Last Saturday's sweltering evening had nothing positive for
Carlos Tevez
's
Independiente
.
They suffered a surprising defeat against
Gimnasia de La Plata
1-0 at home due to a rude defensive error and, to make matters worse, in the last play one of their most regular players was injured:
Ayrton Costa
.
This Tuesday the results of the medical studies were obtained and the images showed the worst news for the left-handed back.
He suffers from a tear in the hamstring of his left leg, which will force him to stop for at least three weeks.
This sets off the alarm bells for the Rojo coaching staff since Costa, who had been starting and even scored the winning goal against Independiente Rivadavia on the first date of the League Cup, could miss up to four dates, including the Avellaneda classic.
On the move, due to the tight match schedule, Ayrton will not be this Thursday against Huracán, nor against Rosario Central (February 13) and Instituto (February 18).
The duel with Racing (even if the date is not defined) will fall on the weekend of February 25.
Costa will be completing 21 days of recovery on Saturday the 24th...
Ayrton Costa looks at the sky and celebrates his goal against Vélez.
Photo: Telam
Now Apache will have to define its long-term replacement.
There are two natural candidates.
The one who has the advantage is Damián Pérez, who regained prominence in the Diablo de Avellaneda precisely after the arrival of Tevez, who returned his ownership and confidence.
Pérez was from the start as a left-footed winger on the first day of this League Cup, but he left at halftime when Carlitos read that he should include a creative midfielder (Santiago Toloza) and dismantle the scheme of five defenders.
From there, Pérez did not enter again.
The one who did it on a couple of occasions is the other possible replacement in that position, Adrián Spörle. The former Banfield and Arsenal arrived in this transfer market as a replacement.
He entered the complements of the first and second days, but did not add minutes in the fall of the last weekend.
📌 Medical report: Ayrton Costa
The defender suffered a tear in the hamstring of his left leg.
pic.twitter.com/egVobw5Uen
— CA Independiente (@Independiente) February 6, 2024
But also, the red coach will move more pieces.
He needs to rediscover the functioning and intensity that the team knew how to have when he arrived, in the first part of last semester.
Then it faded and this year it still hasn't been able to break free, despite having won in Mendoza and Liniers.
Federico Mancuello has already recovered from a muscular overload, is training normally and could be considered for this Thursday's match against Huracán at the Tomás Adolfo Ducó.
Will he return to the starting lineup?