Carlo Ancelotti is confident his Real Madrid injury issues are beginning to ease at the start of 2025.
Defensive duo Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao will not feature again this season, after suffering ACL tears in the first-half of the campaign, but the picture in the rest of the squad looks positive.
Ancelotti indicated he would only dip into the January transfer window in an emergency and the Italian coach is expected to stick with what he has for the remainder of the campaign.
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One of the main reasons for a potential January move focused on concerns over David Alaba’s own recovery from an ACL injury in recent weeks.
David Alaba’s injury recovery timetable
The Austrian international has seen his lengthy return delayed, after undergoing surgery in December 2023, with some figures at the club unsure if he could return to his former level.
The 32-year-old played a key role in his first two seasons in Madrid, winning a La Liga and UEFA Champions League double in 2022, but this setback has sidelined him for over a year.
Ancelotti has eased the former Bayern Munich star back into action, via a succession of substitute appearances, and he now looks ready to start a game.
Club sources indicated to Diario AS their amazement at how quickly Alaba has progressed since the start of January with the hardest part of readjustment being the final move from training games to competitive action.
The club are confident Alaba will be ‘better than before’ as he looks to come back into Ancelotti’s squad at the perfect time.
Antonio Rudiger is in need of a break, with Aurelien Tchouameni, Raul Asencio and Lucas Vazquez forced to cover in defence, and Alaba’s experience will be vital in the months ahead.
Real Madrid still have a four-point lead at the top of La Liga, but they need a midweek win at Stade Brest to confirm a Champions League Round of 16 playoff spot – and Alaba could start in France.
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