Ancelotti hopeful on Benzema fitness but Militao to miss Mallorca trip

By Sports Desk February 02, 2023

Carlo Ancelotti is optimistic Karim Benzema will not miss Sunday's trip to Real Mallorca despite limping out of Real Madrid's win against Valencia, but defender Eder Militao's injury is of greater concern.

Benzema teed up second-half goals for Marco Asensio and Vinicius Junior on Thursday, as Madrid moved to within five points of LaLiga leaders Barcelona with a 2-0 victory over Los Che.

However, the reigning Ballon d'Or holder limped out of the contest with an apparent thigh problem on the hour mark, after Militao had been replaced in the first half for what looked to be a groin issue.

While Ancelotti is hopeful of having his star striker available for Madrid's final league game before their Club World Cup campaign, Militao's initial prognosis is less encouraging.

Asked about the condition of the duo after Thursday's win, Ancelotti said: "Karim seems like a slight problem and Militao will not be fit on Sunday."

Benzema has been involved in 11 goals in his last 12 appearances for Madrid in all competitions, having only registered five goal contributions in his first nine matches this season.

After Sunday's trip to Mallorca, Madrid jet off to Morocco for the Club World Cup, where they will meet either the Seattle Sounders or Al Ahly in a semi-final tie next Wednesday.

Madrid's involvement in that competition means there will be no respite during a congested period, but Ancelotti is pleased with how Los Blancos have coped in recent weeks.

"January was a hard month after the World Cup and we've turned out well. We're going to see in February. It doesn't stop here," Ancelotti said.

"Luckily, they have put the game on Sunday for both us [and Barcelona]. Imagine they had put ours on Saturday night!"

Related items

  • Tottenham chief Paratici faces uncertain future after ban extended worldwide by FIFA Tottenham chief Paratici faces uncertain future after ban extended worldwide by FIFA

    Tottenham managing director of football Fabio Paratici's future at the club has been cast into doubt after his ban by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) was extended worldwide by FIFA.

    Paratici was one of 11 individuals connected with Juventus who were issued with bans by the FIGC in January after the club was found guilty of false accounting in relation to transfer dealings.

    Juventus were also docked 15 points as part of the punishment.

    Paratici and Juventus denied any wrongdoing, with an appeal against the initial sanctions imposed by the FIGC to be heard by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) on April 19.

    Despite his 30-month ban, Spurs director Paratici was able to continue his role with the Premier League club because the suspension only applied to Italian Football. 

    However, FIFA confirmed on Wednesday the bans handed out by the FIGC have been extended worldwide, meaning Paratici will be unable to fulfil his duties at Spurs unless his appeal is successful. 

    A widely reported FIFA statement read: "FIFA can confirm that following a request by the FIGC, the chairperson of the FIFA disciplinary committee has decided to extend the sanctions imposed by the FIGC on several football officials to have worldwide effect."

    The news comes just three days after the sacking of Spurs head coach Antonio Conte, with the Italian leaving after 17 months in charge. 

    Paratici, who would have likely played an important in appointing Conte’s replacement, appeared in a video on Tuesday outlining Spurs' plans for the rest of the season and describing the decision to fire the former Inter and Chelsea coach as "the right decision."

  • Fati's father wants son to leave Barcelona despite Ansu's wish to stay Fati's father wants son to leave Barcelona despite Ansu's wish to stay

    Ansu Fati wants to stay at Barcelona, but his father has other ideas.

    The 20-year-old, who has been with the club for a decade, has made 38 appearances in all competitions this season but 27 of them have come as a substitute.

    Bori Fati – who manages his son alongside agent Jorge Mendes – has been left angered by the situation and believes the winger deserves more minutes for Xavi's side.

    "If it was up to me, I would take him [to another team] but [Ansu] wants to stay at Barcelona," Bori Fati told Spanish outlet Cope.

    "He does not want to sign for another club, but I want to see him succeed. As a dad, I am angry.

    "Seeing Ansu play so little winds you up a little bit, and sometimes I think as a father, not a coach."

    Fati, who has scored six goals this season, is under a long-term contract with Barca, who are 12 points clear at the top of LaLiga. 

    And despite his father's wish, Fati has previously stated his desire to remain with Barcelona, where he feels at home. 

    "I'm under contract with Barcelona until June 2027, and I hope to stay here for many more years," he said in February.

    "I feel grateful and lucky to play for Barca and I have to thank the people who support me daily for their backing."

     

    The situation led to Bori calling a meeting with Barcelona sporting director Mateu Alemany, and agent Mendes.

    Alemany reassured him of his son's role at the club, though Bori remains unconvinced the situation will change.

    "I called Mateu," said Bori. "He told us that Ansu is part of the club's heritage, and they have bet big on him.

    "As a dad, I think differently, maybe I am wrong. He is your franchise player, the number 10, he took [that number] on when no one was ready to take it from [Lionel] Messi.

    "What annoys me is how they're treating him in terms of minutes. One minute, two, three.

    "I am not asking for him to be a starter, because all the forwards at the club are phenomenal, but we are talking about Ansu Fati, of Spain and Barcelona, who came through La Masia."

    It is now at the point where Bori no longer wants to visit Camp Nou to watch his son play.

    "If it carries on like this, I will go [back] to [the family home in] Seville and that's that," said Bori.

    "I didn't go to the game against [Real] Madrid. I won't go to the stadium anymore.

    "The other day Ansu asked me why I didn't go, he thought I was there. I told him I didn't fancy it."

  • Conte's Spurs exit no surprise to Vieri: 'He goes into conflict with everyone' Conte's Spurs exit no surprise to Vieri: 'He goes into conflict with everyone'

    Tottenham should not have been surprised by how Antonio Conte's time at the club ended as he "goes into conflict with everyone", says Christian Vieri.

    Conte joined Spurs in November 2021 after the sacking of Nuno Espirito Santo and guided the north London club to a top-four Premier League finish at the end of his first season.

    Despite sitting fourth again this season, performances under Conte were hugely inconsistent with Spurs falling to disappointing exits in the Champions League and FA Cup in recent weeks. 

    Following an explosive press conference in which the Italian labelled his players "selfish", he left the club on Sunday.

    However, the breakdown in relations between Conte and the club was something former Juventus, Inter and Italy striker Vieri was expecting. 

    "Antonio goes into conflict with everyone, it's his character," he told Corriere della Sera.

    "If you take him, you can't expect someone who shuts up and everything is fine with him. He is always on the edge, it's his way of being; you can like it or not, you know who you get.

    "Every two years does he fight with everyone? Yes. Does he always leave with problems? Yes. 

    "You know he's demanding, serious, and it's hard to have him in your club, he doesn't let you sleep peacefully. 

    "They are choices. There are coaches like Conte and Mourinho who hammer at all hours, put pressure and always demand the best. 

    "And then there are those who are fine with anything, they stay there. Everyone trains and sees football in their own way, and it doesn't mean that this or that coach is right."

    Conte's former assistant Cristian Stellini is set to take charge of Tottenham alongside Ryan Mason until the end of the season. 

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.