Celta sets the recovery dates for Ilaix Moriba and Matías Vecino

R.C. Celta de Vigo

Celta de Vigo reaches the final stretch of the season with a serious problem in the engine room. Between long-term injuries and current absences, the coaching staff has minimal margin to sustain the game plan.

The focus is on the midfield: in addition to the prolonged absence of Miguel Román, the absences of Ilaix Moriba and Matías Vecino add up, a scenario that leaves the team with only three defensive midfielders available to cover two positions in the starting eleven. In this context, Hugo Sotelo appears as the only pure midfielder in the squad.

The lack of alternatives already had an immediate impact in the last match. Claudio Giráldez was forced to improvise with Óscar Mingueza in that area, while Fer López has also had to play there on occasions despite it not being his natural position. With that scarcity, Celta de Vigo faces the coming weeks awaiting the return of players.

The Europa League, the priority in the infirmary

The Celeste coach needs quick news regarding his two injured players. Matías Vecino is very unlikely to be ready for the next Sunday’s match against Valencia, while Ilaix Moriba still has no defined recovery timeline. Even so, the staff’s top priority is that both can be available for the Europa League quarter-final tie against Freiburg.

For the rest of the squad, the situation is calmer: the group is in good physical condition, although the coaching staff continues to monitor the load on the internationals closely. The scare with Radu turned out to be nothing, and the Romanian was able to play in the playoff semi-final against Turkey. In the case of Swedberg, he missed the match against Ukraine due to the flu but is expected to be available for the playoff final against Poland.

The other Celta players currently with their national teams are: Starfelt (Sweden), Borja Iglesias (Spain), Jones (Morocco U-23), and Fer López (Spain U-21).