcelona in the Spanish League. The gap is now eight points. The shock defeat in Mallorca (1-0) added to the nerves of the club’s president, Florentino Pérez.
Real Madrid owes it to its position in winning the Club World Cup. They expect effort from the wounded for this.
risk the worst
It is no coincidence that Real did not publish a private medical report on Courtois on its website, as they did on Saturday about the ailing Belgian Eden Hazard. Courtois had to withdraw from Mallorca on Sunday due to a sore groin. Ultrasounds and scans revealed no major injuries, but there is a reason the goalkeeper has not yet entered the training ground. Pain indicates a risk of more serious injury.
Inside the club there is weight and weight. The long term in balance with the short term. If Real Madrid lose today, the dilemma will be over. But if Real Madrid did indeed reach the final, would it play with fire and its goalkeeper’s groin? Interests diverge.
In his 13th season as a full professional, Courtois will soon be able to win his 18th title; His sixteenth in the service of a club from the five major leagues. He has the most impressive trophy cabinet of the current generation of Red Devils, with a royal flush, which is football’s alternative to the term poker. Five of the biggest trophies a player can win in a club: UEFA Champions League (1x), Europa League (1x), Premier League (2x), La Liga (3x) and FIFA Club World Cup (1x).
Benzema and Courtois will know tonight if they get on a plane tomorrow to help Real Madrid win the Intercontinental Cup. Until then, it’s numbers.
