Merino, pending resonance

The uncertainty surrounding the physical state of Mikel merino It is important. The player is awaiting the results of the magnetic resonance imaging that the doctors of the Spanish team performed yesterday on his right knee, which he injured during the match played on Sunday against Osasuna, to see if he will be able to play the two qualifying games for him. Qatar World Cup against Greece and Sweden on Thursday and Sunday, respectively. The significance of the two matches in which Spain is playing avoiding the playoffs leaves no room for doubts.

The alarms went off on Sunday in El Sadar shortly before halftime, when the Real player twisted his right knee and, with obvious gestures of pain and a conspicuous limp, won the locker room.

There were doubts about whether he would return in the second half and a few minutes of fear that it could be something serious. However, he returned to the pitch with slight discomfort that disappeared after a few minutes, which allowed the Navarrese to complete the game without problems, even achieving the goal that opened the scoring.

At night, when cold, the player again felt discomfort in his knee, the same ones with which he arrived in Las Rozas in the morning and which led the team’s medical team to perform an MRI to know more accurately the extent of ailment.

For this reason, Merino could not be part of the game in the first training session with the group and was low along with José Luis Gayà and Rodrigo Moreno, who worked out in the gym.

At night, and after dinner, Merino attended the premiere of the first episode of the documentary ‘The force of the group’, which reviewed the interiors of the state team during the last European Championship. Today the doubts will be dispelled and if the news is not positive, Luis Enrique has already quoted Brais Méndez.

It does not seem, in any case, anything serious. Own Imanol spoke at the press conference about the possibility that the player suffered a small sprain that, although it could separate him from the two games with Spain, should not prevent him from rejoining the discipline of Real Sociedad and being available for the first game after the international break that Real played against Valencia.

Nobody is aware that the participation of Merino in the Real it has an enormous weight. He is one of the pillars of the team and his excellent form makes him an indispensable player.

In that sense, Imanol He once again made clear in El Sadar his devotion to the Iruñea midfielder by pointing out again that we are dealing with “the best player in the League”.

Of course, the numbers of Merino in the Real this season they do not lie. The player has participated in the 17 League and Europa League matches that the team has played, completing 15 of them in full and achieving three goals. But beyond the numbers is his influence on the game, his ability to win duels, especially aerial ones, his ease in stealing the ball and his physical display during the 90 minutes. It is a luxury that cannot be done without.