“I put an extra defender on because McKennie felt his adductor pull. There are no others.” That was Luciano Spalletti’s explanation after the win over Napoli, and it exposes how thin the squad has become. He celebrated the victory but also warned about the emergency behind it. “At this moment you cannot compete in anything. If players are not brought back, you stay in these difficulties.”
The list of unavailable players keeps growing, and against Napoli McKennie, Alajbegović and Cabal all showed signs of physical problems. The news from the Continassa on Monday, however, was largely good.
McKennie: Doubtful for Thursday
Spalletti substituted the American at half-time, bringing on Gatti in the unusual position of midfielder. Tests carried out on Monday morning showed a simple muscular fatigue in the adductor. There is no lesion, which is the key reassurance, but McKennie will need several days to recover. His availability for the Europa League match at AZ Alkmaar on Thursday is therefore in doubt.
It matters because the midfield has been central to the new shape. McKennie has been one of the few ever-present performers in the post-Lazio system, and Spalletti’s recent line-ups have relied on him alongside Douglas Luiz and, against Napoli, Koopmeiners.
Alajbegović and Cabal Are Fine
The fans’ concern for Alajbegović was understandable. He asked to come off immediately after scoring the opening goal, and cameras showed him on the bench with ice. Tuttosport confirms it was only a knock to the knee. The Bosnian will be available.
Cabal is also fit. The Colombian defender, who played an excellent match against Napoli, felt a slight muscular discomfort late on, but it was only cramp, and there is nothing to worry about.
What It Means for Thursday
The injury picture still leaves Spalletti short. Yıldız, Thuram, Locatelli, Conceição, Çelik and González are all out, with Ekhator only just back in training. With McKennie in doubt, the squad faces the trip to the Netherlands with the margin for error already small, and Spalletti’s blunt admission that the club cannot compete on every front without reinforcements is consistent with the January priorities discussed throughout this period.
