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Clubs are often worried when players go away on national team dutyInternational breaks have always been a strenuous time for club managers. They have always despised the pause which comes every two months or so and disrupts the flow of their respective leagues.Clubs groom their players gradually over the length of the season, and if the player comes back injured from national duty, these teams are bound to get frustrated. We have various examples of club managers creating a ruckus in sending their players to their respective national sides, the reason being quite obvious.The last two rounds of European Qualifiers were scheduled for this break. All the major teams around Europe were involved in qualification matches, barring France who are the hosts for Euro 2016, thus they have an automatic place in the tournament. Though, French team were bound to play two friendlies in accordance with the qualifiers.The South American national teams also started their World Cup 2018 qualification campaign in the break. This international break was no different, as a number of big clubs around Europe found themselves in a tricky situatuion. As many as 8 big European clubs have lost their key players, and now fight a battle to get them fit as soon as possible as the season is starting to gather pace.Here is a list of the teams affected by the break and the players they will have to miss.
#1 Manchester City
The Manchester based club has received some big blows in the international break. Arguably, two of their most important players, Sergio Aguero and David Silva are set to be sidelined for at least two to three weeks.
The 27-year-old Argentine who was getting into his groove gradually, was stretchered off in Argentina's 2-0 World Cup qualifying defeat to Ecuador with a hamstring problem. Aguero himself confirmed on Friday that he will be out for a month, making it certain that the star striker won’t be able to play against Manchester United. He will also miss two back to back Champions League fixtures against Europa League 2014-15 winners Sevilla.
David Silva suffered an ankle ligament injury during Spain's clash with Luxembourg, and could be out for two to three weeks as well.
These injuries came as a big setback for ‘Citizens’, making it certain that both their star players will not be able to ply their trades against Manchester United on October 25. Additionally, Aleksandr Kolarov who was sent off from the touchline in Serbia’s final qualifying game also seemed to have some difficulty but his injury did not seem to serious.
#2 Real Madrid
Los Blancos are another big losers of the international break. They lost Karim Benzema and Luka Modric to injuries, who are absolutely essential for the team to do well.
Benzema scored two goals within a minute and got on the scoresheet for France for the first time since October 2014. But, the striker injured himself moments after the second goal. French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed on Friday that the Real Madrid striker had suffered a hamstring injury.He is now expected to miss La Liga games against Levante, Celta Vigo and Las Palmas as well as the Champions League double-header against Paris Saint-Germain.
Luka Modric is expected to be sidelined for at least three months after picking up a thigh injury in Croatia’s 1-1 draw with Italy on Sunday. He can now miss up to 20 matches for his club after scans confirmed a tear of the left proximal rectus femoris tendon, as reported by The Guardian.
Additionally, the club is already missing the services of James Rodriguez who suffered an injury earlier this season.
#3 Manchester United
Bastian Schweinsteiger and Michael Carrick are two casualties for Louis Van Gaal’s Red Army from the break. Wayne Rooney was also carrying an ankle injury, and it was confirmed that Rooney would sit out England's two qualifiers against Estonia and Lithuania. Reports, however, seem confident that he will shake off the knock in time to face Everton at the weekend.
Schweinsteiger left Manchester United fans worried when he was forced to withdraw from Germany's squad after picking up a thigh injury in the training ahead of the Republic of Ireland defeat. However, there was good news as the midfielder returned to training in the days to follow.
Michael Carrick had a groin problem, which aggrevated during an intense training session with the Three Lions. England’s manager Roy Hodgson decided to give him a rest as the midfielder was not a part of England squads for the two qualifiers.
With the two experienced midfielders not fully fit, LVG might have to do with Ander Herrera and Morgan Schneiderlin in the midfield.
#4 Juventus
Juventus has been handed a triple injury blow. Alvaro Morata, Paul Pogba and Roberto Pereyra all picked up injuries on international duty.
Morata was stretchered off during Spain’s 2016 European Championship qualifier against Luxembourg on Friday. It is now believed that he will miss the next 10 to 15 days of action.
Pogba sprained his right ankle in training with the Les Bleus and coach Didier Deschamps subsequently allowed him to return to Juve after a scan confirmed the injury on Thursday.
Pereyra also pulled out of Argentina’s match against Ecuador with a thigh problem. There can be some respite for Juventus supporters as ESPN reports that both Morata and Pogba could be fit in time to face Inter on Saturday.
#5 Paris Saint Germain
PSG have enough headaches of their own, as both David Luiz and Kevin Trapp got injured while plying their trades with their national teams.
David Luiz suffered a knee injury during Brazil's World Cup qualifier against Chile, and he now looks set to miss games for club and country. Brazil lost the match 2-0. ESPN reports that Luiz will likely miss at least four weeks of action, which means he'll miss both encounters with Los Blancos.
The German shot stopper injured his right hamstring in training last Thursday and is expected to be absent for at least the next few weeks, which means he'll miss the home clash with Real Madrid in the Champions League.
PSG currently lie on top of the Ligue 1 table, having won seven of their nine league matches. They have not lost a match yet in the league.
#6 Chelsea
The injury Gods have been a tad easy on the Premier League champions. Branislav Ivanovic is their only casualty from the international break.
Branislav Ivanovic is expected to be out for three weeks with the hamstring injury he picked up on international duty. Ivanovic returned to London at the weekend for scans after picking up the tear in his Serbia's 2-0 win over Albania on Thursday.
Chelsea fans might even find this as a blessing in disguise because the Serbian right back’s form has been nothing but pathetic this season. Chelsea currently occupy the 16th place in PL table with their defensive frailties open to all now. Ivanovic has been picked out as the main culprit for Chelsea’s performances, and with Mourinho adamant on playing the Serbian, his injury brings big chances for players like Kurt Zouma and Baba Rahman to go out there and prove themselves.
Chelsea face Aston Villa on Saturday at Stamford Bridge.
#7 Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp faces his first injury blow as Liverpool’s manager in Joe Gomez.
The England U-21 left back suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in England U21s' 3-0 win over Kazakhstan. As reported by BBC, the defender is set to miss rest of the season.
Gomez was Brendan Rodgers’ first choice left back since the start of the season. He was picked over Alberto Moreno who failed to convince Rodgers in the previous season. The England U-21 international was bought from Charlton for 3.5m pounds back in June.
England U-21 coach initially did not think that the injury was too serious. “It seems to be OK,” he said. “We were a bit concerned at first but we are hopeful it’s nothing too serious.”
Anyhow, Klopp will have to do with Alberto Moreno against Tottenham on Saturday.
In another development, The Guardian reports that Klopp has been handed another injury blow, as Ings ruptured his cruciate ligaments during his first training session with Klopp in charge. The injury is expected to keep their new signing out for the rest of the season.
#8 Bayern Munich
Bayern have had only one injury concern from the international break, Mario Gotze.
Gotze suffered a groin injury during Germany’s clash with Republic of Ireland, which the World Champions surprisingly lost 1-0. The German football federation says the Bayern Munich player is expected to be out for 10 to 12 weeks. "Mario has picked up a tendon rupture in his thigh after making a lunge," said team doctor Dr. Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt.
Götze is now being treated by the medical team in Leipzig. "It’s annoying for us and a real shame for him," said Joachim Löw. "We wish him a good and speedy recovery. I am sure that he will be able to pick up his form again once he returns."
The German Champions usually suffer the most when it comes to problems related with injuries. They always seem to have a big list of injuries, full of important players. But with Robbery (Robben and Ribery) returning to full fitness, Guardiola can ease up a bit.
