I don't blame Zidane for that. With all our injuries in central defence and Danilo being absolutely, horrifyingly atrocious it's hard to rest Carvajal.
It matters greatly, sure rest is the number 1 thing but having the best medical technology in the world certainly helps too. The cryochamber, plasma injections, minute by minute plans how to recover properly, all of it etc... Obviously a young professional athlete where money is no object will recuperate faster than your average joe.
We have a Carvajal sighting! If he is already slowly getting back to training I think there is a strong chance he plays in the final! 😍😍😍 #RMtraining today pic.twitter.com/5CFaZkmG1E— M•A•J (@UltraSuristic_) May 18, 2017
It is of utmost importance that he makes it. I honestly feel like the final might be decided by the very fact whether he plays or not. Thats how important he is to us, both on attack and defense.
He will play for sure it looks like, I had a very strong feeling from the beginning he would have enough time to recover MARCA: Carvajal has passed the fitness test. He'll rejoin #RMtraining & unless there is a relapse, he will start in Cardiff.— M•A•J (@UltraSuristic_) May 24, 2017
I'd start Navas, Marcelo, Varane, Ramos, Carvajal (if he is not fit i'd start Nacho over Danilo), Casemiro, Modric, Kroos, Isco, Benzema and Ronaldo. Bale to come on after the 70' minute if he is fit.
It's a different thing to be out 3-4 weeks with an injury than to come back after 4-5 months with very little competitive football. That is the main difference in both cases, that's why I think Carvajal is going to be starting in the UCL. I also like the fact of having Bale on the bench for the final.
YES, Carvajal is immense for us. He and Marcelo are very important for our game. Juventus will have to be concentrated, there are enough players on the field for us who can force something out of no where.
Exactly this, was gonna make this very point. Even if Bale is healthy, he will need MONTHS to regain top form
Welcome back Dani! We need you. I hope the rumours of Danilo leaving are true. We need a capable backup to Dani to give him a few games of extra rest throughout the season. Fatigue probably has a lot to do with this hamstring injury. Against Juve our the battle between the full backs (Marcelo/Dani vs Alves/Sandro) will probably decide the game. We need Carvajal back and we need Marcelo to have a good day against Alves.
The final presents soo many interesting matchups. Ronaldo and Benzema vs Barzagi, Bonucci, Chiellini Marcelo vs Alves Carvajal vs Mandzukic/Sandro Isco, Kroos, Modric, Casemiro vs Pjanic, Khedira, Mandzukic, Dybala Ramos and Varane vs Higuaín
Gareth Bale and Dani Carvajal back in full training ahead of Champions League final: https://t.co/orQ7y4EUHJ pic.twitter.com/kjwspMD6R9— AS USA (@English_AS) May 25, 2017 Awesome news.
Question for all the RM fans here, would you start Bale ahead of Benzema in the final ala Calderon where Ronaldo played the striker? Which allows Isco to take his normal position in that game. Or go with what we have been playing?
I would go with Benz and Cr7 upfront. Playing Bale and Carvajal is a major risk for injury relapse during the game and burning 2 subs. And Bale must be really rusty without competitive football for the past few months.
No. Don't rock the boat now, we have been playing really well the past few weeks and dare I say Benzema has been doing slightly better and perhaps destiny has it in store for him to be the hero after being the zero so many times. The level Isco is at right now he can play in any position and still dominate. Bring Bale on from the bench. Starting Carvajal was never in doubt as long as he was even 85% fit. He is crucial to us.
Start Isco, no two ways about that for me, Gareth can be a sub, start Carva only if he is 100% fit, he hasn't been out that long so he should be fine to start, but if he isn't 100% fit I would not start him either, in a final we need players on the pitch who can give their all, I know Carva would want to even if he wasn't 100%, but I think he just would not be able to, not if he isn't 100% I'd be more than happy with Nacho, he does a decent job going forward and is solid defensively, I would be comfortable with him starting, just please no Danilo to give me heart palpitations whenever he has to defend, he's had some ok games recently but I do not trust this player defensively even for one minute.
most consistent player of the season for me Dani Carvajal's game by numbers vs. Juventus:96% pass accuracy3 chances created3 crosses2 interceptions1 assistUp & down all night. pic.twitter.com/stpLskFex1— Squawka (@Squawka) June 3, 2017
Instant impact, absolute monster performance. Every time he picks up a silly early yellow and I end up worrying about him, he just goes on & bosses it.