The stick was very hard, one of those blows that are not forgotten. Because Nacho Mendez He had managed to lift a situation that was not easy in just seven games after hearing from Abelardo, the Sporting coach, that he was not part of the project plans. “He has had his best preseason at Sporting. He has not missed a training session and has had an exemplary attitude,” they tell Mareo to explain how the midfielder came out of ostracism to start in a complicated match such as the one played by Sporting on last Friday at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López in Tenerife.
Abelardo summoned Jonathan Varane and Damián Cáceres yesterday to cover the void left by Luanco
Pitu saw his attitude and rewarded him with ownership. The first few minutes were promising. But half an hour later, the worst of the news: an inopportune entrance that would cause an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament of the left knee, having to be replaced immediately by Joseph Gragera. The forecasts for this type of ailment, according to specialists, estimate the minimum period of sick leave in six months. And it could be worse. It will depend, of course, on the evolution of the environment. The player could arrive for the final phase of the campaign. At least to begin to integrate into the dynamics of his companions. “I’m sure we’ll be able to lower the deadlines set for me. But the most important thing is not to return earlier, but to do it in good conditions and not relapse,” he admitted.
“It’s the first time I’ve faced something like this, but the worst is over. It was when they gave me the news. Now it’s all about adding, working”. Thus, with optimism and a powerfully striking smile, Nacho Méndez arrived yesterday at Begoña Hospital to be operated on by Antony Master. Supported by crutches and in the company of Natalia and Fernando, his parents.
The operation was a complete success. The midfielder spent the night in the medical center. Today your fight begins. “I’m already thinking about the second leg. I’ve never been in something like this: everything will be adding, working. With all the joy and attitude in the world, I start working,” said the Atletico midfielder moments before crossing the doors of the medical center.
Yesterday Abelardo enlisted Sporting B midfielders Jonathan Varane and Damián Cáceres to replace the absence of the youth squad. The coach from Gijón has four members for the midfield (Gragera, Pedro, Rivera and Zarfino). Pitu wants to see these two young players up close, both recruited by Gerardo García to reinforce Sporting B, but with the aim of making the leap to the first team. Cáceres, for his part, has experience in the Second Division after having minutes at Fuenlabrada. While Varane made his debut with Lens in the French Second Division.
