Real Madrid fret over injury to Ferland Mendy ahead of the Champions League quarterfinals

Real Madrid continue their fine run in La Liga and Champions League but are now facing a race against time to get their star central defender right for the fixture against Arsenal. According to the club statement, Real Madrid have lost Ferland Mendy to a muscle injury in the hamstring of his left leg. Multiple reports suggest that the player might not be available for the first leg against Arsenal in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.

The club statement read: 

Following tests carried out today on our player Ferland Mendy by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a muscle injury in the hamstring of his left leg. The outcome is pending

Carlo Ancelotti has always featured Ferland Mendy in the 11 out of 12 Champions League games that Real Madrid has played. Only Fede Valverde has featured in more games than Ferland Mendy. The gaffer put Mendy on the table in the previous fixture where Fran Garcia filled in for the first-choice full-back. With the injury, Mendy is expected to be ruled out for the first leg against Arsenal but for the second leg at Santiago Bernabeu, he is expected to be back. 

What did Ancelotti have to say about the scheduling of the games?

Carlo Ancelotti, after registering the victory against Villareal, stated that this will be the last time Real Madrid will be playing the game before 72 hours. After registering a pompous victory against Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid had only 66 hours to turn up against Villareal. With the club in the title race, Carlo Ancelotti reinforced that the club will not be forced to do this again while players’ rest is being compromised. He said: 

I think today is the last time that we'll play a game before 72 hours,

We won't do it again, without 72 hours of rest. We asked LaLiga to change the time of the game twice, and they didn't do anything. But this is the last time. I don't understand it. The minimum is 72 hours, money, television rights are prioritised, not the players' recovery. Money is prioritised, not the players' rest.