VIENNA (AUSTRIA), 12 March (dpa/EP) –
Austria coach Ralf Rangnick lamented that it would be a “miracle” if captain David Alaba recovered from his knee injury in time for the European Championship taking place this summer, from June 14 to July 14, in Germany.
“We have to be realistic with David (Alaba). It would be a small miracle if he really gets it,” Rangnick said in statements to the Austrian Press Agency (APA) reported by Europa Press.
The Real Madrid defender tore the cruciate ligament in his knee in the middle of last December. Normally, players need at least six months to return from such an injury, and Austria’s first match at the European Championship in Germany is on June 17 against France.
Rangnick assured that Alaba’s rehabilitation is going according to plan, so he does not rule out that he could reach the continental national team tournament. “If anyone can do it, it’s David. He’s doing everything possible. He really wants to play in this Euro Cup,” he said.