Real Madrid will be without the injured James Rodriguez and Sergio Ramos for Saturday’s derby away at Spanish La Liga champions Atletico Madrid.
Ramos and James both came off injured during Wednesday’s 2-1 win against Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabeu and, along with Marcelo, who picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in the second half and is suspended, are out of the weekend’s trip to city rivals.
“We are losing important players, but I’m not going to moan about it,” Ancelotti said in his post-game media conference.
Ramos, who faces three weeks on the sidelines, could not continue eight minutes after kickoff due to a hamstring problem and Rodriguez, soon after breaking the deadlock in the first half, was substituted in the 27th minute after taking a knock to his right foot.
He headed straight to the dressing room, whence he was taken to hospital for x-rays. He was unable to stand on the foot, which was immobilised by the medical team.
According to Spanish news media AS, scans confirmed he broke the fifth metatarsal of his right foot. The Colombian is expected to have a procedure early Thursday. He could be out for around two months.
“Ramos has a hamstring problem and we’ll need to wait a few days,” said Ancelotti. “James has a problem with his right foot and I’m not quite sure what happened to him. Most likely neither will be available (for the Madrid derby).
Ancelotti is already without Portuguese defender Pepe, who is sidelined with a rib injury. The 55-year-old said the club will appeal Marcelo’s yellow card decision “because it wasn’t even a foul.”
“We lose experience, but enthusiasm is also good,” he continued. “I’ve a lot of confidence in Varane and Nacho, even though Pepe and Ramos are the best defenders in the world.”
Jesse scored his first league goal since suffering a cruciate ligament injury last March to double the hosts’ lead at the break. Liverpool’s loanee Iago Aspas pulled one back for Sevilla but the Los Blancos fended off a late onslaught by coach Unai Emery’s side.
The win helped Real surge four points clear of Barcelona at the top of the Spanish Primera division and could go ten points clear of third-placed Atletico with a win at the Estadio Vicente Calderon by the weekend.
Real have won their last two matches without reigning Fifa Ballon d’Or holder, Cristiano Ronaldo, who will be back against Atletico after serving a two-match ban.
He Italian boss added: “The balance of the side doesn’t depend on one player, but the whole team and their intelligence on the pitch. The fact that Cristiano is coming back is good. It’ll help us, though without him we’ve won two games.”
