Atletiko Madrid will be forced to go without their central defender, Robin Le Normand, at least a few weeks after the Spain international suffered a serious knee injury during their 3-1 victory in the Champions League against Union Saint-Gilloise this week.
The 28 year old was driven off half way into the first half of the match on Tuesday that was played at the Metropolitano. This happened following a collision with a Union Saint-Gilloise player and it was obvious that something was amiss when Le Normand picked the back of his left knee and used the motion to signal medics. Atletico completed the match on a good note, but the early withdrawal of the defender was not a good omen to the club and the nation.
On Wednesday, Atletiko confirmed that additional medical tests had shown a high grade trauma to the back of knee capsule coupled with semimembranosus muscle. Another good point that the club made is that the damage is severe, but on the positive side, the ligaments and meniscus are safe, which would make the defender escape what would have been a significantly long recovery process.
This injury is considered to have been caused by the hyperextension of the knee joint which commonly happens when the leg stretches too far in the opposite direction. The club never formally gave a recovery timeline, but numerous Spanish media stories indicate that Le Normand will miss about a month.
Such a schedule implies that the center-back is expected to miss an upcoming qualifier of the World Cup in Spain on November 15 against Georgia. It also leaves him in question in the critical champions league match between Atletico and Inter Milan on November 26 which may have a significant effect on their group-stage hopes.
Since becoming part of Diego Simeone, Le Normand has played a significant role in the defensive set up in Diego Simeone providing composure, presence, and consistent distribution through the back line. His absence comes at a difficult time of the season as matches are piled up in terms of different competitions.
Next, Atletiko will also fall back on their defensive reserves, possibly resorting to the services of such players as Jose Maria Gimenez, Axel Witsel, or Mario Hermoso to fill the gap in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the manager of Spain, Luis de la Fuente, will have his eagle eyes on him as he evaluates other possibilities to his backline.
Club and country will be hoping that Le Normand is cured with a smooth and steady recovery that will be reported further as he continues with rehabilitation.
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